On Wednesday, Dec. 9th, members of a collaborative effort between the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), the City of Rancho Cordova, and the Respite Club at the Cordova Neighborhood Church gathered to celebrate the dedication of a Memory Garden.

The Building Leadership Talent group, representing SMUD, was at the forefront and the driving factor in turning the garden into reality. Ron Lehman, senior business technology analyst with SMUD, described the day as “phenomenal.”

The Club is a drop-in program providing respite for caregivers and socialization for stroke victims and seniors with memory loss. It is designed to give caregivers much needed time for themselves. For the participants, it is a social time in a safe, loving environment. The Club is open Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and is working on being open on Thursdays. Pastor Mike Mitchum of the Cordova Neighborhood Church was instrumental in providing the facility for the Club when first approached about it more than 20 years ago.

When the garden project was first suggested to SMUD “all we were looking for ways to build a fence around the patio,” said Rebecca Graulich, marketing director for the Respite Club. The enclosed area would then allow the people suffering from dementia to enjoy the outdoors while preventing them from wandering away.

From this humble idea came a much grander plan and, in the words of Ron Lehman, “It was amazing to see what has been accomplished from our original goals.”

In fact, this is the biggest amount of money SMUD has raised in support of a single cause, totaling over $100,000.

The SMUD Leadership Talent team has always supported children’s organizations, but after many conversations with the Respite Club’s directors, they realized it was time to support other community needs. Lehman and his leadership team of 14 men and women from SMUD support the Sacramento region with various projects as their way of enhancing the community and making a positive impact on individuals. In addition to the Memory Garden, the Alzheimer’s Association and the Asian Community Center have also received support.

As far as the Memory Garden itself, April Kangas, strategic planner and project manager at SMUD, explained that horticultural therapy plays an important role because “certain plants may jog memories of familiarity.” There are azaleas, rhododendrons, and many more. Additional benefits of the garden may include helping people with dementia reminisce and encouraging social interaction as well as improving one’s own mind and body.

The Memory Garden is designed to be low maintenance and accessible to those who are in wheelchairs so that everyone can participate in keeping the garden looking spectacular. In the springtime, the participants of the Respite Club will be growing their own vegetables.

The impact of the dedication ceremony went well beyond the Memory Garden. Some employees of SMUD shared that they, too, are dealing with, or have dealt with, dementia in their own families. They realize the importance of caregivers “getting a needed break” to manage their own lives. As the ceremony concluded, it was clear that the contributions from the SMUD team, the City of Rancho Cordova, and invited guests will make a positive impact on families they will never meet. Everyone left the Memory Garden with smiles.

If you would like to volunteer or contribute financially to the program, contact Program Director Flora Maloney for more information at (916) 635-5147.