Meet Jake Sawyers

Dementia Care Specialist, Walworth County

Helping Families Find Their Way Through the Dementia Journey

When a family receives a dementia diagnosis, the road ahead can feel overwhelming, uncertain, and lonely. Jake Sawyers wants people to know they don’t have to navigate that journey alone. As Walworth County’s Dementia Care Specialist, Jake brings compassion, creativity, and practical support to older adults and the families who care for them.

This December marks Jake’s fifth year in a role he describes as a dream job—one he first envisioned during his junior year at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point. Since stepping into the position, he has helped develop a wide range of programs designed to engage older adults, support dementia respite, and connect families with resources during some of life’s most challenging moments.

For Jake, the work is about more than providing information. It’s about meeting people where they are, helping them understand their options, and offering reassurance when they may not know what to do next. His goal is to make sure individuals living with dementia and the people who love them feel supported, understood, and less alone.

Jake is especially excited about what lies ahead. As he reflects on nearly five years of serving Walworth County, he sees both the progress already made and the opportunities still waiting to be explored. That forward-looking mindset keeps him motivated to develop new programs, find creative solutions, and continue improving the support available to local families.

His approach combines kindness with an outgoing personality and a willingness to think outside the box. If there’s a challenge to solve, Jake is ready to brainstorm—even if the solution is a little unconventional. It’s an approach that fits his favorite fictional character, Fred Jones from Scooby-Doo, known for leading the gang through mysteries with creative plans and determination.

Outside of work, Jake enjoys spending time with his family and collecting hobbies—because apparently, one hobby is rarely enough. He also spent 10 years playing rugby at the high school and collegiate levels, an experience that helped shape his appreciation for teamwork and commitment. Jake is also the Founder and Board of Director President of Southern Lakes Memory Project, a local 5013(c) non-profit organization serving people living with dementia and those that care for them.

Jake’s advice to anyone who needs support is refreshingly simple: Call Jake. He likes to help.

Through his work, Jake is helping Walworth County become a place where people facing dementia can find guidance, families can access support, and no one has to feel they’re navigating the journey alone. For him, the first five years have been just the beginning.