News & Resources
Joy Circles
Care partner: “This is amazing!”
Loved one: “This isn’t for me.”
That tension is familiar to families in the early stages of dementia. After a diagnosis, many individuals do not see themselves as candidates for traditional adult day services. Yet care partners often feel overwhelmed and isolated, longing for community, information, and relief.
Joy Circles were created to meet families exactly at that moment.
Joy Circles Richmond
Developed by Circle Center Adult Day Services, Joy Circles are volunteer-led, social-model adult day programs hosted in faith communities. They are designed specifically for adults living with early-to-moderate stage memory loss and for the care partners who walk beside them.
The first Joy Circle opened March 17, 2026 at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Richmond!
A Different Setting, the Same Spirit
Joy Circles are rooted in the same philosophy that has guided Circle Center for more than 50 years: engagement, belonging, and meaningful connection for people living with memory loss and their care partners.
What’s different is the setting.
While Circle Center operates a comprehensive adult day program with therapeutic recreation and medical support, Joy Circles take place in familiar, non-medical neighborhood spaces. These welcoming environments make it easier for families in the early stages of dementia to say “yes” to community and connection close to home.
As the Joy Circle movement grows, more families will find support not across town—but right down the street.
Each session includes:
- Dementia-friendly activities such as art, music, movement, games, and conversation led by trained volunteers
- Friendship and shared experience with others navigating memory loss
At the same time, care partners have the opportunity to participate in a facilitated support group in the same location. They receive practical information, emotional encouragement, and the reassurance that they are not alone.
This parallel structure matters. While loved ones are engaged in purposeful activity, care partners experience respite and community, often for the first time since diagnosis.
Why Joy Circles Matter
Families in the early stages of dementia frequently say they “don’t fit” traditional programs. The needs are real, but the setting can feel premature. As a result, many families try to manage alone until a crisis forces a higher level of care.
Joy Circles provide a bridge.
They offer a safe, engaging solution before more intensive services are needed. Care partners gain peace of mind. Loved ones find joy, purpose, and social connection. The entire family benefits from earlier support.
Built on Proven Models
In addition to Circle Center’s expertise, Joy Circles are drawing from that of the Joy Group at St. Mark’s UMC in Midlothian and from a national initiative called Respite For All, currently operating in dozens of churches across the country.
Circle Center serves as the engine and guide for each Joy Circle — providing training, activity manuals, volunteer toolkits, evaluation support, and ongoing direction.
Our goal is ambitious: launch up to 20 Joy Circles across the Richmond region in the coming year or two, bringing relief to as many as 250 care partners and joy to 250 loved ones.
A Partnership Rooted in Community
At St. Matthew’s, Joy Circle reflects the church’s commitment to serving neighbors in meaningful, relevant ways. Volunteers are trained and supported by Circle Center, ensuring quality and consistency while keeping the program sustainable and community-based.
The result is a powerful combination: Circle Center’s clinical expertise paired with the welcoming spaces and volunteer spirit of local faith communities.
Learn More
Faith communities interested in launching a Joy Circle of their own may contact Heather Turbyne-Pollard, CEO of Circle Center, at hpollard@circlecenterva.org or at 804-355-5717 x203.
Joy Circles offer something simple and profound: relief for care partners, engagement for loved ones, and hope for families navigating the early journey of dementia.