The LifeSpring Community of Perry recently received a generous grant from the Navicent Health Foundation. The $131,000 grant will enable LifeSpring to expand its services through its Grace Garden memory care facility opened in October 2023. Funds are being used to complete a private donor match for the construction of Grace Garden, and to provide enhanced dementia care training to its staff. Training is provided through a partnership with the Hearthstone Institute, the nationwide leader in dementia care research and training, and will include a 12-month intensive training and immersion program. “The goal is to train a highly skilled workforce and a sustainable care model for Grace Garden,” said Dawn Dunbar, LifeSpring’s Executive Director. “We envision Grace Garden becoming a resource to train other facilities in this innovative model of care.”
According to Tara Johnson, Administrator, Grace Garden provides Middle Georgia with faith-based memory care services to individuals with a dementia diagnosis (i.e., Alzheimer’s Disease, Frontotemporal dementia, Vascular Dementia, etc.). With a 26.7% increase in Alzheimer’s predicted between 2020 and 2025 in Georgia, there is a high demand for specialized memory care services. Grace Garden will be specially equipped for God-centered, industry-leading care for individuals with various types of dementia.
“The LifeSpring Community is thrilled to have healthcare partners like the Navicent Health Foundation who pour resources into our middle Georgia community,” said Glenn Smith, LifeSpring COO. “Navicent’s investment in our dementia care work will benefit Houston and surrounding counties for generations to come.”
LifeSpring services include Church Home’s traditional long-term care, Jacob’s House short-term rehabilitation, and Grace Garden’s meaningful memory care. The LifeSpring Community, located on US Hwy 41 north of Perry, is sponsored by Christ’s Sanctified Holy Church and has provided senior care in middle Georgia for over 80 years.
The Navicent Health Foundation was chartered in 1973 to enable members of the community to provide philanthropic support for charitable, medical, educational and research projects for Atrium Health Navicent (formerly known as The Medical Center of Central Georgia). With the restructuring of the hospital in 1996, the Foundation broadened its mission to include all communities served by the healthcare system in middle Georgia. Beginning in 1997 through the Community Health Grants initiative, the Foundation expanded its purpose to support community programs and capital projects which enhance the health status for area citizens.
