Improving the quality of life
for people living with dementia

Our Story

Linda is a distance runner, a business owner, a violinist, a mother, a grandmother, a sister, an aunt, a friend, a writer, a poet, an expert in off-grid sustainable living, and an avid learner. She has spent the vast majority of her life outside, in nature, moving her body.

She has always had a simple request for anyone visiting her home:

Walk with me.

Walk with me through the garden and pick flowers or vegetables. Let's get some of both.

Walk with me up the road and we'll talk.

Now Linda is living with Alzheimer's dementia. She still wants to be outside, in nature, moving her body. She is still Linda, of course. She still has that same simple request: Walk with me.

But somehow, the more her dementia progresses, the more people try to stop her from being outside, and from walking. In fact, they label it "a problem behavior." What is it about living with dementia that makes others want to lock you away?

As Linda has needed more and more support during her journey living with dementia, and as we have looked to find that support, we have been disappointed, frustrated, and even shocked. We've discovered a world of memory care in the US that charges those living with dementia thousands of dollars a month for an apartment plus meals in a locked facility, then adds thousands more in "points" for every additional need. Need someone to tell you when dinner is being served? Add 10 points. Not ready to get dressed when we are here to help you? That'll be 50 points. Still not ready when we come back? Add 150 points; and you are now labeled as "refusing to get dressed." Want to go outside and walk? We can't do that, it's not safe, but we'll add 300 points because you want to do it and now you're an "elopement risk". Those points and the high rent add up to 8, 9, 10 or even 12 thousand dollars a month. This is a big industry. Memory care is seen as an investment vehicle in which investors earn returns through real estate investment trusts and CEOs of those trusts earn multimillion-dollar salaries (1). All the while, people living with dementia spend their days in an activity room.

We have been on a multi-year journey. Our goal: Maintain Linda's quality of life and provide her with the support she needs. At the same time, maintain our quality of life. We're all on this journey called life.

Walk with me. The simple request at the core of Linda's quality of life, has become our rallying cry, our call to action. It's the thing that pulls us forward to make a difference for Linda and for others living with dementia. It's the reminder that quality of life is paramount. It's the one thing that is the most important; for me, for us, for anyone. So obviously, it's also the most important for people living with dementia.

Walk with us - let's improve the quality of life for people living with dementia.

Meet Linda, the one who started this walk with us.

Hi.

We're Debbie and Dawn. Our story starts with Linda, Dawn's mom. That's Linda in the photo.

Our offerings

Now:

Next:

Creating new technology to improve quality of life

Ultimate:

Improving quality of life using existing technology

• Experience what it is like to have dementia using virtual reality

• Practice effective communication with an AI based avatar who has dementia

• Consulting services to improve quality of life

Multigenerational community of people living with and without dementia

(1) https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/12/17/assisted-living-industry-real-estate/