An organization in the Perry community is hosting a gathering revolving around brain disorder.

According to Director of Marketing Mollie Clark, Perry Lutheran Homes is offering a free community dementia support group throughout 2025. She explains that the organization has given a space to family members of residents that struggle with dementia, but realizes that others within the community face their own challenges. Clark pinpoints that the goal is to reach as many people as possible to share information as well as resources for caregivers with this free program.

“We’re really wanting to open it up to the community for everybody that might be feeling alone and isolated in that journey, might need some more information, especially to join a group where others know what you’re going through. Each journey is different, but it’s a group of people that really truly understand the difficulties and what you’re going through, so that could mean a lot.”

Clark describes that the sessions are led by Perry Lutheran Homes Social Services Coordinator Geneen Hilsenbeck, who has over 25 years of dementia care experience. The second meeting of the year will be held on Friday at 11am at the Eden Acres Campus, 1300 28th Street, in Perry for free and open to the public. Clark adds that the group will continue to meet until the end of year on the second Friday of each month. Questions can be directed to Geneen Hilsenbeck by calling (515)-465-5342 extension 223 or emailing ghilsenbeck@PerryLutheranHomes.org.