Our Journey
Our Journey


The Beginning
of our Journey
What is life but just a journey, if we don’t share it with others, love them well in the process and turn life’s difficulties into blessings? This was the vision Cathy and Gerard Benner embraced after Cathy’s mother, Jean, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2007. After over 50 years of marriage, Cathy’s father, Marvin, suddenly found himself in the unfamiliar role of caregiver.
Cathy and Gerard were acutely aware of the challenges of caring for her mother at home. However, given Jean's overall good physical health, the family made a steadfast commitment to avoid placing her in a nursing home prematurely. With this promise in mind, they began searching for care options that would allow Jean to have meaningful days while also providing rest and support for Marvin.
In 2013, Cathy and Gerard set out on a mission to create a better solution. Drawing on their strong faith and the lessons learned over the previous six years, they began to envision an adult caregiving center for their community. That vision came to life with the founding of Joyful Journey, Inc. They purchased property, secured nonprofit status, launched a building campaign, designed a day center for future Friends, and assembled a dedicated team. Thanks to the generosity of over 400 supporters from West Lafayette, Lafayette, and surrounding areas, their dream was realized in June 2015 with the completion of the Joyful Journey house. On July 29, 2015, Joyful Journey opened its doors to its first Friend, debt-free and ready to serve.

Joyful Journey was a safe haven where my mother could go to have an engaging day of conversations, games, singing, crafts and more. Sometimes when I came to pick her up, I would peek in without her noticing and see the mom I knew before Alzheimers began to take her away … The warm, wonderful, patient people who work there know how to make their "Friends" feel at home.
The most important thing Joyful Journey provided for my loved one was an engaging, caring environment that showed he still had a good life. Joyful Journey provided respite time for me as caregiver, and I knew he was in good hands there. I am grateful to Joyful Journey for being there when we needed them…
I loved bringing my wife to Joyful Journey for almost a year … I loved the projects you did with her, and she was always so proud to show them off ... It was such a relief to know that she would be loved and taken care of so I could concentrate on my job for the hours she spent there. I’m so grateful we had Joyful Journey as we walked the difficult road of Alzheimer’s.
My wife’s engagement at Joyful Journey has probably—no, definitely—slowed down the progression of the disease, for which I am so grateful. Also, it gives me the freedom and independence to run errands or play nine holes of golf without worrying about her safety. Your fees are reasonable too…
As a volunteer at Joyful Journey, I have seen how well the staff works with each individual to meet their needs. It is a blessing. I love volunteering and meeting the Friends!
I 100% recommend Joyful Journey! My Dad enjoyed going there, and we appreciated the care, concern, programming and affordable price. I felt secure and confident that my Dad was receiving a top quality experience. I can’t say enough good about this fine program!
I have been a volunteer on and off at Joyful Journey for over three years, and I love the way the activities are individualized for exactly what each Friend enjoys doing. Friends enjoy their day with smiles and laughter. I am blessed to be a very small part of this wonderful daytime experience.
My husband is blooming back into the happy, social man he has always been … He talks all the way home about his day at Joyful Journey, and he laughs at funny things again. Just seeing these changes has given me such hope! Thank you for all your amazing team does for both of us and the many other families.
I am always amazed at the smiles I see at Joyful Journey. Smiles are welcoming, contagious and important in life. Keep smiling!
I like coming to Joyful Journey. I feel safe here. I don’t like being home alone all day.
The art Dad makes at Joyful Journey is priceless and so appreciated … He absolutely loves the program at Joyful Journey and I am so thankful to all of you for making his days more joyful and purposeful!!!
We wanted to let you know how much we continually remember and value Joyful Journey ... The art program, music, singing, games, and personal interactions were all so very good for her ... Joyful Journey is great for the Friend, but the bigger impact is on their family. Our only regret was that we didn’t find Joyful Journey sooner!
Joyful Journey has made my life as a caregiver so much easier, and that peace of mind is priceless. I can truthfully say that we would be absolutely lost without the Joyful Journey staff and facility in our life. I can't thank them enough for what they provide my mother. And me!
My Mom thoroughly enjoyed interacting with the staff and other Friends at Joyful Journey. It provided her with topics for conversation … The staff at Joyful Journey care about each Friend and are terrific caregivers while your family member is with them. Joyful Journey filled a critical need for our family. I can never say “thank you” enough!