CADES celebrates 20 years of senior care
CADES, housed in Concord United Methodist Church, 11020 Roane Drive, celebrated that milestone in CUMC Thursday, Oct. 25, with a gala, when the program, church leaders and a caregiver reflected on CADES’ past, its present and future.
“Tonight we are surrounded by friends and family who have made this incredible journey possible,” CADES executive director Deena Greer said to the approximately 220 volunteers, board members, caregivers and participants. “On behalf of CADES, we thank you for being here to celebrate this milestone with us.”
The program started in 2005 with founding executive director Diane Wright and Judy Warner, the founding program director, as an outreach goal of CUMC in 2001.
Jane Wendleken, in her history account, said the church’s leadership council’s “dream team” was collecting various “dreams” or missions for the church. One of those was to provide day care for seniors with dementia.
“Right at the turn of the 20th century, Concord Church was doing very well,” recalled the Rev. Bill Kildair, former CUMC pastor from 1999 to 2004. “We started a dream team and we came up with four initiatives.
“The first initiative was to build this space — the youth development … new Sunday school rooms — and here we are,” he said. “The second initiative was to build a new children’s wing. In November, we’re going to break ground on a new children’s wing.
“We also wanted to start a lot of new, small group experiences, so people could experience spiritual and theological growth and fellowship, and that’s been going on ever since,” Kildair said.
“The fourth initiative was created by some really dedicated, interested people,” he said. “They wanted to start a ministry especially for families dealing with dementia issues.”
While the church adopted all four of the initiatives, “the one I didn’t think was going to work was the last initiative.” Looking back, however, he said he is glad he was wrong.
“I’m so proud to be a part of the program,” Wright said. “It’s just been a blessing in my life to see it just blossom from idea to serving all the seniors in this area that have needs, to keep the families going a little longer.”
“When you look behind the scenes at CADES, it’s not about excellence; it’s not about hospitality, it’s about love,” CUMC’s current pastor Brent Hall said. “That’s why we’re excellent; that’s why we’re hospitable because of the great love that CADES has for its people, for its caregivers, and as we think about the difference that makes for each family.”
“Incredible,” Greer said about the milestone. “(CADES is) just a wonderful opportunity to serve our seniors and their families.”
Looking at CADES’ success, “I think probably (the secret to that success has been) the love and compassion and care to help our seniors with dementia and Alzheimer’s just live a better life, a life with dignity and purpose.”
