A Gift that Supports Both Sides of the Journey

When someone is diagnosed with dementia, the impact reaches far beyond the individual. It reshapes life for spouses, partners and families who step into the role of caregiver, often with little preparation and limited support.

A recent $25,000 gift from the Ryan Blaney Family Foundation to the Baptist Retirement Homes Foundation is helping create a different path forward — one that supports both people living with dementia and those who care for them.

The gift will support the EverTogether Residence at Brookridge, an innovative model designed to keep couples together while providing the specialized care and support each person needs.

Traditional senior living models require the person with dementia to move into a memory care setting while their spouse remains elsewhere. That separation can disrupt routines and strain emotional connections. EverTogether was created to change that.

Currently being built on the Brookridge campus in Winston-Salem, when it opens early next year the residence will allow couples to continue living together while the partner with dementia receives expert care.

While much of dementia care focuses on the person with the diagnosis, the caregiver’s experience is just as important.

That reality is deeply personal for the Ryan Blaney Family Foundation.

Leah Reeves, Director of Programs, shared that her family’s journey with Alzheimer’s began when her grandfather was diagnosed and later passed away at just 69 years old. Her grandmother cared for him nearly until the very end. That experience has shaped the foundation’s focus. Today it works on raising awareness about brain health and providing resources for families and caregivers navigating Alzheimer’s disease and related conditions.

Reeves described watching her grandparents and her husband’s grandparents go through their journey with Alzheimer’s and seeing firsthand how much it matters for couples to remain together.

“It just makes such a difference in everything – I mean, I think the longevity of their life, the progression of their disease,” she said.

She explained that couples often experience a steep decline when they are separated, reinforcing the importance of models like EverTogether that allow them to stay connected.

For caregivers, that connection is just as powerful. It creates space for them to remain a partner first while still having the support they need.

“I’m really hoping this just raises the bar for both those living with dementia and their loved ones,” Reeves said.

The opportunity to support a model that keeps couples together and lifts up caregivers aligned directly with the foundation’s goals.

“We’re just really excited about being involved,” she said.

Support from partners like the Ryan Blaney Family Foundation is helping bring EverTogether to life and expand what’s possible in dementia care.

“We’re so grateful that the Ryan Blaney Family Foundation recognized the unique nature of EverTogether’s novel design that cares for both resident and caregiver,” said Kevin Cook, Chief Development Officer for ThriveMore. “Their gift helps turn this vision of support into reality.”

For Reeves and the foundation, the impact goes beyond a single community.

“We’re just really excited to be a part of the first one and we’re really excited to see how it progresses and the amount of people it helps,” she said.

Reeves also expressed hope that this model will inspire similar efforts across the country, creating a ripple effect that improves care for families everywhere.

Through EverTogether, ThriveMore is working to ensure that couples can remain together, that caregivers are supported and that no one has to navigate dementia alone.