Bethesda recently received two major gifts to ensure seniors continue to receive health care vital to their aging needs and staying safe during the pandemic:

  • $35,000 from the Margaret B. Grigg Foundation
  • $6,000 grant from Alzheimer’s Foundation of America

The $35,000 gift from the Margaret B. Grigg Foundation will support COVID-19 response efforts at Bethesda Dilworth, along with the purchase of additional medical equipment. The demands of COVID-19 testing for everyone inside our facilities – including all staff and residents, vendors, family members, caregivers, and healthcare providers from outside of Bethesda – do not come without exorbitant costs.

“This gift will help Bethesda continue looking for ways that we can continue to deliver premier senior healthcare services during unprecedented times like these,” says Pam Dempski, Corporate Vice President and Director of Fund Development. “Our Vision is to foster successful aging with compassion and innovation, and now, we must add safety to the forefront.”

Bethesda will use the funds for COVID-19 testing kits. Additionally, the medical equipment will support Dilworth staff with point-of-care, or “bedside,” testing, which will provide on-site lab results within minutes instead of hours. Staff will use these faster results to make better critical care decisions, especially when determining if a senior needs to go to the hospital.

The $6,000 Milton and Phyllis Berg Respite Care Grant from the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) will support Bethesda’s Home and Community Based Services. This support will provide respite during the pandemic to families caring for those living with Alzheimer’s and related illnesses.

Respite care allows families to take a break from their caregiving responsibilities for up to a few days while their loved ones are engaged in physically and cognitively stimulating activities.

“We are proud to help them with much needed respite as they take on such a critical caregiving role,” says Michelle Glass, Corporate Vice President, Senior Living and In-Home Care. “As the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease continues to grow, we need to remember that it has a tremendous impact not only on those living with the disease, but the caregivers as well.”

Bethesda has received funding for four consecutive years from the AFA. For more information on respite care and how to apply for a scholarship, contact Bethesda’s Care Management Team.

Bethesda Foundation