Agrace to launch ‘dementia village’ aimed at providing ‘kinder’ approach to memory care
KIMBERLY WETHAL
Updated
A rendering of the Agrace Hospice dementia village, where homes and activities such as a theater and a health club will be situated around a central courtyard.
Clients dance with staff members as part of an exercise activity at Agrace’s Adult Day Center. Nearly all of the clients served at the day center have dementia or Alzheimer’s. The day center will be moving to Agrace’s main campus in Fitchburg as part of its planned dementia village, which will break ground Tuesday.
Beth Larson, chief development officer at Agrace, right, greets Ellen Johnson during a visit to Johnson’s home. Johnson and her husband, Peter, are the lead donors of the dementia village project with a $7 million gift, and have been involved in Agrace and other hospice and palliative care projects for the last two decades.
Since the physical footprint of Agrace Hospice Care’s property isn’t getting any bigger, part of the current building will need to come down to make room for the dementia village. The eastern side, shown here, is where the dementia village will be built.
An Agrace Adult Day Center client leads a taekwondo class at the center. Clients will be able to take advantage of the amenities at Agrace’s dementia village, with the hope they may be able to develop memories there so it will be familiar to them should they move there after their disease progresses.
Ellen and Peter Johnson have been involved in Agrace and other hospice and palliative care advocacy for two decades after seeing family members experience “horrible” end-of-life conditions. Seeing that makes it “easy” to support dying with dignity, Peter said.
Ellen and Peter Johnson at their home in Madison, Wis. Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
AMBER ARNOLD STATE JOURNAL
Kiarra Little, center, intake coordinator at Agrace Adult Day Center, works on a puzzle with clients at the facility on West Beltline Highway in Madison, Wis. Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
AMBER ARNOLD STATE JOURNAL
Agrace Adult Day Center on West Beltline Highway in Madison, Wis. Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
Since the physical footprint of Agrace Hospice Care’s property isn’t getting any bigger, part of the current building will need to come down to make room for the dementia village. The eastern side, shown here, is where the dementia village will be built.
Beth Larson, chief development officer at Agrace, right, greets Ellen Johnson during a visit to Johnson’s home. Johnson and her husband, Peter, are the lead donors of the dementia village project with a $7 million gift, and have been involved in Agrace and other hospice and palliative care projects for the last two decades.
Ellen and Peter Johnson have been involved in Agrace and other hospice and palliative care advocacy for two decades after seeing family members experience “horrible” end-of-life conditions. Seeing that makes it “easy” to support dying with dignity, Peter said.
Clients dance with staff members as part of an exercise activity at Agrace’s Adult Day Center. Nearly all of the clients served at the day center have dementia or Alzheimer’s. The day center will be moving to Agrace’s main campus in Fitchburg as part of its planned dementia village, which will break ground Tuesday.
An Agrace Adult Day Center client leads a taekwondo class at the center. Clients will be able to take advantage of the amenities at Agrace’s dementia village, with the hope they may be able to develop memories there so it will be familiar to them should they move there after their disease progresses.
Kiarra Little, center, intake coordinator at Agrace Adult Day Center, works on a puzzle with clients at the facility on West Beltline Highway in Madison, Wis. Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
A rendering of the Agrace Hospice dementia village, where homes and activities such as a theater and a health club will be situated around a central courtyard.
