Fox Valley Memory Project Inc

FVMP has supported people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia for over ten years in Wisconsin's greater Fox Valley area. Alzheimer’s and other dementias are the sixth leading cause of death as there is still no cure. Increased age continues to be the most significant risk factor, and as other causes of death decline due to advances in healthcare, the estimated 9000 people currently living with some form of dementia in our service area of Outagamie, Winnebago, Calumet, and Waupaca counties is expected to more than double in the next 20 years.

FVMP equally serves the person with dementia and their care partners as both face significant challenges. The person with dementia loses their short-term memory, ability to problem solve, and over time motor skills. At home caregiving by family members increasingly becomes a 24/7 job that increases their own risk of physical and mental health issues.   Throughout this journey, our programs provide evidence-based care support, including two full-time RNs to solve problems like deciding when to stop driving, incontinence and other health needs, long term care options, and more. We also provide caregiver training, social engagement events like 14 monthly Memory Cafes, special events, like a day at our local baseball stadium or outside concert, and general dementia education to the community, including how to reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s and dementia. 

Since returning to in-person events after the worst of the pandemic, one of our programs, Mindworks, has grown significantly. This 3-hour class for people with early to mid-stage dementia focuses on physical and mental exercise, social engagement with others, and healthy eating, all recommended by the medical community. It also provides respite time for caregivers to run errands, attend support groups we run during the class, or rest for a few hours. Pre-pandemic, we had two weekly classes, and now we run nine classes 50 weeks each year, including new locations in Brillion, Waupaca, and Oshkosh Wisconsin. Our Tuesday and Thursday Menasha classes are running 3 over capacity, and we have over ten on a waiting list (which is the ideal size of a class).  Your support will help us add 2-3 more weekly classes in the Appleton, Neenah and Menasha area of Wisconsin, while continuing to run our other programs that support hundreds of families each month.