Goodyear business develops senior care in the West Valley

By Mary Goldmeer
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With a new business and a community-wide initiative, Helena Morgan is bringing a renewed focus to geriatric care and providing support for families navigating the complex challenges of aging and dementia.  Morgan said she is aiming to bridge the gap between healthcare needs and accessible community resources in the West Valley.

Her professional journey has taken her through a wide range of care settings, with two decadess of healthcare experience Morgan has serviced hospitals, inpatient and home hospice, and rehabilitation centers. She says this diverse experience, combined with her background in dementia case management and public education, gives her a unique perspective on the needs of older adults.

Morgan said her work is deeply personal, stemming from her relationship with her own grandparents. Morgan was cared for by them as a child and was later a caregiver to her grandmother, who developed Alzheimer's. This experience is the driving force behind Gracious Navigation, the  business she recently launched.

"I treat each client as if they were my own grandparent, each connection is precious. It's an opportunity to, care and love on people and it's what fulfills me," Morgan said.

One of the services she offers is guiding families through the Arizona Long-Term Care Services application process, a state Medicaid program that provides financial support for long-term care that may applicants find daunting. Morgan said she helps families paint the picture of their loved one's needs, using her clinical insight to document the required assistance with activities of daily living.

"I have really, the last six years, dug in to learn about Arizona Long-Term Care, what are they looking for when you can apply for it," she said. "If people are already at a time in their lives where they're overwhelmed, and so asking more questions and having to provide paperwork, it just becomes so hard."

Beyond ALTCS, Morgan says her work is a testament to the belief that every person, regardless of age or health, deserves to be treated with dignity and love. 

This commitment extends to her community advocacy work. She is an active member of the Goodyear Dementia Action Team, a local chapter of the national Dementia Friendly America initiative. DFA aims to create communities where people living with dementia and their care partners can live, engage, and thrive without fear of stigma.

As part of the action team, Morgan helps lead new Memory Cafes in the West Valley. These free social gatherings are designed for people living with memory or thinking changes and their caregivers with no diagnosis required. Memory Cafes provide a welcoming space for participants to socialize, engage in interactive activities like music or arts, and connect with others who understand their experiences. 

With Morgan’s help, the following Memory Cafés are scheduled to launch in the West Valley this fall:

• The Goodyear Memory Café will meet 10-11:30 a.m. at 255 N. Litchfield Road on the first Tuesday of every month, starting Oct. 6.
• The Avondale Memory Café will meet 1-2:30 p.m. at 995 E. Riley Drive every third Tuesday of every month, starting Sept. 16

The two new locations join a host of over twelve Memory cafes in Arizona with regular meetings in Fountain Hills, Cave Creek, Mesa, Scottsdale, Pinetop, Tempe, Chandler, Buckeye, Glendale, Surprise and Phoenix.

The need for community support is more critical than ever, with over 37 million Americans in caregiving roles in 2023, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. These unpaid caregivers often provide dozens of hours of assistance each week, a role that can be both rewarding and incredibly demanding.

"Caregiving can be incredibly rewarding, but it also comes with that high level of demand," said Katherine Steele-Watson, executive director of the Arizona Caregiver Coalition, an organization that advocates for and assists caregivers statewide. "No one can give constantly without exhausting their physical, emotional, or mental resources."

Memory Cafes, while not a substitute for respite care, serve as an important social outlet for both the person with dementia and their care partner, helping to combat the loneliness that can often accompany caregiving.  

"If you've never known someone with dementia, it can be scary," Morgan said. "And so this gives an opportunity for the person living with dementia to maybe make new friends and have a little fun, like singing songs, or doing some exercise, or doing a project in our arts and crafts."

“Respite is really unique to each caregiver. It can be just grabbing a cup of coffee with a friend, taking a walk, or doing an art class. What matters is that caregivers take the time to recharge,” Steele-Watson said. 

According to Morgan, for caregivers, the Memory Cafe provides a much-needed support system.

 "It allows that care partner to have a place where they can express what they're feeling, and what they're going through in a safe space," Morgan said. "And know that they're not alone, that most people that are caring for somebody with dementia are also feeling the same thing."

Morgan’s work at Gracious Navigation offers support for families seeking connection, respite, aids in transitions into different living environments, connecting families to resources, and providing mobile notary services for crucial documents like powers of attorney and advanced directives. This service ensures that an individual's wishes for their healthcare and finances are legally documented and can be carried out by a trusted person.

"The older we get, a lot of times the more lonely people become," Morgan said. "Who cares for you? Who advocates for you? Who helps you to get out of your home and move into assisted living, if that's what you need?"

By helping families find the right resources, navigate complex systems, and connect with a supportive community, Morgan said she is not only providing professional services but also a sense of humanity and compassion.

Visit graciousnav.com for more information.