​Meadow Ridge Names Cristina Cardenas Director of Mind and Memory Care

Leader with 15 years of experience at Meadow Ridge will oversee mind and memory care neighborhood.
Cristina Cardena
9
June '26
Meadow Ridge, a distinctive continuing care retirement community in Redding, CT, announces the promotion of Cristina Cardenas to Director of Mind and Memory Care. A dedicated associate since 2010, Cristina’s 15-year journey reflects Meadow Ridge’s culture of compassion, growth and commitment to exceptional resident experiences.

Growing With The Meadow Ridge Community

Over the past 15 years, Cristina has built an extraordinary career at Meadow Ridge. Beginning as a certified nursing assistant, she expanded her expertise through EMT training before taking on leadership roles across the community. Along the way, she developed a deep understanding of resident care, operations and the importance of creating an environment where residents feel safe, comfortable and valued.

As Environmental Services Manager, Cardenas led 40 housekeeping and laundry team members at Meadow Ridge and at Ridge Crest, Meadow Ridge’s award-winning health center for Assisted Living, Memory Care, Sub-Acute Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing. Cristina was responsible for ensuring every area met the highest standards of cleanliness and safety. She coordinated daily operations, trained associates, managed schedules and ensured regulatory compliance—also essential skills for her new position.

A trusted advocate for residents and families

“Cristina’s promotion is exceptionally well-deserved. “She has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to our residents, their families and our purpose, taking on a variety of roles and excelling in each one. Her understanding of our community, combined with her compassion, leadership and dedication to quality care, makes her uniquely qualified for this position,” said Meadow Ridge Campus Executive Director Chris Barstein. “We are excited to see her continue to lead with the same warmth, professionalism and heart that have defined her career at Meadow Ridge.”

Leading Award-Winning Mind & Memory Care

In her new role, Cristina will lead the award-winning Mind & Memory Care neighborhood at Ridge Crest, the health center at Meadow Ridge. She will help guide programs and services designed to support residents living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia while fostering meaningful connections with residents, families and care partners.

“This new role means a lot to me—it is an honor. Caring for a resident in memory care is about understanding who they are, what brings them comfort, what makes them smile and how we can help them feel at home. I also understand how important communication and trust are for families,” said Cristina. “The greatest reward is from building connections and making a meaningful difference in our residents’ day-to-day lives. My goal is to build on the warm, caring and respectful environment we provide to our residents and their families and our team members.”

Distinctive Living and Exceptional Care

Meadow Ridge is a distinctive Lifecare community offering Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, Sub-Acute Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing. Residents enjoy the confidence of knowing their future needs can be met within the community they call home. Recognized by U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best Senior Living ratings as “Best” in CCRC, Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care, Meadow Ridge is known for combining exceptional services, meaningful engagement and compassionate care across the continuum.
Exceptional care, delivered with heart.