Meet Our Staff at the Highlands | Assisted Living & Memory Care

Meet Our Staff

Jaime Girard Rochette, Regional Director of Operations

Jaime joined the HallKeen Assisted Living Communities regional leadership team the summer of 2025 and oversees The Highlands and four additional communities in this role.

Jaime first joined HallKeen in 2023 as the Executive Director at Brigham House in Watertown, MA, bringing with her over 15 years of experience in senior living. At the end of the year, she transitioned to lead River Mills Assisted Living at Chicopee Falls as Executive Director. Under her leadership, the community cultivated a cohesive, mission-driven culture and rapidly positioned itself as a premier provider of assisted living and memory care in a dynamic and evolving market. It was named HallKeen’s 2025 Community of the Year — a testament to Jaime and her team’s exceptional efforts.

Kayla McCormack, CDP, Reflections Director

KMcCormack@hallkeen.com

Kayla is a dedicated care professional who, for the past eight years, has specialized in working with the older generation. She obtained her CDP and has gone through the training on DEMENTIA LIVE, which is a high impact, dementia simulation experience that immerses participants into life with dementia, resulting in a deeper understanding of what it’s like to live with cognitive impairment and sensory change.

Kayla’s journey began shortly after college, when her fascination with the human brain led her to pursue specialized training in cognitive health, memory support, and age-related neurological conditions. Believing that every individual deserves respect, dignity, and a sense of purpose, she combines evidence-based techniques with genuine empathy to create care plans that:

– Stimulate cognitive function through activities tailored to the individual’s personal history

– Foster emotional well-being through active listening and companionship

– Encourage independence by identifying and building on each person’s strengths

Kayla measures her success by the smiles she brings, the trust she earns, and the independence she helps to sustain in the lives of those she serves, which includes residents AND their loved ones. She is always available to set up family meetings, or just one on one meetings, and looks forward to working with you and the team at The Highland on the East Side.

Ernie Parfitt, Director of Maintenance

EParfitt@HallKeen.com

Ernie was born and raised in Pawtucket, RI. He was influenced at a very young age to respect his elders and admire their accomplishments. His beloved grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease when he was eight, so Ernie feels especially close to the mission here at The Highlands.

He has fond memories of visiting his grandfather on weekends, first at home and, eventually, in a nursing home. Like his father and father before him, Ernie is a hands-on, can-do kind of man. Ernie can fix just about anything and enjoys doing so!

Ernie worked in the maintenance department for HallKeen Management for over four years when he jumped at the opportunity to transfer to The Highlands. His skills, knowledge and dedication to our residents are invaluable. If your television remote is not working, Ernie will fix it. If you need a picture hung, Ernie will hang it. In short, he can do it all and is happy to do it.

Sawyer Jones, Activity Coordinator

SJones@hallkeen.com

From a young age, Sawyer was drawn to helping people. The commitment began in middle and high school while volunteering with the Special Olympics, where a deep appreciation for empowering individuals of all abilities was developed. This early passion inspired Sawyer to pursue a degree in Psychology and Human Services, allowing further exploration of how to create meaningful, positive impact in people’s lives.

For the past eight years, Sawyer has worked with individuals with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities, supporting people across a wide range of ages and backgrounds. Sawyer loves meeting people where they are, celebrating their strengths, and helping them feel valued, heard, and appreciated.

Most recently, Sawyer worked as an Activities Assistant, learning the day-to-day details of senior living programming and discovering all of the ways creativity, compassion, and thoughtful engagement can transform daily experiences for residents. Sawyer is thrilled to step into the role of Activities Coordinator at The Highlands on the East Side and looks forward to bringing energy, joy, and meaningful connection to every activity.

Dan D’Addato, Director of Community Relations

DDaddato@HallKeen.com

Dan D’Addato joined The Highlands team in September 2025, bringing a unique blend of professional experience and a deep passion for making a meaningful impact on the lives of others. Originally from New Jersey, as Director of Community Relations, Dan’s focus will be on building strong connections and fostering a welcoming environment where residents feel respected, supported, and truly at home.

Dan’s career path has been anything but conventional, with each step adding valuable perspective. These diverse experiences helped shape his decision to pursue a role where he could make a real difference—supporting seniors and their families during an important chapter of life.