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agrace dementia village rendering with walkway, shops and homes

The Dementia Village model will balance independence with safety.

Agrace Reimagines Dementia Care with New Dementia Village in Madison

Living with memory loss can be more dignified—more normal. It can have more independence, more choices and still be secure. That’s the vision for Agrace’s new Dementia Village, a revolutionary project that will break ground in just a few months.

For years, Agrace has been gathering ideas to better understand the care needs of people whose memory and thinking are declining. In the past six years, we opened our Hospice Memory Care Suites and our Adult Day Center in Madison. But our next major advance aims to reimagine dementia care entirely.

In May, we’ll start remodeling our Madison-area campus to include the Ellen & Peter Johnson Dementia Village at Agrace. This new assisted living neighborhood is inspired by the innovative Hogeweyk Village in the Netherlands. Dementia Village residents will live in one of eight small households and move freely through the Village’s indoor and outdoor spaces, which are all within a secure environment.

“It’s a neighborhood where you’ll go out the front door, engage with the outdoors, go to the theater, go to the spa, and regain the normal daily rhythms that you enjoyed before you had the dementia diagnosis,” explains Lynne Sexten, Agrace president and CEO. “Safety is paramount, but so is a really high quality of life.”

""Lifestyle and Personality

Each household’s architecture, décor and furniture will be chosen to feel familiar to its residents, who will join the household that best fits their life experience and personality. “You can live where there’s a higher chance you could become friends,” notes Eloy van Hal, founder of Hogeweyk, who is consulting with Agrace on this venture.

Ellen and Peter Johnson

Ellen and Peter Johnson

Johnsons make another lead gift: This transformative $40 million project is made possible by dozens of community donors who have already stepped forward, led by Madison philanthropists Ellen and Peter Johnson. The Johnsons are long-time Agrace supporters who have made a remarkable $7 million lead gift.

Our $30 million capital campaign, now at 42 percent of its goal, continues to move us toward welcoming our first Dementia Village residents in Fall 2027. At that time, the Agrace Adult Day Center in Madison will be integrated into the Dementia Village. “Day Club” members will come to the Village during the week for care, activities and companionship while they continue to live at home.

We will continue to offer inpatient and residential hospice care throughout the Madison campus remodeling process. Several hospice inpatient rooms will be added to the west end of the campus while the Dementia Village takes shape on the east end.

Want to learn more? You’ll see updates in future newsletters and here. You can also sign up here to get occasional email updates, including a notice about joining a waiting list for living at the Dementia Village.

Learn more
 

Crossing the Mississippi with Agrace’s Care

agrace service area map with coming soon countiesThe announcement of our new Dementia Village in January has brought in a flood of interest, but it’s not the only exciting news for Agrace this year.

Our 2025 expansion of hospice services to La Crosse County—and the whole Coulee Region of western Wisconsin—has been very successful. When another nonprofit hospice ended service there, we were able to enroll a number of its patients and hire some of its former staff. Our new care team and our vice president of medical services, Dr. Hilary Bingol, have strong relationships with the area’s health care community. Together, their connections have made this an easier transition.   

Like other La Crosse health care providers, we want to serve patients who live across the Mississippi River, in communities like La Crescent, Winona and Caledonia, Minnesota. We have applied for Minnesota licensing and are awaiting approval. We also plan to open an office in Dubuque to serve northeast Iowa. This growth will mark the first time Agrace can care for patients west of the Mississippi, which feels monumental! We will keep you updated on our progress.

Back in Wisconsin, we are now offering hospice and palliative care in Washington, Ozaukee, Racine and Kenosha counties of southeastern Wisconsin.

As a fan of Agrace’s care, will you help spread the word? We are eager to bring Agrace’s Midwestern compassion to anyone in these areas who needs us.

Lynne Sexten photo

""

Lynne Sexten
President & CEO

 

2025: The Impact of Your Gifts

Main Services

Hospice Care  •  Palliative Care  •  Dementia Support  •  Grief Support

$6.9 M Raised

Agrace relies on community donations to provide exceptional care and support. Thank you!

• 8,340 Gifts from 6,395 donors
• 1,400+ Event attendees
• $2.8 M Thrift store sales
• 80 Patients/clients assisted with Care for All funds
• 22 End-of-life wishes coordinated
• 1,025 Holiday meals funded for patients

23 Counties served

In 2025, we served residents of 23 Wisconsin counties, through seven regional offices in Madison, Janesville, Baraboo, Dodgeville, Wauwatosa, Watertown and La Crosse.

4,664 Hospice Care patients

We cared for a total of 4,664 hospice care patients in 2025 and had an average daily census (patient count) of 1,341.

1,600 Palliative Care visits

Palliative Care consultations helped people live better while they continued treatment for life-altering illnesses.

118 Adult Day clients

The Agrace Adult Day Center in Madison is a place for companionship, care and fun activities, serving 118 clients (average daily attendance of 27) in 2025.

3,383 Grief Support clients

Agrace provided grief support to 3,383 bereaved adults and children across the state, through grief support groups, individual grief support, school-based support and community grief education.

69,766 Volunteer hours

Our 640 volunteers donated 69,766 hours of service in 2025, filling many different roles that supported our health services and our thrift stores.

 

Jackie, a La Crosse volunteer

Finding Grace in Volunteer Service: Jackie’s Perfect Fit

When Jackie moved to the La Crosse area, she did not expect a big, green sign to have such an impact on her life. But she kept seeing an Agrace billboard while driving and felt drawn to it. “It felt like there was something there for me,” she remembers.

Jackie began to follow Agrace on social media and learned we were looking for volunteers. Already on the hunt for a volunteer opportunity, she had a feeling Agrace would be “a perfect fit.”

As a hospice volunteer, Jackie has brought music into her visits, and recently received certification in Reiki, an energy healing practice that brings peace and tranquility. “I have loved watching my own confidence and personal growth expand through this opportunity,” she says.

Jackie finds her visits with patients deeply rewarding. “There are times that I come away thinking I needed that as much as, if not more, than the patient I was visiting,” she explains. “I love hearing stories from their past and seeing their eyes light up when they talk about something that is important to them. There are some who genuinely crave simple human connection at this stage in their life.”

One memorable experience involved a patient who was unable to speak. “Our visits were strictly me playing relaxing music for her,” Jackie explains. “I could see calmness come over her body as I played. One time, I looked over and saw her hand up in the air, conducting the music I was playing. The peace that enveloped the room was unmatched.”

""Jackie encourages others to give volunteering a shot: “There are so many people who are lonely, especially ones who live in a facility. To know your job is to show up and make their life a bit more comfortable in a personal way is everything.”

Volunteer with Agrace
 

Lisa Dahlgren

Turn Retirement Savings into a Lasting Legacy

Your IRA represents a lifetime of careful planning. With a charitable gift annuity (CGA), it can also become a lasting gift that supports future generations of families served by Agrace.

A CGA provides fixed income for life for you, or you and a loved one, while ensuring that a significant portion of your gift will one day strengthen Agrace’s compassionate care. Many donors appreciate the steady payments, potential tax advantages, and peace of mind that comes from knowing their legacy will continue to help others.

""This simple giving option allows you to care for yourself today and for others tomorrow. You can learn more here or consult with your tax or financial advisors. Questions? Contact Lisa Dahlgren, senior gift officer with the Agrace Foundation, at (608) 314-2927 or  Lisa.Dahlgren@Agrace.org.

 

""Upcoming Grief Support Groups

(Virtual) Spouse/Partner Loss
Thursdays, April 9 – May 14, 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.; or Mondays, April 13 – May 18, 3:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.

(In person) Spouse/Partner Loss
Tuesdays, April 14 – May 19, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.; or Wednesdays, May 6 – June 10, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

These groups meet at the Agrace Grief Support Center in Fitchburg or “virtually.” Virtual groups can be very convenient for those who are not close to Fitchburg. You can join with a tablet, phone or computer that has a web camera.

All groups meet weekly for six weeks and cost $120. Fees can be lowered or waived, if needed.

Learn more about all upcoming groups here. Please pre-register by calling (608) 327-7110 or emailing griefsupport@Agrace.org. 

Learn more
 

""

What to Ask Loved Ones When Time Is Short

We provide the questions below to families of our hospice patients. The answers help us and the family meet patients’ goals and give everyone greater peace of mind.

Even if time isn’t that short, asking these questions of your elders can reveal what’s most important in their lives.

  1.  Is there anything you’d like to say to family/ friends that you haven’t already said?
  2.  Are there any messages you’d like me to write down to give to others?
  3.  Is there anything else you want to do before you die?
  4.  Do you have any regrets—or any relationships you want to mend?
  5.  Are there any old friends you want to contact now—or that I should notify after you die?
  6.  Do you have any personal items you would like to give to a specific friend or family member?
  7.  Do you have any requests for your funeral?
  8.  How would you like to be remembered?
 

agrace giving day icon

This Day of Giving Needs You!

Join us on April 8 for Agrace Giving Day, a 24-hour giving challenge for everyone who believes in the high-quality care Agrace provides. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on community donations to help provide hospice care for people who lack insurance and have no other way to pay. Your gifts also support expert dementia care, and emotional support for anyone in the community who is grieving a death.

Three Ways to Participate on Wednesday, April 8

Make a donation here or call (608) 327-7180.

Volunteer to support Agrace care teams: Stop at Agrace in Madison from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to assemble caregiver comfort bags for our nurses, CNAs and social workers.

Bring in a bear: Bring new (with tags) teddy bears to support our Dori Bear program, providing cuddly comfort to hospice patients and families. You can drop them off at any Agrace office.

See locations and details here.

Learn more
 

Events Strengthen Care in Our Communities 

In partnership with the communities we serve, Agrace’s events help strengthen hospice and palliative care, grief support, dementia support services and other programs.

Agrace Service of Remembrance | Dodgeville 
Sunday, April 12, 2 p.m., Merrimac & Main Center. A community gathering for reflection and remembrance that supports Agrace grief services. Learn more and RSVP here.

""A Round with Agrace | Trappers Turn, Wisconsin Dells
Thursday, July 9. Join us for a round of golf or a round of drinks, in support of the families in Agrace’s care. Register today.

Agrace Golf Open | The Legend at Bergamont, Oregon
Monday, September 14. A long-standing golf tradition raising support for Agrace programs across southern Wisconsin. This day on the course always sells out; reserve your spot here.

""

Bingo with Agrace

Join Agrace for two free, fun hours of bingo! All ages welcome; bring friends and family and play for a chance to win fun prizes.

Wednesday, April 8, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m., Agrace in Dodgeville  |  316 W. Spring St.  |  Celebrate Agrace Giving Day!

Monday, May 11, 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m., Richland Center Community Center  |  1050 N. Orange St.

Wednesday, July 22, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m., Dodgeville Town Square  |  E. Merrimac St.

 

large furniture and packed boxToo Much Good Stuff? Let Us Pack It for You

Did you know you can get big donations to Agrace thrift stores without bothering your buddy who has a pickup truck?

Our free Pack Up Pick Up service will come to homes in Dane and Rock counties to pick up large donations to Agrace. By “large” we mean either large, bulky furniture (too big to go into a car) or a large number of smaller donations like dishes, rugs, art, collectibles, etc., that need packing.

See more details here or call (608) 640-0139 to arrange this service.

Learn more