Finding Light Again 
at Desert Mission 
F
or nearly 50 years, Kevin and Marie 
Hughes have walked hand in hand through 
life — raising nine children, weathering 
challenges and celebrating decades of love. But 
when Kevin was diagnosed with dementia, that 
life began to narrow.
A proud military veteran who once served 
as a military police officer across the U.S. 
and overseas, Kevin had always been steady 
and independent. After his diagnosis, that 
confidence slowly slipped away. His world grew 
quieter. Days once filled with purpose gave way 
to isolation — too much television and sleep, 
and little connection beyond home. 
“He became isolated and depressed,” Marie 
recalls. “There just wasn’t anything to stimulate 
him anymore.” 
For Marie, a retired nurse of more than 30 
years, the shift was heartbreaking. Overnight, 
she became not only a wife, but a full-time 
caregiver. She was constantly on alert and 
constantly worried. Kevin no longer recognized 
his own limitations, and Marie lived with the fear 
that he might wander, get hurt or decline faster. 
“I was burned out when we got here,” she 
admits. “And that was scary.” 
That’s when the Hughes family found Adult Day 
Health Care at HonorHealth Desert Mission, 
a program made possible in large part by the 
generosity of donors who believe deeply in 
compassionate, community-based care. 
Kevin didn’t want to go at first. 
“I didn’t think I’d like it,” he says with a laugh. 
“I thought it would just be a bunch of people 
sitting around.”  
On his first day, Kevin met Rob — another 
participant who rode the same bus. Rob 
greeted him with warmth and friendship. 
Soon, Kevin met more friends, some of them 
fellow veterans, all of them welcoming. 
Slowly, almost without realizing it, Kevin 
found his place. 
Today, Kevin calls the program “school.” 
He looks forward to going. He talks about 
his friends. He prays for them when they’re 
sick. He lights up when he tells Marie stories 
about ceramic projects, travel shows he 
watches with other participants and the staff 
members who treat him not as a patient, but 
as a person. 
Through daily structure, meaningful activities, 
companionship and clinical support, the 
program helped restore something Kevin had 
lost: a sense of dignity and belonging. 
The impact has been remarkable. Kevin is 
more engaged. He sleeps and eats better. 
His health has improved so much so that he 
no longer requires medication for depression 
and has seen significant improvements in his 
diabetes management. Just as important,  
he no longer feels alone. 
14   HonorHealth Foundation 

View this content as a flipbook by clicking here.