Rings of Care

10/04/2026

Win gifts, have fun, and give back!

Join Rings of Care for our Winter Wonderland Holiday Bingo & Brunch! Enjoy a festive morning with friends while playing for prizes that could make wonderful holiday gifts for your family and friends, or a little treat for yourself!

Plants & flower bouquets
Booze & baked goods
Gift cards & More
Plus a Kendra Scott jewelry raffle and a 50/50 raffle!

Boulevard Brewery donated a brewery tour with a case of b**r!

Every bingo sheet helps Rings of Care build villages of practical and emotional support for caregivers.

📅 Saturday, November 21, 2026
⏰ 10 AM–12 PM
📍 Chicken N Pickle – North Kansas City
🎤 Emcee: Pat McGonigle from Fox 4

Bring your friends, wear something festive, and help us make caring for caregivers a community effort!

Scan the QR code on the flyer or click the link below to RSVP and get your cards. Share this post and invite someone to join you!

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2026-rings-of-care-winter-wonderland-holiday-bingo

09/28/2026

I spent the day with fellow professionals learning about Missouri’s No Wrong Door program!

Part of what the Senate Subcommittee for the MO Master Plan on Aging is working toward is a central hub to help caregivers find resources.

No Wrong Door is on its way!!

We discussed the frustration of cold transfers of care, multiple applications, lack of communication between organizations & caregivers feeling overwhelmed/frustrated.

I needed today. I needed to be reminded that I’m not the only person frustrated by conflicting information, repeating myself 500 times, hold times, technology & cold handoffs. Not only for my clients but for my own family. I was/am tired of hitting brick walls.

I feel rejuvenated & ready to continue to advocate for caregivers. I just need to say to my fellow caregivers- you are not alone, there are individuals, organizations & agencies working to support you & help our community.

For anyone looking for resources please reach out I learned about some fantastic programs today.

09/22/2026

It's that time of the year... We Need Bingo Prizes!

We’re gathering prizes for our Winter Wonderland Holiday Bingo & Brunch, and we would love your help!

We are looking for donations of:
🪴 Plants/Flower Bouquets
🍷 W**e, spirits, and other adult beverages
🧁 Homemade or donated baked goods
🎁 Gift cards or other fun prizes

Donations will be used as bingo prizes during our event on Saturday, November 21, 10am-2pm at Chicken N Pickle in North Kansas City.

Your generosity will help us create a festive, memorable event while raising funds to support local caregivers and families through Rings of Care.

Interested in donating a prize?
Please email [email protected], we would be so grateful for your support!

Ready to RSVP, click HERE:

Join us for 2026 Winter Wonderland Holiday BINGO 🎄⛄—a light‑hearted morning that helps sustain Rings of Care’s yearly programing, and resources for…

09/22/2026

Be sure to visit the Rings of Care booth at the 2027 MARCH Forward For Families Conference! Thank you for the support!

09/21/2026

That’s our Executive Director, Nicole Riefesel Staab. She’s teaching, advocating & making both Rings of Care and KC End of Life shine! Our organization(s) could not ask for a better person to represent us & our clients. Well done Niki you are a ROCKSTAR.

Thank you for all your hard work and dedication. Thank you for your commitment, compassion, courage & kindness.

Her part starts around the 58 min mark.

https://www.youtube.com/live/nRlVRN02e8o?is=Ve5JXZmsMqYEAmwF

09/20/2026

If I ever get dementia, I’d like my family to hang this wish list up on the wall where I live. I want them to remember these things.

1. Every time you enter the room announce yourself. “Hi- it’s ………...” NEVER ask- Do you know who I am??? That causes anxiety.

2. If I get dementia, I want my friends and family to embrace my reality. 🌸 Careers included.

3. If I think my dead friend is still alive, or if I think we’re visiting my parents for dinner, let me believe those things. I’ll be much happier for it.❤️

4. If I get dementia, don’t argue with me about what is true for me versus what is true for you.👍🏻❤️👍🏻

5. If I get dementia, and I am not sure who you are, do not take it personally. My timeline is confusing to me.👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

6. If I get dementia and can no longer use utensils, do not start feeding me. Instead, switch me to a finger-food diet, and see if I can still feed myself.❤️🥰❤️🥰

7. If I get dementia, and I am sad or anxious, hold my hand and listen. Do not tell me that my feelings are unfounded.

8. If I get dementia, I don’t want to be treated like a child. Talk to me like the adult that I am. ❤️

9. If I get dementia, I still want to enjoy the things that I’ve always enjoyed. Help me find a way to exercise, read, and visit with friends. ❤️

10. If I get dementia, ask me to tell you a story from my past.

11. If I get dementia, and I become agitated, take the time to figure out what is bothering me. ❤️

12. If I get dementia, treat me the way that you would want to be treated. ❤️

13. If I get dementia, make sure that there are plenty of snacks for me in the house. Even now if I don’t eat I get angry, and if I have dementia, I may have trouble explaining what I need.❤️

14. If I get dementia, don’t talk about me as if I’m not in the room.👍🏻

15. If I get dementia, don’t feel guilty if you cannot care for me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It’s not your fault, and you’ve done your best. Find someone who can help you, or choose a great new place for me to live.👍🏻

16. If I get dementia, and I live in a dementia care community, please visit me often.❤️

17. If I get dementia, don’t act frustrated if I mix up names, events, or places. Take a deep breath. It’s not my fault.👍🏻

18. If I get dementia, make sure I always have my favorite music playing within earshot.❤️❤️❤️

19. If I get dementia, and I like to pick up items and carry them around, help me return those items to their original place.👍🏻

20. If I get dementia, don’t exclude me from parties and family gatherings.❤️

21. If I get dementia, know that I still like receiving hugs and plenty of laughing ❤️🥰❤️

22. If I get dementia, remember that I am still the person you know and love.”🌼❤️

In honor of someone you know or knew who has dementia. In Honor of all those I know and love and lost who are fighting Dementia/Alzheimer’s.

Someone once said if you take care of someone with dementia, you lose them more and more every day. When they get the diagnosis, when they go through different stages, when they need treatment, and when they pass away.

This is called "the longest goodbye ". As the brain slowly dies, they change physically and eventually forget who their loved ones are. They could end up lying in bed, not moving and not eating or drinking.

There will be people who will scroll past this post because
dementia has not touched them. They may not know what it's like to have a loved one who has battled or is still battling dementia.

09/19/2026

Sandra Bullock quietly cared for her longtime partner, Bryan Randall, during his three-year battle with ALS, honoring his request to keep his illness private until his death.

“I wasn’t allowed to tell anybody,” Bullock said in a recent interview. “My sister was the only one who knew for a while. And at first I go, oh, I can handle that. I can be quiet. But it really.... It’s a huge weight.”

Caring for Randall during the pandemic while raising her two daughters was incredibly difficult. Her experience also illustrates the isolation and pressure that caregivers can face when they have limited support.

Learn more about Bullock’s caregiving journey at the link in the comments.

09/17/2026

We could not be more proud to celebrate our co-founder and Board President, Rachel Blankenship, who was recently spotlighted by Influential Women for her work in legal advocacy, mediation, entrepreneurship, and community service. ❤️

If you know Rachel you are not surprised to see her always on the go! Whether she is helping a family navigate a difficult legal transition, sitting at a mediation table, mentoring another professional, caring for someone she loves, or working behind the scenes at Rings of Care, Rachel leads with compassion, authenticity, and a belief in collaboration over competition.

The article also highlights the work that is especially close to our hearts, Rachel’s role as co-founder of Rings of Care and her commitment to making sure families have access to support, planning, resources, and community before they find themselves in crisis.

We are incredibly grateful that one of her life chapters became Rings of Care, and that we get to build this work alongside her.

Congratulations, Rachel. This recognition is so well deserved, and we are incredibly proud to call you our co-founder, President, and friend.

Influential Women Spotlights Rachel Blankenship: Redefining Legal Advocacy Through Mediation And Genuine Compassion Influential Women Spotlights Rachel Blankenship: Redefining Legal Advocacy Through Mediation And Genuine Compassion Press Release Date 09-16-2026 KANSAS CITY, MO, UNITED STATES, Septem...

08/29/2026

Come check out the health fair today
Lots of resources for families

08/26/2026

Celebrating our Cofounder & President, Rachel Blankenship!

We are incredibly excited to share that Rings of Care President and Co-Founder Rachel Blankenship will be featured at the KC Current game this Saturday, August 29, through the Olivia Bloomfield Foundation.

Rachel has poured so much of her heart, time, and energy into Rings of Care, advocating for caregivers, strengthening our community, building meaningful partnerships, and helping turn our vision of a community where no one has to care alone into a reality. We are so proud to have her representing Rings of Care and the work we are doing throughout Kansas City.

A heartfelt thank you to the Olivia Bloomfield Foundation committee and to Matt and Sara Bloomfield, Olivia’s parents, for recognizing Rachel and the work of Rings of Care. The Foundation carries forward Olivia’s incredible legacy by championing inclusion, accessibility, and stronger communities, making this recognition especially meaningful to us. (Olivia Bloomfield⁠)

Rachel, thank you for everything you do, often behind the scenes and always with compassion. We are so proud of you and cannot wait to see you celebrated at the KC Current game!

🩵🧡🩵 🩵❤️🩵 🩵🧡🩵 🩵❤️🩵