Build The Village Fund for Dementia Residents

Dementia Village United States. Has someone in YOUR family been affected by DEMENTIA? If so, you've likely experienced the heartbreak my family and I did with our father.

I feel I've been called to turn that heartbreak into a haven--by creating the FIRST Dementia VIllage (neighborhood/community) in the United States!

In December 2018, I lost my Dad, Ralph Zamarron, to dementia. Watching a gregarious, funny, loving man deteriorate right in front of my eyes was heartbreaking! He was well taken care of, but he seemed to have no joy or purpose as he wasn't allowed to go outside or do the many things he enjoyed for the 86 years before his diagnosis.

Ralph was raised on a farm in rural Michigan. His parents migrated to Michigan from Mexico. It was important to him to make his mother proud. At 17 years old, having just graduated from high school, he joined the Navy. He played Baseball for the Navy for 4 years. He loved every minute of it and tried to get them to send him to the Korean War so he could serve his country. They would have nothing of it.

He came back home to Michigan and married his sweetheart Sarah Lee Abbott. They had 6 children, 20 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren!

He loved to be involved in the community, coaching, mentoring and storytelling! He was famous for nicknaming everyone and his stories!

Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with Lewy-Body Dementia (the same thing Robin Williams had), and his decline was rapid. Seeing this gregarious, loving, fun soul become a shell of his former self was heartbreaking!

He was well taken care of in the home he had to go to---but it seemed he had no joy or happiness there.

About 6 months before he passed, I ran across an article about this Dementia Village in the Netherlands. It sounded AMAZING! They allowed their residents to walk to the grocery store, have coffee with their friends and work in the garden whenever the residents pleased! It has music, games and beautiful spaces for the residents.

(Please watch the video below of the creator of Hogewey Village in the Netherlands).

I wanted that life for Dad! Although he is not around to enjoy it--there are MILLIONS (5.1 million at last count) in the United States alone that could enjoy a home like that.

Let's BUILD this TOGETHER!!

All people deserve

Joy, purpose, normalcy and happiness. 

Who doesn't want that for their loved one?

The GoFundMe account will be used to train team members on the Hogewey way of building and sustaining this lovely home for our loved ones with dementia. It will also be used to start the planning and building process.

We are estimating the cost of that program/fee for the initial team members to be approximately $20,000. Costs for building/planning and land have not been included.

Anything raised beyond that will go directly toward planning and building this beautiful Village in the United States.

If you are inclined to donate--we are forever grateful! Any donation helps--even $5 (cup of Starbucks coffee). Please SHARE this GoFundMe link with your family, friends, colleagues and ESPECIALLY SOCIAL MEDIA .

On behalf of Ralph's family and all other dementia families, I thank you and am so grateful for anything you can contribute.

With a grateful heart,

Kari