When Justin, the director of health services at Meadowview of Clive, learned there was an opportunity to receive a grant for participating in the National Dementia Workforce Study, he was skeptical. After doing some research, he decided to move forward, completed the survey and Meadowview of Clive ultimately received a $2,000 grant in return.
Supporting Dementia Care Providers
Sponsored by the National Institute on Aging, the National Dementia Workforce Study conducts annual surveys of dementia care providers across the United States in partnership with the University of Michigan and the University of California San Francisco.
“It enables research that will guide practices and policies to ensure that all people living with dementia receive optimal care from a well-prepared and well-supported workforce,” Justin says.
Turning Grant Dollars Into Enrichment
When the funding arrived, the team already knew exactly where it would make the biggest impact.
“My idea was that we could definitely use that for life enrichment for our residents,” Justin says.
For assisted living residents, that meant new opportunities to gather and socialize in the Cue Room, now complete with a pool table and dart board. In the memory care neighborhood, the funds brought in new games and puzzle kits along with robotic cats and dolls that offer comfort and sensory engagement.
“We had learned from family members these were things residents would like to do,” Justin says. “By the time we received the funds, we already had a good idea of what we needed to purchase.”
The team also invested in enhancing outdoor spaces with bird baths and bird feeders, giving residents more ways to connect with nature throughout the year.
Enhancing Daily Life for Residents
Life enrichment programming has always been a priority for the team at Meadowview of Clive, and the grant provided a meaningful boost to their efforts.
“It provided activities for them that they wanted to do,” Justin says. “These are things they had done in their past that they enjoyed doing and hadn’t been able to do recently.”
Lasting Impact
By turning this opportunity into meaningful improvements for residents, Meadowview of Clive has shown how creativity and compassion can extend the impact of a single grant. The new activities and spaces are already enriching daily life, and the team looks forward to finding even more ways to support connection, joy and well-being for everyone who calls Meadowview of Clive home.