Community Matters: Life Circle
Lea VanMerkestyn, Life Circle
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
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On this episode of Community Matters, we speak with Lea VanMerkestyn, Director of Life Circle, about the need for senior services in northern New Mexico.
Life Circle is a Santa Fe-based nonprofit that serves as a day center for elders and their families to balance the many needs associated with aging. Life Circle’s focus is to enhance the well-being of our clients as we provide socialization and daily joy for them while simultaneously providing respite for family caregivers. Life Circle Adult Day Center includes programming for elders living with dementia and elders who require support services to enhance their daily lives. Trained and loving staff provide client engagement by utilizing individual and group activities that meet the physical, cognitive, emotional, and spiritual needs of our elders.
Lea is originally from Chicago, Illinois and received her BS in Music Education, from the University of Illinois, in Champaign-Urbana. While working on her masters degree at the University of Memphis, she began teaching intergenerational music classes. This led her to begin working with those who were living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Upon moving to Santa Fe, two years ago, Lea joined Life Circle Adult Day Center as the director and began the work of serving families who are living with Alzheimers or other forms of dementia.
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About Community Matters
Our monthly radio show invites subject experts and community leaders to talk about the challenges and inequities our region faces and possible solutions that could contribute to its growth. Hosted by Santa Fe Community Foundation staff, Community Matters airs on the third Wednesday of every month at 6:00 PM on KSFR (101.1 FM). Listen to past episodes here.
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