Capitol Lakes at 50: Honoring the Past, Shaping the Future

Fifty years ago – on December 15, 1975 – nine people moved into a brand-new building constructed to address the need for older adult housing in Madison.  That building is now know as the Heights at Capitol Lakes. Five decades later it's part of a broader, thriving, caring community.

Today, Capitol Lakes encompasses an entire city block, offering independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing care, and so much more. As we have grown, our values have remained constant: to provide exceptional care for older adults in a close community.

Community has always been important at Capitol Lakes, and philanthropy has been essential to realizing our vision.  Many features we enjoy – the chapel, Grand Hall, library, parking ramp, and Wellness Center – were made possible through generous donor support.  Today, generous contributions continue to make a difference. For example:

• Gifts allow residents to live well. The generosity from our donor community brings joy and camaraderie to Assisted Living and Health Center residents through funding for board-certified music therapists who lead music groups twice a month.  This year, residents experienced more fulfilling conversations because donor support made it possible to install new acoustic ceiling tiles in our premier restaurant, Seasons.  And the generosity from so many meant we could provide free tech support to our residents, helping them to stay connected.  This year alone, nearly 85 individual residents received timely, convenient, and caring tech assistance.

• Gifts keep superior staff working and thriving. In 2025, gifts meant we could expand our popular tuition assistance program for post-secondary student workers.  Thanks to people just like you, this expansion didn’t come at the expense of other staff programs like professional development scholarships, student loan repayment, or Financial Assistance in Times of Hardship (FAITH) for team members facing budgetary crises.

• Gifts made history and helped our neighbors in need. For the first time ever, the Capitol Lakes Foundation was able to cover 100% of the cost for the Benevolent Care program.  This important program supports our friends and neighbors when they need it most, by trying to help them remain at Capitol Lakes even if they outlive their resources. And in a bold step toward our future, we approved the largest grant in Foundation history to fund a new three-level outdoor deck for all residents, as part of the Assisted Living renovation.

  
  

Whether you’re just getting to know Capitol Lakes or have been connected to our community for years, I hope you'll be inspired by what generous supporters have made possible—and what your gift could do in the years ahead. 

Please join us as we try to raise $50,000 before the end of our anniversary month to launch the next 50 years of enhancing the living experience.

Your gift will make a positive difference in the lives of those who live and work at Capitol Lakes today, tomorrow, next year, and for the next 50 years.

Donate HERE Today!