The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences has recevided a $7.9 million grant for its Schmieding Home Caregiver Training Program from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation.

The Foundation, funded by sale of the Donrey Media empire after its founder’s death, is wrapping up 60 years of giving with final distributions. This gift brings to $94.3 million the Foundation has given to the Reynolds Institute on Aging at UAMS, which includes the caregiver program.

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The latest grant will support five years of operation of the program at seven sites around Arkansas. It trains family and paid workers in caring for adults at home, rather than institutions.

The program began in 1998 with $15 million from the Schmieding Foundation, inspired by Lawrence Schmieding’s search for home care for a brother with dementia. The program began in Springdale and then a Reynolds grant helped UAMS replicate the program in Jonesboro, West Memphis, Pine Bluff and Texarkana. A second Reynolds grant added sites in Fort Smith, Little Rock, Hot Springs and El Dorado.

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