Agrace holding groundbreaking for Dementia Village

Tuesday, April 21, 2026

As reported by In Business Madison

Agrace will host a groundbreaking ceremony for the Ellen & Peter Johnson Dementia Village at Agrace at 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway on May 20 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. The community is welcome to attend.

The Dementia Village is modeled after the Hogeweyk model in the Netherlands, which offers a village with houses in a neighborhood setting for those with the condition.

“This is not simply a new building — it represents a fundamental shift in how we care for people living with dementia. As the first of its kind in the United States, we are redefining what memory care can and should be,” Lynne Sexten, Agrace president and CEO, said in a statement. “We are honored to mark this moment with a community that shares our belief that people with dementia deserve lives rich in dignity, purpose and joy.”

The $40 million project will transform Agrace’s Madison campus into a hub of care and connection, with small homes for village residents, enhanced adult day services, workforce housing for caregiving professionals, a Grief Support Center and a training and education center.

The project is supported by a $7 million lead gift from Ellen and Peter Johnson and many other community donors.