A Bucket List Dream Fulfilled: David’s Journey
At Serving Seniors, our mission is to help seniors live healthy and fulfilling lives through wraparound, whole-person care. This care goes beyond housing, food and basic necessities. Case managers from our Health & Social Services team work alongside seniors to help them overcome barriers, set meaningful goals, and achieve dreams they have carried for years. Trusted relationships like these are shown through Mark Dehaan and David Santiago.
David Santiago lives at New Palace Hotel, and he works closely with his case manager, Mark Dehaan. Through their time together, Mark learned that one of David’s lifelong dreams was to visit the Grand Canyon. David had attempted the trip in the past but unfortunately, he had to cancel it due to a car accident. But this time, with the support from Mark, David was determined to see it through.
Prepping for the vacation, David said, “I feel like a kid in a candy store.” Serving Seniors coordinated transportation, hotel accommodations, and a guided bus tour of several scenic spots along the Grand Canyon. Keeping in mind David’s limited mobility and finances, Mark ensured that all arrangements were fully accessible and affordable.
In October 2025, David made the long-awaited trip, spending roughly three days in Arizona. We provided David with a disposable camera to take photos of his views during his trip. Here are a few that he captured:
This experience brought joy not only to David, but also to Mark.
Mark said, “Helping David plan a vacation was truly a special task for me. When working with seniors, we often find ourselves helping clients navigate health challenges and new diagnoses or finding housing while on a limited income in a high cost of living area. For me, to be able to assist a client book a vacation was a much-needed breath of fresh air. Planning the trip and seeing David’s excitement as we got closer to the departure date boosted me up as well.”
Although this case is different from the everyday work of our Health & Social Services team, it highlights how Serving Seniors goes above and beyond to make meaningful life experiences possible for the people we serve.
