About Us

Our small family of senior caregivers and operators in the Greater New Orleans area including Metairie, Lakeview, and Jefferson, have over thirty years of healthcare and senior living experience including nursing home and assisted living administration, home health and hospice management, nursing care and nurse education.   It is our collective experience and the feedback from those we have served that has motivated us to offer our alternative to traditional senior living facilities. Frequently, senior living facilities use words like ‘homelike’ in marketing materials to convey a more appealing setting, but even when done well, traditional models cannot escape the institutional feel. A true family home offers what large operations can only hope to emulate. The Peristyle Residences team of professional senior caregivers includes a Registered Nurse who serves as our Wellness Coordinator, an RN who manages Medication Administration, Music Therapy Department, an Program Director, and each home is served by a dedicated House Manager and a caring team of CNAs. 

Interested in our residential assisted living offered in the Greater New Orleans area, including Metairie, Lakeview, and Jefferson. Schedule a tour of our residences now!

Our Program Directors

executive director

Daniel J. Ritter was born and raised in Metairie, LA. He earned an Associate’s Degree in Physical Therapy from Our Lady of the Lake College in 1998, and a Bachelor’s of Science from Nicholls State University in Allied Health Management in 2001. Daniel has over 25 years of experience in healthcare, with experience in senior living, rehab, home health, long term care, and physician recruitment. He has been a licensed PTA (Physical Therapy Assistant) for 25 years. Daniel spent seven years with LifeCare Hospital of New Orleans prior to Hurricane Katrina as a Clinical Liaison, specializing in long term acute care and physician recruitment. Daniel later became the Executive Director of three different assisted living communities with Emeritus Senior Living and Brookdale Senior Living for a period of five years, including serving as an Executive Director Mentor with both National Organizations. Daniel then spent five years with Validus Senior Living, where he opened  Validus’ most successful multi-product community (Inspired Living in Kenner), from the construction phase and brought them to 100% occupancy. Daniel ended that tenure as a Regional Director of Operations, overseeing communities in Louisiana, Texas, Georgia, and Florida. He then spent a year with Discovery Senior Living as the Regional Director of Sales of the SummerHouse division, managing 14 communities in six different states. Daniel has also served on the Board of Director’s for LALA (Louisiana Assisted Living Association) for six years, including Board Chair/President three of those six years. Daniel resides in Metairie with his wife and three children.

DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION

Brittany Summerhalter is a native New Orleanian and graduated from Cabrini High School and received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management from the University of New Orleans. She joined the Peristyle family in 2022 and is an asset to the brand. Brittany lives in the New Orleans area and has a dog Savannah and loves to travel.

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Loretta C. Riley was born and raised in New Orleans and started her career in management at the age of 20 with in-home daycare. In 2017, she began working part time with Peristyle Residences in tandem with her other love, Ministry. By 2019, she was promoted to House Manager and was then promoted to Director of Operations, overseeing all the Peristyle Residential Homes. When she isn’t caring for our residents, Loretta is an ordained pastor doing amazing work for the greater good. She enjoys spending time with her family of two daughters, seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

DIRECTOR OF WELLNESS

Monique E. Brannon, RN was born and raised in New Orleans and graduated from Dominican High School and received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from Loyola University in New Orleans. She received her Associates in Nursing Degree from our Lady of the Lake College of Nursing in Baton Rouge. She worked with Children’s Hospital until she started with Peristyle Residences in 2016. Monique has always been in healthcare, even starting Metro Med Pass. Her interests include gardening, running and keeping up with her three boys.

Our Principles

SEAN ARRILLAGA is a graduate of Isidore Newman School.  He attended Tulane University and obtained a BA in Psychology from the University of New Orleans. Sean worked for 12 years as a business manager in the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device industry. His career path transitioned to senior living and care services in 2008 when he joined the St. Margaret’s organization as the Director of St. Margaret’s Home Health & Hospice. Sean was promoted to Vice President of Operations-Western Region for the St. Margaret’s organization and participated in the development  of St. Luke’s Medical Center, and The Belleville assisted living center in Algiers, LA. Sean resides in Gretna with his wife and three sons.

JASON HEMEL is a graduate of Jesuit High School and holds a BS in Finance and an MBA from the University of New Orleans.  His career in the senior living industry spans over two decades.  Jason’s first opportunity in senior living began in the finance offices of some of the premier non-profit nursing facilities in New Orleans.  He then became a licensed administrator and was promoted to COO of St. Margaret’s, a position he held for five years overseeing 2 nursing homes, an assisted living facility, a pharmacy company and therapy company.  Following Katrina, Jason was promoted to Vice President of Business Development for St. Margaret’s.  He has been a part of deal structuring and the development of several notable projects including St. Margaret’s at Bywater, St. Luke’s Medical Center, St. Luke’s at Belleville and St. Margaret’s at Mercy nursing home and hospital. Jason resides in Mid-City, New Orleans with his wife and three children.

Community Partners