For more than three decades, ComfortCare Homes has been a steady presence for Wichita families navigating the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. What began as a single home offering a more personal, compassionate model of care has grown into a mission-driven organization committed not only to serving residents, but also to shaping the future of dementia understanding and treatment in Kansas.

That commitment took a meaningful step forward this year with the creation of a $25,000 endowed fund at the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita. The fund will provide perpetual support for Alzheimer’s and dementia research, with a special emphasis on projects led by medical students working alongside KU Wichita faculty.

For CEO Micala Gingrich-Gaylord, the endowment reflects a natural evolution of a long-standing partnership between ComfortCare Homes and KU School of Medicine-Wichita.

“What began as a conversation about education became a commitment to long-term change,” she said. “For families facing a dementia diagnosis, information alone isn’t enough. They need guidance, compassion and hope. Supporting research and medical education is part of our responsibility to the community we serve.”

The collaboration has already created powerful learning experiences for students, who spend time inside ComfortCare Homes’ real-world care environments. These immersive opportunities help future physicians understand dementia not just as a clinical condition, but as a lived experience — one that affects individuals, families and caregivers in deeply personal ways.

“This endowment represents belief in research that matters and education that leads with humanity,” Gingrich-Gaylord said. “It’s about ensuring future physicians understand dementia not just clinically, but personally.”

The new fund will strengthen student research opportunities in Wichita while connecting local efforts to KU’s broader Alzheimer’s research initiatives across the state. For KU Endowment, the partnership brings together academic expertise and community-based insight.

“Having ComfortCare Homes championing this fund brings credibility and insight that only comes from experiencing and providing hands-on care,” said Brad Rukes, KU Endowment senior development director-Wichita.

With this endowed fund, ComfortCare Homes is helping ensure that the next generation of physicians enters the field with deeper understanding, stronger empathy and a commitment to advancing dementia care for Kansas families.

Above, left: In this file photo from 2023, medical students Brooke Wietharn and Matthew Kranick interact with a ComfortCare resident. From blowing bubbles to painting nails, students assist residents with a variety of activities as they learn more about the residents' care.