MemoryCare, a local non-profit serving western North Carolina, provides expert outpatient care for people with dementia and caregiver support services for their families. Now serving more families than ever before, and facing the largest Annual Fund campaign goal in their history, MemoryCare was met with a daunting challenge in the last remaining months of their 2018-2019 annual fundraising year. Seeing this need, Rakesh and Dolly Agarwal, alongside the Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community and an Anonymous Donor, graciously contributed $50,000 in matching challenge funds to help MemoryCare meet their goal. Announced in February and concluded in June, this matching challenge inspired generosity throughout the WNC community, allowing MemoryCare to offer services to all with need, regardless of their ability to pay, in the coming year.
Of the families served by MemoryCare, 41% are low income. To support these families and keep our fees affordable, MemoryCare must raise half of its operating budget every year to serve over 1000 persons with dementia and over 3000 caregivers. The funds raised make it possible for MemoryCare families, most of whom are trying to keep their loved one in the home setting, to receive comprehensive and unparalleled best-practice care. These funds allow MemoryCare to provide families of those living with dementia with pivotal services such as one on one caregiving training, counseling and support, education in behavioral management, coordination of services provided by other agencies, planning for respite, in-home, and long-term care, education on navigation of financial and legal issues, enrollment in MemoryCare’s “Caregiver College”, and assistance with end of life decision making and advance directives.
“The Agarwal’s challenge contribution inspired others to step up and match it,” says Dr. Margaret Noel, MemoryCare’s Founder. “Without their help, we would be able to serve far fewer families in need of our services over the next year.” Alongside the growing population of seniors in western North Carolina, the need for MemoryCare’s services continue to expand. With the generosity and advocacy of Rug and Home owners Dolly and Rakesh Agarwal, MemoryCare charges forward, providing nationally recognized dementia care for our mountain families.
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MemoryCare is a 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 2000 that serves the rapidly growing need for appropriate assessment, treatment, and support for cognitively-impaired individuals and their families in Western North Carolina. MemoryCare’s award winning integrated model of care provides specialized medical treatment to older adults with memory loss and recognizes the important role caregivers play in giving the best care possible.