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Guide
Education & Navigation
Helping older adults, caregivers and families understand the decisions, resources and options that come with aging.
Lighting the way for older adults, families, and the future of senior care.
Light The Way is an Iowa nonprofit helping older adults and their families navigate difficult decisions, find resources and support, and feel less alone through the challenges of aging.
We're also inspiring the next generation to discover meaningful careers serving older adults.
The Need
Aging shouldn't come without a roadmap.
Where can Mom safely live?
How do we pay for care?
What resources are available?
Who can help us understand our options?
What happens when someone needs help but can't afford it?
Light The Way exists to help people find the way forward —
and make sure they don't have to navigate it alone.
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Older Adult + Family
Older Adult + Family
Community
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Caregiver / Student
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Our Mission
Our Mission
Light The Way exists to guide, educate and support older adults and their families while helping build the next generation of people committed to serving them.
We believe families should have access to information before a crisis, support when circumstances become overwhelming, and help when barriers leave important needs unmet.
Mission Video
Our Three Pillars
How We Light The Way
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Support
Helping When Help Is Out of Reach
Supporting older adults facing financial, physical or situational barriers that prevent them from getting the help they need.
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Inspire
Building the Next Generation
Introducing students and young adults to meaningful career opportunities serving older adults.
What We're Building
We're Just Getting Started.
Light The Way is building programs to address common gaps facing older adults, caregivers and the people who serve them.
Direct Assistance for Older Adults
Helping address important needs when financial or other circumstances stand in the way.
Community Education
Helping families learn about aging, caregiving, planning and available resources before a crisis occurs.
Student & Volunteer Opportunities
Creating meaningful opportunities for students and young adults to serve and learn from older adults.
Senior-Care Career Awareness
Helping students discover rewarding careers serving an aging population.
More to come.
More information about these programs and additional
Light The Way initiatives is coming soon.
Connecting Generations
Two Generations. Something to Give Each Other.
Older adults have stories, experience, perspective, and wisdom. Young people bring energy, curiosity, new ideas, and connection to the world around them.
Light The Way believes our communities are stronger when those generations aren't separated from one another.
These programs aren't simply about volunteering. They're about creating opportunities for people who might never otherwise meet to know each other.
Explore Our Generational Programs
What We Hope to Create
Connection
Bringing together people who might otherwise never have
the opportunity to know one another.
Companionship
Creating meaningful moments of conversation,
friendship, and shared experience.
Perspective
Giving both generations an opportunity to learn
from someone whose life looks very different from their own.
Why Light The Way?
Sometimes the road ahead isn't clear.
There are moments during aging when families, caregivers, older adults and even the next generation aren't sure what comes next.
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A diagnosis.
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A hospitalization.
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A change in someone's independence.
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A caregiver who doesn't know what to do next.
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A family searching for help.
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A student deciding what they want to do with their life.
Our Story
Where It Started
Light The Way grew from community efforts helping Iowa families better understand dementia, caregiving and the difficult decisions that often accompany cognitive decline.
Through those conversations, one thing became clear:
The need was much bigger than dementia alone.
Older adults and their caregivers often struggle to find resources, understand their choices and determine what to do next.
Light The Way was created to help close those gaps.
Get Involved
Help Us Light The Way
Whether you're looking for guidance, want to give your time, or want to support the work financially, there's a place for you to be part of the mission.
Looking for Help?
As our programs grow, Light The Way will provide assistance, education and connections to resources for older adults and families navigating difficult circumstances.
Find SupportWant to Get Involved?
Volunteer your time, participate in an event or help us create stronger communities for older adults.
Get InvolvedSupport the Mission
Your support helps us educate families, assist older adults and build programs that strengthen the future of senior care.
Support Light The Waycontactus
(515) 808-5637
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