Maude's Ventures

Maude’s Ventures team is back from a restful break and excited to dive into the work ahead! As we gear up to send our annual community letter we wanted to share a few of our goals for 2025: Strengthen Our Partnerships We grow stronger by connecting with others who share our mission. In 2025, we’re focused on deepening our existing partnerships and expanding our network of funders, founders, and collaborators who are equally passionate about our cause. Expand Our Program We’re thrilled to announce the launch of Maude’s Ventures’ new Young Founders program! This year, we’ll be offering seed funding to high schoolers, college students, and recent grads who are ready to turn their vision for better dementia care into reality. Stay tuned for more info on this! Lead Funding in Dementia Care Innovation We’re dedicated to expanding our reach and positioning Maude’s Ventures as a leading funder in dementia care innovation. Dementia care is an often-overlooked, complex field that demands creative solutions, and we believe that by increasing our support for innovators, we can drive real, systemic change. 📩 Keep an eye on your inbox next week for Maude’s Ventures newsletter! Not subscribed yet? Sign up here https://lnkd.in/dNQetiYX

We had the pleasure to chat with Keren Etkin, host of TheAgeTech Podcast, about our story, mission, and work in dementia care. We exchanged thoughts about addressing the caregiving challenges of our country and supporting innovative solutions in the aging and dementia care sector. Make sure to catch the full episode!

Missed our latest newsletter on "The tech-centric innovations shaping the future of aging and dementia care"? In it, we dive deep into a conversation with Keren Etkin, host of The AgeTech Podcast, and a leading voice in the field. Key Takeaways: ⭐Learn how technology is revolutionizing care for aging loved ones, from fall detection sensors to robotic companions. ⭐Discover how innovations like MapHabit are helping people with cognitive decline maintain independence. ⭐Explore the exciting potential of robotics in addressing the caregiver crisis and enabling older adults to age in place with dignity. ⭐Get Keren's expert insights on the challenges and opportunities within the growing AgeTech ecosystem. This newsletter volume is a must-read for anyone interested in the future of aging and the power of technology to improve quality of life for older adults. Send an email to giulia.benvenuto@ferryfound.org if you'd like us to  send you a copy of this newsletter! 2025 will bring tons of new conversations about innovations in dementia care! Make sure to join our email list here https://lnkd.in/dNQetiYX

Wishing you a joyful, healthy, and peaceful holiday season from Maude’s Ventures team. We’re deeply grateful for our incredible community of care partners, innovators, advocates, and all those living with dementia who make this work so meaningful. Let’s stay connected in the new year! Sign up for our twice-monthly newsletter here https://lnkd.in/dNQetiYX, filled with resources for caregivers, tips for grantseekers in dementia care, inspiring stories, and more. Here’s to continued growth, collaboration, and shared success in 2024!

In our most recent newsletter, we shared our conversation with Dr. Rachel Broudy from Ariadne Labs, a leader in health systems innovation. 💡 We discussed the importance of philanthropy in driving dementia care innovation, what “living well” means for people with dementia, and the power of a human-centered approach to creating lasting change. Ariadne Labs, with support from the William H. Donner Foundation, is developing a “Living Well with Dementia Toolkit” to help families navigate this journey. This toolkit prioritizes the voices of people living with dementia and focuses on quality of life, social connection, and autonomy. Don't miss out on learning more about the landscape of innovations in dementia care in our upcoming newsletters! Join our email list TODAY here https://lnkd.in/dNQetiYX

This week, we’re putting a spotlight on the Memory Hub – a dynamic, dementia-specific community center in Seattle offering a range of programs and resources – and Dr. Julia Becke, the Memory Hub’s very first artist-in-residence. With a background in dance and dance education, Dr. Becke leads weekly sessions designed specifically for people living with memory loss or dementia. The project wraps up this month with a performance featuring dance movements co-created by the participants. “It is a very special opportunity for me to work with people living with memory loss and to use the arts and dance as a way of enhancing joy and creativity… in the setting of a condition that can be stigmatizing and isolating.” Maude's Ventures celebrates programs like the Memory Hub that support living well with dementia, as well as innovators like Dr. Becke. Her work at the intersection of medicine and art creates much-needed space for social connection and movement for those living with dementia. 💡 Learn more about the Memory Hub and their incredible work here https://lnkd.in/dDu_nSbm 💛 And don't forget to join our email list to read more about initiatives and innovators in dementia care https://lnkd.in/dNQetiYX 📩

We are so proud of this and looking forward to reading it! Congratulations Maude's Awards and for all the innovators in the handbook!

Meet Magda Kaczmarska, MFA, founder of DanceStream Projects, a New York-based organization dedicated to promoting cognitive well-being. DanceStream’s programs are designed to enhance brain health, support creativity, and foster connection for individuals living with dementia and their caregivers. Tailored to the unique needs of people with dementia and mild cognitive impairment, Stories in the Moment™ classes combine dance, movement, and storytelling. These online classes offer participants a space to express themselves, engage in movement, and build a creative community. 🫂 “People living with dementia inevitably experience shifts in their capacities for expression which influence their ability to feel connected to the communities around them. Stories in the Moment™ is built on the principle that all of us, regardless of our modes of cognition, have stories to tell and that we all have the means to tell those stories.” Maude's Ventures celebrates innovators like Magda, whose work creates meaningful opportunities for people living with dementia to engage more fully with the world around them. If you haven't already, join our email list to learn more and connect with people like Magda who are doing incredible work in dementia care. Sign up here https://lnkd.in/dNQetiYX 📩

Keep an eye on your inbox – the latest edition of the Maude’s Ventures newsletter is out today! 📩 November is National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, a time to both raise awareness about Alzheimer’s and show support for the more than 6.2 million Americans living with the disease. It’s also an opportunity to recognize the caregivers who play an essential role in this journey. We honor the courage and resilience of all those living with Alzheimer’s, as well as every caregiver who helps navigate the challenges of the disease with dignity. 🫂 While there’s still significant work ahead, in this season of gratitude we’re encouraged to see major investments being made around both Alzheimer’s research and caregiver support. The challenges caregivers face are in a national spotlight unlike ever before, and it’s inspiring a wave of incredibly exciting innovations in caregiving. Maude's Ventures is proud to fund groundbreaking ideas in dementia and Alzheimer's care. Learn more about our work here 💡 https://lnkd.in/di2fg3-U Interested in updates on Maude’s Ventures, resources for grantseekers in dementia care, grant application tips, inspiring stories, and more? ⤵️ Sign up for our newsletter here https://lnkd.in/dNQetiYX.

Did you know that music can have a powerful impact on individuals with dementia? Meet Sarah McKiddy, whose unique background as an accomplished musician and PhD candidate at the University of Washington School of Nursing catalyzed her interest in researching cognitive health, the intersectionality of ageism, and music-based interventions for individuals living with dementia and their care partners. McKiddy recently joined the Seattle Opera Community Conversation series to discuss music, memory, and the brain ahead of the Seattle premiere of chamber opera Lucidity, which sheds light on the realities of dementia and all those it affects. “Music has a unique way of meeting people exactly where they are. For someone living with dementia, it can tap into, ignite, and translate emotions. For caregivers, music can describe, counter, and provide solace for the moments of isolation or relentlessness. Music reminds both people that connection, even when in small doses, is still possible—and it’s something worth embracing and pursuing.” We’re excited to see where this groundbreaking research goes! Have you ever observed the power of music on a loved one with dementia? Let us know! 📩 Don't forget to join our newsletter to learn more about incredible work and research pursued to improve dementia care around the country https://lnkd.in/dNQetiYX