Dementia Friendly Buckeye

05/28/2025

🌟 So many wonderful things are happening with Dementia Friendly Buckeye! 🌟

We are growing, connecting, and making a difference in the lives of families impacted by dementia right here in our community. One of the biggest blessings in this journey has been the incredible people who step forward to serve, support, and love our VIPs and their families.

Today, we’re honored to introduce one of our amazing volunteers, Debbie McKinley:

🗣️ “Hi there, my name is Debbie and I have lived in the Buckeye area since 2017. When I heard about this group, I was so excited to get involved because from personal experience, I strongly believe that the support for families going through dementia is lacking. My mom, who lived in CA with my dad and brother, was diagnosed several years ago and when my dad asked for my help, we moved her and my dad to Victory in 2022. At that time, we were lost…not knowing where to go for not only physical support but emotional as well. Doctors were no help. Their answers were always, ‘you need to put her in a home’ — which we refused to do. All we needed was a few hours of respite…to share with others who were going through the same things we were, and a time for my mom to exert some energy and maybe make a friend or two.

When I help in the Life Enrichment time with the VIPs, I think about my mom who would have loved the singing and this time to use her few cognitive and motor skills that she still had. Now, is my time to give to these families, the support and understanding that I wish would have been available when I was going through that difficult time. My mom has since passed away, but I still feel her presence when I serve with Dementia Friendly Buckeye.”

💜 Thank you, Debbie, for turning your experience into a light for others. You are truly making a difference.

Stay tuned for more updates and stories from our Dementia Friendly Buckeye family!

05/20/2025

🌟 Welcome Jenny Krulewich to the Dementia Friendly Buckeye Family! 🌟
We are thrilled to introduce our newest Dementia Friendly Buckeye Volunteer, Jenny Krulewich, LMSW! Jenny brings a wealth of experience, compassion, and energy to our community. She is a Licensed Master Social Worker and Client Care Advocate at Lihn Law Group, where she provides holistic Life Care Planning services to older adults and their families.
Originally from Chicago and now rooted in Arizona after 10 impactful years in Denver, Jenny has dedicated her career to empowering individuals through advocacy, crisis management, and person-centered care. Her passion for dementia care began at a young age, inspired by her grandparents’ journeys with vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Jenny’s mission is deeply aligned with ours: to uplift families with resources that promote independence, preserve dignity, and foster joy during the fragile years of life. With a heart full of empathy, a talent for lifting spirits, and even a few good jokes up her sleeve, Jenny is already making a difference!
🐾 Bonus: She’s also the proud mom of the sweetest black lab puppy, so we already know she’s got a soft spot for unconditional love and loyalty. 💜
Please join us in giving Jenny a big, warm Buckeye welcome! We are so grateful to have her as part of our movement to build a more dementia-friendly community.

05/05/2025

Join us Tuesday, May 13th from 9-11am at the Buckeye Senior Center

04/30/2025

I'd love to take a moment to highlight one of our incredible Dementia Friendly Buckeye Members who has gone above and beyond in supporting those living with dementia in our community. Their compassion, dedication, and commitment to making our town more inclusive and understanding truly deserves to be recognized. Meet Krystian...

Krystian Zebrowski is a dedicated and community-driven Human Services Manager for the City of Buckeye, a role he has held since March 2024. With over a decade of experience in human services across Arizona, Virginia, Massachusetts, and Florida, Krystian brings a broad and inclusive perspective to his work in public service. He is recognized for his integrative approach to wellness, combining a professional background in both allopathic and holistic medicine. This unique dual expertise allows him to design and lead programs that support the full continuum of community health—physical, emotional, and social.

In his current role, Krystian oversees a wide array of essential services for Buckeye residents, including financial assistance, housing support, mental health access, and public health initiatives. He played a key role in supporting the city’s heat-relief efforts, personally engaging in outreach to ensure vulnerable residents had access to life-saving resources.

Krystian’s interdisciplinary approach has shaped a program philosophy that is both inclusive and culturally responsive, tailored to meet the diverse needs of the Buckeye community. He also serves as a critical connector between local stakeholders, nonprofit organizations, and service providers, fostering strong partnerships that amplify impact and ensure coordinated delivery of services.

His collaborative leadership style aligns city initiatives with grassroots solutions, creating a foundation for sustainable, community-led change.

04/25/2025

Local businesses, we need YOU!

Dementia-Friendly Buckeye is on a mission to bring joy, connection, and support to those living with memory loss, as well as those caring for those with Dementia—and you can help make it happen!

Whether it’s sponsoring life enrichment, donating supplies, or sharing your time and talents, your business can make a BIG difference at our Memory Café.

Let’s show Buckeye what community really means.

Get involved today: dementiafriendlybuckeye@gmail.com

04/23/2025

Meet Jaime, A valued Member of Our Dementia Friendly Buckeye Team!

As the Chair of Dementia Friendly Buckeye, I am passionate about fostering a community that supports individuals living with dementia and their caregivers. I’m Jaime Wasden-Ryum, owner of Mountain View Hospice, a nurse-owned and operated hospice service in the West Valley. With a background as a Registered Nurse, I have had the privilege of working across various clinical settings, including emergency, trauma, flight, and hospice care, which has fueled my dedication to advocating for seniors and their families.
Raised in the West Valley, I have deep ties to this community, and I am committed to making a positive impact by connecting local resources and raising awareness about dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. In addition to my role as a business owner, I serve on the board of Dementia Friendly Surprise and actively work to create a dementia-friendly environment throughout the region. My goal is to help educate the public, offer support to caregivers, and ensure that those affected by dementia have access to the resources and services they need.
Through collaborative efforts, I aim to make Buckeye a community that not only understands dementia but also creates safe spaces where families and caregivers can find support, guidance, and connection.

Jaime has been a dedicated part of our efforts behind the scenes as well as in the community, and we are so grateful for her passion and heart that she brings to this mission.

Please join us in recognizing and appreciating Jaime for all that she does!

04/15/2025

Caregiver? Family member? Friend? 💬
If dementia has touched your life, you’re not alone.
Come connect with others at our Memory Café – share stories, laughter, and support.
🗓 2nd Tuesday Monthly
📍 Buckeye Senior Center

04/10/2025

🧠💜 Dementia Friendly Buckeye is here to support YOU.
Join us for our Memory Café—a welcoming space for caregivers and individuals living with dementia.
📅 2nd Tuesday of every month
📍 Buckeye Senior Center
Let’s build a more compassionate, connected community together.

12/04/2024