Today we’d like to introduce you to Carole Klingler.
Hi Carole , please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
To me, LIFE is a calling and a mission. It grew out of both my professional experience as a registered nurse and Certified Dementia Practitioner, and a deep conviction that people living with dementia—and those who care for them—deserve more than fragmented services or crisis-driven support.
LIFE began with a simple but urgent realization: families affected by dementia needed more than information—they needed meaningful support, understanding, and community. Over years of working alongside individuals living with dementia and their care partners, I repeatedly saw gaps in services, especially for people in the earlier and middle stages of the disease, and for families trying to navigate the journey largely on their own.
What started as a small, local effort grew into LIFE, a Dementia Friendly Foundation dedicated to education, engagement, and practical support. We began by listening—to individuals living with dementia, to spouses and adult children, and to professionals in the community—and built programs around what people said they truly needed. From those conversations came our Memory Cafés and weekly engagement programs, now offered in multiple locations, providing social connection, structured activities, education, and respite for care partners.
Over the years, LIFE has grown through strong community partnerships. Churches have opened their doors, care organizations have donated meals and programming support, and local professionals have shared their expertise. This collaborative approach has allowed us to expand our reach while staying true to our mission.
Today, as LIFE enters its tenth year, we serve hundreds of individuals and families each year. While the organization has grown, the heart of the work has not changed—to create dementia-informed, compassionate spaces where people are respected, supported, and valued throughout every stage of the journey.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a completely smooth road, but it has been a deeply supported one. From the very beginning, we have felt God’s hand on LIFE. We have never had an abundance, but we have also never gone without. At each point when a need arose—whether for space, meals, volunteers, leadership, or expertise—the right people and resources appeared through generous community support.
Our churches opened their doors, volunteers stepped forward, staff and board members gave far beyond what was expected, and community partners consistently said “yes” when we asked for help. The challenges of building and sustaining a nonprofit—funding, growth, and meeting increasing needs—have been real, but we have always found that our needs were met in meaningful and timely ways.
That steady support has affirmed our mission and strengthened our belief that this work is not ours alone. LIFE has truly been built through faith, community, and a shared commitment to supporting people living with dementia and those who care for them.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I began my career as a nurse never intending to work in long-term care or hospice, yet those fields became the heart of my professional life and ultimately shaped my calling. Over time, I grew to deeply value the relationships, the complexity of care, and the opportunity to support not just individuals, but entire families during some of the most vulnerable seasons of life.
As a Director of Nursing, I pursued advanced training that profoundly influenced my approach to dementia care. I became a Validation Therapist under Naomi Feil and later a Certified Dementia Practitioner, receiving training through the Positive Approach to Care model with Teepa Snow. These experiences strengthened my conviction that we can—and must—do better in how we support people living with dementia.
My work now specializes in dementia-informed, relationship-centered care that honors the person while also supporting the care partner. LIFE is known for keeping individuals living with dementia engaged, respected, and connected, while intentionally supporting care partners with education, respite, and encouragement. Our goal is not just to manage decline, but to preserve abilities for as long as possible and help families feel more confident and less alone.
What I am most proud of is the community we have built. LIFE stands apart because we focus on the whole family, not just the diagnosis, and because our programs are rooted in compassion, dignity, and practical support. Seeing care partners feel supported and individuals living with dementia continue to engage meaningfully with others affirms every step of this journey.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I don’t see myself as a risk-taker in the traditional sense, but I do believe in taking thoughtful, mission-driven risks. One of the greatest risks we take at LIFE is opening new locations while remaining committed to keeping our services at no cost to care partners and participants. That commitment means we rely on a combination of grants, ongoing fundraising, donations, and strong community and church support.
We never open a new location casually or “willy-nilly.” Each expansion is carefully considered and based on demonstrated community need, sustainable partnerships, and our ability to fundraise locally with the support of churches, volunteers, board members, and community partners. Even with careful planning, there is always an element of trust involved—trust that the community will respond and that the resources needed to sustain the program will be there.
For me, risk is not about growth for growth’s sake. It’s about responsibly stepping forward when the need is clear, the mission is strong, and the community is willing to walk alongside us. Thoughtful fundraising and community engagement are essential parts of that process, and they allow us to grow without compromising our values or placing a financial burden on families already facing enough challenges.
Pricing:
- All LIFE programs, including Memory Cafés and engagement services, are offered at no cost to individuals living with dementia and their care partners. There are no fees, memberships, or income requirements for participation. While services are free to families, the cost to operate one Memory Café that meets weekly for four-hour sessions is approximately $20,000 per year. These costs are covered through a combination of grants, fundraising, donations, and generous community and church support.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dflife.org/
- Instagram: lifememorycafe
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dflife.org/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-dementia-friendly-life
