Hospice of the Valley Awarded $100,000 Mercy C.A.R.E.S. Community Reinvestment Grant to Support First-of-its-Kind In-Home Dementia Program

Hospice of the Valley Awarded $100,000 Mercy C.A.R.E.S. Community Reinvestment Grant to Support First-of-its-Kind In-Home Dementia Program

(PHOENIX – Sept. 1, 2026) – Hospice of the Valley has been awarded a $100,000 Mercy C.A.R.E.S. Community Reinvestment Grant to support its Supportive Care for Dementia Program across Maricopa, Pinal, and Pima Counties. This unique service is the only in-home program in Arizona delivering clinical and emotional care to support families caring for a loved one with any stage of dementia. Specific features of the program include in-home guidance and custom care plans from an experienced dementia team; free family caregiver education and support; low-cost in-home respite care through the RISE student engagement partnership; and 24-hour access to clinical advice and care coordination.

“People living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias represent one of the fastest-growing population groups in Arizona, affecting an estimated 200,000 Arizonans ages 65 and older,” said Dr. Gagandeep Singh, chief medical officer at Mercy Care. “Many caregivers report a decline in their own mental and physical health. By offering support and valuable resources for caregivers and those who live alone with dementia, particularly in underserved areas, Hospice of the Valley is allowing patients to live in the comforts of their own home.”

Mercy C.A.R.E.S., which stands for Community Action Resources Education and Service, is Mercy Care’s community giving initiative. Through Mercy C.A.R.E.S., Mercy Care partners with organizations that address health disparities and align with our community health focus areas:   building basic needs, increasing health access, managing chronic conditions, and supporting mental health and well-being. Since 2016, Mercy C.A.R.E.S. has invested nearly $45 million in community reinvestment projects that build basic needs, increase health access, manage chronic conditions, and support mental health and well-being. This year, 46 partners, from local nonprofits to statewide coalitions, amplify Mercy Care’s reach and deepen the organization’s impact across Arizona.

“Thanks to Mercy Care’s generous grant, we will be able to provide respite and additional support to family caregivers, as well as people with dementia who live alone,” said Dr. Gillian Hamilton, medical director of Supportive Care for Dementia. “We also are thrilled to expand our educational outreach to populations that are disproportionately affected by dementia, specifically Hispanics and African Americans, through the grant.”

Together, Mercy Care and organizations like Hospice of the Valley are helping underserved populations access the care, support and resources they need to live healthier lives and achieve their full potential.

About Hospice of the Valley

Founded in 1977 by volunteers as a not-for-profit hospice, Hospice of the Valley cared for more than 28,000 patients and families last year, turning no one away for lack of insurance or financial resources. The agency serves Maricopa and northern Pinal counties, and the Tucson area, providing supportive care, dementia care and hospice care.

About Mercy Care

Mercy Care is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of all Arizonans. Since 1985, Mercy Care has provided access to quality physical and behavioral health care services for Medicaid-eligible families, children, seniors, and individuals with developmental and cognitive disabilities through the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS). Mercy Care is a not-for-profit Medicaid managed care health plan sponsored by Dignity Health and Ascension Health. Learn more at MercyCareAZ.org.