A year after my husband Randy was diagnosed with Frontotemporal dementia, Tempe became Arizona's first dementia-friendly city. I couldn't have been more proud of our city. Randy & I bought our Tempe home 32 years ago. (1994)
But it gets even better.
"Tempe is now developing a new park for people with dementia, which the city is calling the “first-of-its-kind” in the country." (posted Sept. 2026)
And it will be located a mile from our home.
"The park will also be hugely beneficial for caretakers whose role can be demanding and isolating."
The park will be a “thoughtfully-designed place” where those living with dementia “can safely enjoy the outdoors while their caregivers have a chance to rest, breathe and simply enjoy being with the person they love,” said Tempe council member Doreen Garlid, who was the former caretaker of her late father who had dementia.
Tempe council member Nikki Amberg said the project is “deeply personal” for her and that such a park would’ve been a “safe haven” for her mother, who was the primary caretaker of her late father who had Alzheimer’s.
“She was stuck at home, because I think she felt that was only the safe space that she had really to care of him,” Amberg told Arizona’s Family, adding, “So this kind of a park would have been so wonderful for her; it would have been able to get her and my dad out of the house.”
Love that part of the article. As Randy's caregiver for 7 years before I placed him 8 years ago, I would have loved to have had a safe place to take him, without the worry of him walking away. Cuz he was a fast walker! So we stayed home.
Then I got to thinking...
Remember when Dog Parks starting showing up everywhere? Well, it quickly became more than taking your dog to a park to run free and interact with other dogs. People were interacting with other dog-lovers! I witnessed it when we'd take our dog to the dog park. It was becoming the new social hang out!
That's what I see happening at this Dementia Park. Isolated caregivers desperate to get outside with their loved ones, to socialize, to connect and share their story with fellow caregivers. A place to rest, to be seen, to breathe in the fresh air - knowing their loved ones are safe.
Oh how I would have benefited from such an outlet. Caregivers face such a high risk of compromising their physical and mental health because of stress, exhaustion, isolation and neglect. That was definitely the case with me. I once drove myself home from the ER with my blood pressure at 204/98. And that was much lower than it was when I arrived. But I was so upset I wouldn't make it home on time when Paratransit dropped Randy off from Adult Daycare. And they were notorious for driving off without checking to see if he got in the house. So thankful the ER Dr decided I would be better off going home, with a promise to have my MD adjust my BP meds.
My heart goes out to everyone carrying the heavy burden of caregiving at home.
The Dementia Park article
I can't post without a photo. So here's my handsome husband & I celebrating our 47th Wedding Anniversary on August 25th.
Randy still has a head of black hair, and mine matches his grey beard!
