Through Thunderbirds Charities of Phoenix Thunderbirds, Oakwood Creative Care has been awarded a $25,000 grant. The grant will help to renovate the floors in the Oakwood Creative Care downtown Mesa location and improve the lives of the physically and mentally challenged. The Mesa “Day Clubs” are an affordable community-based solution that supports seniors with cognitive and physical impairments, such as Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s, and stroke.
Oakwood’s “Day Clubs” offer art workshops, as well as fitness, history, storytelling, music, dance, and community engagement opportunity classes for these seniors and their families. The current state of the existing floor puts the safety and self-sufficiency of OCC’s members at risk. As it is not durable and has excessive gashes, the floor does not meet the standards needed by a population using walkers and wheelchairs.
“We expect to increase quality of life, which is demonstrated by 80% of our club members scoring a 0-9 on the Geriatric Depression Survey,” said Oakwood CEO Sherri Friend. “Additionally, there will be no clients who suffer from a fall because of a non-conducive floor. With the recent proclamation of OCC’s partnership with the City of Mesa to become “Dementia Friendly,” OCC’s strategic goal continues to be an all-inclusive aging care hub in the East Valley.”
As Arizona is poised to have the fastest growing rate of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia (ADRD) in the U.S. by 2025, it’s crucial that modifications of OCC’s environment are made. Research finds that progressive deterioration increases in compromised environments while those in aesthetically pleasing environments demonstrate an increase in engagement and a slower rate of deterioration in daily activities.
This grant is part of the Fall 2021 cycle. View a list of all Recent Grantees.