Continuing more than 20 years of local philanthropic efforts, Donald and Mary Kosch, owners of Dearborn Sausage, have donated $1.2 million to help Beaumont Hospital’s at-risk populations, including the elderly and those at risk of chronic diseases, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The donation is being matched by the Beaumont Foundation, bringing the total investment to $2.4 million.
“My husband and I have been donors to Oakwood, and now Beaumont, for 23 years. Our hearts have always been with children in need and their families. Now, we need to focus on quality care for our elderly, another vulnerable population in our communities,” says Mary Kosch. “The need is great and speaking with friends and others in the community, we all want our loved ones to experience aging with dignity in this time of their lives.”
The gift was inspired by Mary’s mother, Naudean, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease seven years ago. Understanding the health care needs of her mom and other elderly patients motivated the Kosches to fund, in part, a new memory care center at the Beaumont Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Dearborn, through a gift to the Beaumont Foundation. The unit will be a fully-functioning area for those diagnosed with memory-related disorders, such as Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Updates to the memory care center will involve renovating the current lobby to include more natural light and a more open feel, giving the area an interactive kitchen and “the sense of a home environment, with improved wheelchair capability,” Mary adds. She wants the unit, named for her and Donald, to have “a feeling of warmth and friendliness,” as well as “small private areas for families to visit together.”
Additional updates to the memory care center will include: day spaces with expanded views of the outdoors and exposure to natural light, an activity kitchen better suited to patients in wheelchairs, a dedicated entrance for patients and staff, and an expanded nursing station.
As the founding philanthropic leader of the Healthy Dearborn initiative, a partnership between Beaumont and the City of Dearborn, remaining funds from the Kosch donation will support Healthy Dearborn programs, which aim to provide residents more opportunities to be physically active and eat healthy foods.
More information about Beaumont’s Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center can be found here.
