Mike Rohrkaste

Fox Valley Memory Project equally supports people with Alzheimer's and dementia and their caregivers. We focus on what people with dementia can do and how to help them and their caregivers find moments of joy.

We serve four counties: Outagamie, Winnebago, Calumet, and Waupaca counties. Our dementia support programs included the following:

1) Memory Link – Three Resource Navigators provide one-to-one support to 120 families facing the challenges of dementia. Support includes home visits, home safety upgrades, assistive technologies, advice, and resource referrals. The program is evidence-based and the first of its kind in Wisconsin.

2) Memory Cafes – We operate twenty monthly Cafes, including two for people with dementia and an intellectual disability.

3) Mindworks Classes - Three facilitators provide eleven three-hour weekly classes for people with dementia. Classes consist of therapeutic recreation activities; since the caregiver does not attend, classes offer three hours of respite time.

4) Caregiver education – We facilitate seven monthly support groups and hold annual caregiver education programs.

5) Special Events – We hold four monthly Lunch Bunches (social engagement lunches), dementia-friendly bus trips, and other special events, like baseball games or concerts.

6) Dementia Education - Staff and board members provide dementia education to organizations, including police and emergency departments, banks, service organizations like Rotary and Kiwanis, churches, medical staff, and more. The training focuses on understanding dementia, how to interact with people with dementia, improve service, and minimize risks for the person with dementia and their caregivers.