St. John’s Embracing Dementia Together Campaign

Help Support Dementia Caregivers for Decades to Come

St. John’s will open the Charlie and Kathy Runyon Dementia Resource Center with your help!

It will be a haven of support, dignity, and hope for people living with dementia and those who care for them.

A Community Responding to a Growing Need

Dementia touches nearly every family. Across the United States, more than seven million people are living with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia—and the majority are cared for at home by family members who often step into this role without training, guidance, or respite .

Here in the Greater Rochester area, an estimated 105,000 caregivers support loved ones living with dementia. The emotional, physical, and financial toll is profound—not only for caregivers and families, but for our entire community .

St. John’s is responding.

A Transformational Vision

Through the Embracing Dementia Together Campaign, St. John’s is creating a welcoming, community-based hub designed to support people living with dementia and the caregivers who walk alongside them every day.

Thanks to the generosity of early supporters, we are proud to announce that the center will be officially named:

Charlie and Kathy Runyon Dementia Resource Center

Located at 150 Highland Avenue on St. John’s urban campus, the center will be open to all community members, regardless of whether they receive care at St. John’s .

What the Dementia Resource Center Will Offer

The Charlie and Kathy Runyon Dementia Resource Center is designed to meet people where they are—providing education, respite, innovation, and connection under one roof.

Support for People Living with Dementia

  • Safe, engaging on-site programs and activities
  • Drop-off respite opportunities that reduce caregiver stress
  • A calming Snoezelen® sensory room for comfort and engagement
  • A memory garden and welcoming community spaces

Support for Caregivers

  • Counseling, care consultation, and support groups
  • Workshops on communication, stress reduction, and self-care
  • Personalized care coordination and referrals
  • Dementia-specific training led by an RN Educator

Innovation and Learning

  • A hands-on Technology and Innovation Lab featuring dementia-friendly tools
  • Smart home demonstrations and assistive technologies families can test before purchase
  • Virtual and interactive learning experiences that support cognitive engagement

A Collaborative Community Model

The center will be developed in partnership with Lifespan of Greater Rochester, a trusted community leader in aging services. Lifespan care managers will be on site to help caregivers navigate resources, plan next steps, and access critical community supports .

Together, St. John’s and Lifespan are building a seamless network of care that strengthens families and promotes independence.

Why This Matters—Now

As our community ages, the number of people living with dementia—and the need to support those who care for them—will continue to grow. Without intervention, caregivers face increased burnout, lost income, declining health, and isolation.

The Charlie and Kathy Runyon Dementia Resource Center will:

  • Improve quality of life for people living with dementia
  • Reduce caregiver stress and isolation
  • Help families remain strong, connected, and productive
  • Strengthen the health and vitality of our broader community

Help Us Open the Doors

The total cost of creating the Dementia Resource Center is $3.2 million, with construction beginning in 2026 and completion projected for 2027.

While the center has been proudly named through early leadership support, philanthropic investment is still needed to:

  • Complete construction and renovations
  • Equip program, training, and technology spaces
  • Ensure sustainable, accessible programming for the community

Your gift—at any level—helps ensure that no family has to face dementia alone.

Celebrate the Kick-Off of the Public Campaign with St. John’s!

Come learn about St. John’s plans to renovate the South Building Ground Floor to provide a Dementia Reosurce Center that will offer an array of on-site programs and activities for adults living with dementia and extensive resources to support their caregivers.

Sunday, February 15
1:00 p.m.
150 Highland Avenue, Rochester, NY

Please call 585-760-1333 or send an email to amckenna@stjohnsliving.org to RSVP by February 9.

Join Us in Embracing Dementia Together

This campaign is about more than a building. It is about compassion, dignity, and community responsibility. It is about creating a place where people living with dementia can continue to embrace living and caregivers can find guidance, relief, and hope.

For More Information:

St. John’s Foundation
150 Highland Avenue
Rochester, NY 14620
585-760-1333