Empath Health Opens Dementia Education and Care Center in Ocala with Support from Florida Leaders
New regional hub will expand caregiver education and train first responders as dementia diagnoses rise across Florida
OCALA, Fla. (Mar. 16, 2026) — Empath Health today opened the new Empath Dementia Education and Care Center in Ocala, expanding access to dementia education, caregiver support, care coordination, and specialized adult day services in Marion County and the broader North Central Florida region.
Community leaders, healthcare professionals, and state officials gathered Friday at the Empath Hospice of Marion County Helen "Mimi" Walker Campus for a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the launch of the center.
More than 14,000 residents in Marion County are currently living with dementia, reflecting a growing public health challenge as Florida's population continues to age. The new center will serve as a regional resource for families, caregivers, and professionals seeking education, support, and practical tools to better understand and care for individuals living with dementia.
"Dementia affects not just the individual, but entire families and communities," said Jonathan Fleece, president and CEO of Empath Health. "This center reflects Empath's broader commitment to expanding dementia support across Florida. By bringing together care coordination, education, and specialized day services in one location, we are creating a resource that will help families, caregivers, first responders, and community partners respond with greater understanding and compassion."
The center was made possible through community philanthropy and legislative support, including a $750,000 appropriation from the State of Florida championed by Senator Stan McClain and Representative Ryan Chamberlin. Nearly $2 million has been raised to support the project and expand programming.
"By investing in the Hospice of Marion County Nancy Renyhart Center for Dementia Education, we are providing Florida caregivers with groundbreaking, scientifically proven tools to manage the complexities of dementia," said Senator Stan McClain. "This center isn't just a building; this initiative transforms a former hospice home into a vital resource for our community; it's a commitment to the 720,000 Florida residents projected to be living with this disease by 2030."
The center brings together three key dementia-focused offerings: Empath GUIDE, a CMS-recognized care-coordination program; the Nancy Renyhart Dementia Education Program, which offers complimentary training and education for long-term care providers, skilled nursing facility providers, community partners, caregivers, and first responders; and the Empath Dementia Adult Day Center, a licensed dementia-specific day program that will provide specialized support for participants and respite for caregivers. Programming will also include caregiver education, Memory Cafés, and other community-based resources designed to support people living with dementia and those who care for them.
"As the number of families impacted by dementia continues to grow, access to education and support is more important than ever," said Representative Ryan Chamberlain. "I was proud to help secure state funding for this project during the 2025 legislative session, and I'm grateful to see the Nancy Renyhart Dementia Education Center become a resource that will serve caregivers, families, and first responders across our region."
The Empath Dementia Education and Care Center is the first of its kind in Marion County and reflects Empath Health's broader vision for strengthening dementia support in communities across Florida.
The center is part of Empath Health's expanding dementia services across Florida. While Ocala is home to the physical center and the Empath Dementia Adult Day Center, Empath is also expanding GUIDE and dementia education services in other communities it serves through Trustbridge, Suncoast, and Tidewell.
For more information about Empath's dementia services, visit empathhealth.org/dementia. To learn more about Hospice of Marion County's Building Hope campaign, visit hospiceofmarion.org/buildinghope/.
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About Empath Health
Empath Health is a pioneering not-for-profit health network redefining healthcare through Full Life Care—supporting chronic, post-acute, end-of-life, and grief care needs across Florida. Its full spectrum of services includes home health, palliative care, all-inclusive elder care (PACE), HIV/STI prevention, grief support, and compassionate hospice care through seven programs: Empath Hospice, Hospice of Marion County, Suncoast Hospice, Suncoast Hospice of Hillsborough, Tidewell Hospice and Trustbridge (Hospice by the Sea and Hospice of Palm Beach County). With decades of trusted service and deep community roots, Empath Health reaches more than 81,000 people each year and serves one in five hospice patients statewide.