McKeown House for Respite Care
How We Began: In Joe’s Words
My brothers and sisters and I watched our mom take care of our father as his Alzheimer’s disease got worse and worse. You’re just worried all the time and there’s no letup. We all pitched in but mostly, the burden fell on her. We had young families and it was just so hard for her. Thirty years ago there weren’t the options there are today for residential memory care, but many families want to keep their loved one at home for as long as they can manage it. They just need time to rest now and then, and know that their loved one is safe.
The vision for the McKeown House came from that experience, one we share with millions of families, and based on our research, we believe this model to be the first of its kind in the nation.
The McKeown House welcomes people living with serious memory problems to check in to a warm, homelike environment for short stays. With just 10 bedrooms, the House feels like a cozy inn, not an institution, so our loved ones who need memory care can enjoy a beautiful space with professional staff, while their caregivers take time to travel or just recharge.
How You Can Help
The McKeown Foundation raises money and significant in-kind donations to build and operate the McKeown House, which will have a sliding scale fee structure. We don’t want any family to be turned away because of an inability to pay.
Looking Ahead
Our dream begins with the first-ever McKeown House for Memory Respite Care, and we want to grow so that we can build more, in places where families need them most. Follow the Foundation for news and developments. Your questions and suggestions are welcome at info@mckeownfoundation.org.