From Wichita to France: What We Learned (and Shared!) at a Global Alzheimer's Conference

By Micala Gingrich Gaylord, CEO

If you had told me years ago that my work in senior living would eventually take me all the way to Lyon, France, I probably would have laughed and told you I’m perfectly content right here in Kansas. But this spring, I had the absolute privilege of representing ComfortCare Homes on the global stage at the 37th Global Conference of Alzheimer's Disease International.

It was an incredible, whirlwind experience, and I’ve been itching to share what I brought back with all of you!

Many organizations that work in the dementia space exhibited during the Global Conference of Alzheimer's Disease International in Lyon, France.

Wichita Shared the Spotlight!

One of the coolest moments of the trip happened during a session on intentional design for memory care. Experts from Singapore, Canada, and France were talking about the importance of creating public spaces and environments that help folks with dementia keep their independence.

I decided to ask a question about how they track data, mentioning that we’ve been running our small, neighborhood-style homes here in Wichita for over 34 years.

The room went quiet, and you could hear a collective murmur of surprise from the audience! It turns out, the "new" innovations being studied across Europe are things the Stark family legacy brought to Wichita decades ago.

We’ve always known that smaller environments, backyard gardens, family-style meals, and four-legged friends drastically reduce anxiety and bring joy to our residents. To hear that validated by world-class researchers was just incredibly affirming. Innovation truly can happen quietly, one neighborhood at a time.

Chris Lynch begins a presentation on Dementia Risk Reduction.

Five Things We Can All Do Right Now

Another major takeaway was that dementia is increasingly understood as a disease that begins in midlife, even if symptoms don't show up until much later. As a middle-aged person myself, that made me pause and think about my own health.

The conference highlighted the FINGER Model, which points to five simple investments we can all make for our future brain health:

• Physical activity: Keeping our bodies moving.

• Mental stimulation: Testing our brains with new challenges.

• Social engagement: Staying connected with friends and neighbors.

• Healthy nutrition: Enjoying balanced, wholesome meals.

• Cardiovascular health: Keeping our hearts ticking happily.

We’re already using these lessons to look at our own menus, staff wellness ideas, and family education initiatives here at ComfortCare.

Bringing "Dementia Justice" Home

Finally, I was deeply moved by a phrase I encountered while working alongside an organization called Lorenzo’s House: Dementia Justice. It’s a reminder that memory care isn't just a medical checklist—it’s about dignity, inclusion, and making sure folks with dementia still have autonomy and a voice.

Our mission is growing into something we call Care for All. It takes a village to navigate this journey, from businesses learning how to accommodate folks with cognitive changes to neighbors looking out for neighbors.

At the end of the day, traveling across the world just reminded me that there are good helpers everywhere. I’m so proud of our team carrying our legacy forward every single day, and I'm more excited than ever for the future of care right here at home.

Let us know—how can we work together to make Wichita an even more supportive place for all our neighbors?