Hospice of the Valley has received a $100,000 Mercy C.A.R.E.S. Community Reinvestment Grant to support its Supportive Care for Dementia Program across Maricopa, Pinal and Pima counties.

The program provides in-home clinical and emotional support for families caring for loved ones with dementia at any stage of the disease. It is the only program of its kind in Arizona to provide this type of comprehensive in-home support.

Services include personalized guidance and care plans from an experienced dementia team, free education and support for family caregivers, low-cost in-home respite care through the RISE student engagement partnership and 24-hour access to clinical advice and care coordination.

“People living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias represent one of the fastest-growing population groups in Arizona, affecting an estimated 200,000 Arizonans ages 65 and older,” said Dr. Gagandeep Singh, chief medical officer at Mercy Care. “Many caregivers report a decline in their own mental and physical health. By offering support and valuable resources for caregivers and those who live alone with dementia, particularly in underserved areas, Hospice of the Valley is allowing patients to live in the comforts of their own home.”

The grant will also help Hospice of the Valley expand its educational outreach to communities disproportionately affected by dementia, including Hispanic and African American populations.

“Thanks to Mercy Care’s generous grant, we will be able to provide respite and additional support to family caregivers, as well as people with dementia who live alone,” said Dr. Gillian Hamilton, medical director of Supportive Care for Dementia. “We also are thrilled to expand our educational outreach to populations that are disproportionately affected by dementia, specifically Hispanics and African Americans, through the grant.”

The funding comes through Mercy C.A.R.E.S., Mercy Care’s community giving initiative, which supports organizations working to address health disparities and improve access to health care and other resources throughout Arizona. Since 2016, the program has invested nearly $45 million in community reinvestment projects. For families navigating dementia care, the Supportive Care for Dementia Program offers resources designed to help both patients and caregivers manage the challenges of the disease while allowing people to remain in their homes whenever possible.