Ms. JoAnn and Mr. Jake

JoAnn and Jake, who live in the Northeast area of San Antonio, have been participating in the Meals on Wheels San Antonio’s Grace Place Alzheimer’s Services since December 2020. Jake lives with Alzheimer’s disease and was first diagnosed five years ago. JoAnn, his wife, along with two of their daughters, are his primary caregivers. Jake’s health has steeply declined due to the COVID-19 pandemic and it’s becoming “extremely hard” for JoAnn to care for him. At the beginning of the pandemic, because of the heightened risk for this population, Meals on Wheels closed its Grace Place Alzheimer’s Activity Centers.

These centers provided caregivers with peace of mind knowing their loved ones could be cared for in a safe environment while they were at work. The organization quickly realized that it needed to continue to provide these services to families living with dementia.

Graceful Gatherings and Grace at Home were created to continue to provide support to the caregiver through education and therapeutic activities for their loved ones. JoAnn attends the Graceful Gatherings events to learn more about dementia and to speak with other caregivers who might have similar experiences. “It’s been a true lifesaver,” she says. Jake’s favorite activity is bingo and he enjoys tapping his feet when music is playing.

The family will receive their first Grace at Home kit which includes caregiver information for JoAnn and their daughters, musical instruments for Jake, and a sing-along video. Meals on Wheels San Antonio and Grace Place are providing more than just a pastime with these services. They’re helping Jake to stimulate his thought process and slow down his progression while JoAnn learns new ways to care for him and their family.

For more information about Grace Place Alzheimer’s Services, please visit: www.mowsatx.org/alz.

Your future support ensures that Meals on Wheels has the resources we need to provide needed services to Ms. JoAnn and Mr. Jake, as well as other seniors in the community. Contact Vinsen Faris at 210-735-5115 or VinsenF@mowsatx.org to learn how your gift will make a difference in their lives.