WesleyLife reaches $1.2M campaign goal to redevelop memory care in Newton

WesleyLife announces the completion of its $1.2 million Park Centre Memory Campaign, a fundraising initiative that will transform memory support at Park Centre, a WesleyLife community for healthy living. Thanks to the generosity of donors and the leadership of a dedicated volunteer committee, the campaign will enable an ambitious redevelopment of Park Centre’s memory care household.

Park Centre, founded in 1992 as a grassroots initiative by Newton residents and developed by WesleyLife, serves nearly 180 residents. The campus offers independent living, assisted living, memory support, short-term rehabilitation, and long-term care, all developed around a focus on holistic health and well-being.

The memory care redevelopment comes at a crucial time. Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias are on the rise across Iowa, and Jasper County is especially affected. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, as of January 2024, 11.2 percent of Jasper County residents 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s disease — a rate higher than the statewide average of 11 percent. That means more than 800 individuals in Jasper County are affected and may need to access quality, compassionate memory care close to home.