sarahcare’s heart
Merle’s Story
The first S.A.R.A.H. center – Senior Adult Recreation and Health – was opened in 1985 in Canton, Ohio, which is where our Coroporate headquarters remain to this day. Our founder, Dr. Merle D. Griff, is a psychologist who found herself looking for sources of help for the clients in her practice. Later, after her own mother had lingering effects from a severe stroke, Merle once again began looking for care assistance, this time as a caregiver to her mother and her own young family. Out of need came an idea for senior adult day care.
Merle’s vision was not to simply to meet the most basic needs of her participants, but to go above and beyond the programs and services offered in most communities. She wanted to provide a wholistic approach that addressed the physical, mental, and spiritual needs of participants, their family members, and their caregivers. Merle was adamant that the centers should be a place of activity, exercise, socialization and friendship, as well as a place where nutrition, health, and recovery are addressed.
Through the years, SarahCare has grown into a franchise system with centers located across the United States. Owners and their representatives hold monthly virutal meetings and in-person bi-annual meetings to discuss the implementation of new programs and services to meet the ever-changing needs of our families. In this way, families are not forced to fit into our programs, but instead we formulate programs to fit their families and their way of life.
SarahCare is looking out for the well-being of your loved one and helping to make your life just a little bit easier.
Merle D. Griff, Ph.D.
Founder & CEO
1995
Started Our Holistic Approach
Learn more about Merle’s story.
The SarahCare Way
Meet Dr. Merle
Merle D. Griff, Ph.D., Founder and CEO of SarahCare, is one of the leading authorities on the care of seniors in the United States.
Dr. Merle has served on numerous national boards and task forces including being past Chairperson of the Board of Directors for NADSA (National Adult Day Services Association), member of the International Advisory Board for CARF (Commission on the Accreditation for Rehabilitation Facilities) and a task force member for the study of adult day care in the U.S for the Assistant Secretary of Program and Evaluation in The Department of Aging. She has been an invited presenter at both international and national conferences including the World Congress of Family and Child and the International Conference of Educateurs.
She began her professional career working with children and youth as a play therapist. She developed therapeutic techniques that have been published and used throughout the world, namely Family Play Therapy and Intergenerational Play Therapy. As Director of the McKinley Center Intergenerational Project, she developed many programs that brought together children from babies through college-age with seniors.
Dr. Merle is the author of Linkages, a book based on research intergenerational programs, and numerous book chapters and journal articles on topics such as the role of grandparents in family systems.
Dr. Merle has a podcast, Caught Between Generations, that addresses the issues faced by caregivers in “the sandwich generation.” These people often are dealing with the stress of work and raising their own young families, but also may be caring for a parent or other adult loved one. Archived episodes may be found on Amazon or your other favorite podcast source. Look for new episodes to be released in the summer of 2022. Dr. Merle will have new guests, some repeat favorite guests, and will tackle issues facing caregivers, aging adults, as well as everyday issues that cause us all stress in our lives.
a warm, familiar, safe and friendly environment
