• 1983
  Congress declares November as National Alzheimer’s Disease Month for the first time
• 1984
  Alzheimer’s LA becomes a chapter of the national Alzheimer’s Association while also maintaining our independent status as a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit

María P. Aranda, now with USC, chaired the MOAB in 1990

• 1988
  • Congress approves $120 million for research, family support, and training: five new Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers are formed bringing total to 15
• 1989
  • “Just for the Summer,” a film about teens and Alzheimer’s, is produced by Alzheimer’s LA
  • Alzheimer’s LA offers 1st fall education series for caregivers
  • The Journal of the American Medical Association publishes report stating Alzheimer’s is more prevalent than previously thought.
• 1990
  • Alzheimer’s LA starts Multicultural Outreach Advisory Board (MOAB)

The El Portal project logo

• 1991
  • Alzheimer’s LA initiates Home Care Assistance Program to offset financial burden of care at home
  • “Tournament” event is created with involvement from the entertainment industry
  • Alzheimer’s LA holds the first conference on Alzheimer’s disease
• 1992
  • Alzheimer’s LA leads the effort to develop El Portal: Latino Alzheimer’s Project, funded by the California State Dept of Health and Aging with funding from the federal Alzheimer’s Demonstration Grants to States. Implementation takes place in East and South LA leading to the creation of Spanish language support groups, adult day care centers, care management sites, and more.
  • Alzheimer’s LA establishes Night at Sardis gala

Walkers at Memory Walk in 2001

• 1993
  • 1st Los Angeles Memory Walk takes place with 1000 walkers
  • Alzheimer’s LA develops a partnership with Kaiser Permanente ─the first healthcare system to improve quality of healthcare for people with dementia in managed care organizations
• 1997
  • Alzheimer’s LA, in partnership with USC and the California Endowment, develops materials tailored to African Americans on risk reduction for dementia

Alzheimer’s LA program participants in 2004

1999

• West Central Dementia Care Network is founded to support African American caregivers
• Alzheimer’s LA, in partnership with the State Dept of Health Services & UCLA, provides leadership for the development of the California Alzheimer’s Disease Management Guideline, an evidence-based guideline for primary care physicians
• Alzheimer’s LA receives a grant from the Archstone Foundation to develop a Long-Distance Caregiver Program and establishes relationships with care consultants across the country to facilitate long-distance caregiving
• Alzheimer’s LA sponsors Statewide Healthcare Summit to promote quality in dementia care. Maureen Reagan serves as spokesperson

Woman at an Asian Dementia Care Network partner site

2000

• Alzheimer’s LA takes the lead on Partnering with your Doctor, funded by the State Department, with David Hyde Pierce as spokesperson
• Alzheimer’s LA leads development of four Asian Dementia Care Networks, including two in LA for Chinese and Japanese families, in partnership with State Department on Aging, Federal Administration on Aging, and the Alzheimer’s Association of Northern California
• A regional office of Alzheimer’s LA opens in the San Fernando Valley
• Alzheimer’s LA establishes its first website offering educational materials and information in English and Spanish

2002 California Guidelines for Alzheimer’s Disease Management checklist

• 2001
  • American Society on Aging presents the Award for Quality and Innovation in Managed Care and Aging to the Kaiser Permanente Dementia Care Project
  • Memory Club, an Early Stage Program, is offered in the San Fernando Valley office
• 2002
  • Alzheimer’s LA opens a regional office in East LA
  • The Alzheimer’s Association adopts Partnering with Your Doctor program developed by Alzheimer’s LA
  • The 2nd Edition of the California Alzheimer’s Disease Management Guideline is distributed, an effort lead by Alzheimer’s LA in partnership with the State of California
  • Alzheimer’s LA merges with the Inland Empire Chapter

A support group in Riverside in 2002

• 2003
  • A Latino Services coordinator is funded by the California Wellness Foundation to serve Riverside & San Bernardino Counties
  • Partnering with Your Doctor receives the American Public Health Association Archstone Foundation Award for Excellence in Program Innovation
• 2004
  • In partnership with State of California, Alzheimer’s LA expands work with Chinese and Vietnamese families and starts new dementia care network for Korean families
  • Alzheimer’s LA develops an online training program for long-term care administrators which is adopted state-wide

Alzheimer’s Activity Booklet for Children

• 2005
  • The first Many Faces of Dementia Conference is held in conjunction with the USC Alzheimer’s Disease Consortium. Over 200 professionals attend.
• 2006
  • The Asian Dementia Care Network wins the Family Caregiving Award from the National Alliance for Caregiving and the Metlife Foundation
  • The Bilingual Activity Booklet for Children is selected by the National Alzheimer’s Association for a Model Program Award

The audience at the Early Memory Loss Forum in 2007

• 2007
  • Alzheimer’s LA hosts the nation’s first educational program planned by and for people with memory loss. The Early Memory Loss Forum draws a full house of 380 participants and garners substantial media publicity
• 2008
  • The Early Memory Loss Forum wins the American Society on Aging’s Award for Innovation in Healthcare and Aging
• 2009
  • Alzheimer’s LA hosts the second Early Memory Loss Forum at the SkirballCultural Center

Memories in the Making exhibition

• 2010
  • Alzheimer’s LA implements an art program at LACMA, called The Heart of Looking at Art, for people in early stage, which includes training docents
• 2011
  • The Asian Pacific Islander Dementia Care Network receives the national Rosalinde Gilbert Innovations in Alzheimer’s Disease Caregiving Legacy Award from the Family Caregiver Alliance for efforts to improve access to care by diverse, underserved populations
  • With funding from the Disney Family, Alzheimer’s LA launches Memories in the Making art program
• 2012
  • Young Professionals Committee is created and organizes tackleALZ for first time

Cover of the Dementia Cal MediConnect toolkit 2013

2013

• Alzheimer’s LA hosts the third Early Memory Loss Forum
• In partnership with California Department of Aging and the Alzheimer’s Association Northern California chapter, Alzheimer’s LA initiates the Dementia Cal MediConnect Project ─an effort to improve care in health plans serving people who are dually eligible for Medicare and MediCal
• The 1st An Unforgettable Evening^® fundraiser is held and features a performance by Placido Domingo

Darlene Love singing at An Unforgettable Evening 2014

2014

• Alzheimer’s LA’s work with the State Dept of Aging to bring the evidence-based The Savvy Caregiver program and its Spanish-language Cuidando con Respeto to ethnically diverse families receives the Rosalynn Carter Leadership in Caregiving Award from the Rosalynn Carter Caregiving Institute
• The 2nd Annual An Unforgettable Evening with Darlene Love raises $500,000

2015

• Memories in the Making is available in all Alzheimer’s LA offices
• Alzheimer’s LA develops low literacy education materials and program including caregiver tip sheets focused on challenging care situations and the IDEA! Behavior Management Strategy

2016 – part one

• On January 7th, the organization disaffiliates from national Alzheimer’s Association. 100% of all funds raised stay local
• Alzheimer’s LA receives the Rosalinde Gilbert Caregiving Legacy Award from the Family Caregiver Alliance for its impact on public policy efforts to improve care for people who are dually eligible for Medicare and MediCal through the Dementia Cal MediConnect Program
• Alzheimer’s LA holds the 4thEarly Memory Loss Forum
• The 4th annual An Unforgettable Evening featuring Herb Albert and Lani Hall raises $550,000

Susan Carr holds her Caring Heart Award at Visionary Women’s Luncheon 2016

2016 – part two

• Alzheimer’s LA hosts the first Visionary Women’s Luncheon on October 6thand raises $113,000
• Alzheimer’s LA attends the Us Against Alzheimer’s Summit in Washington, DC and joins Leaders Engaged in Alzheimer’s Disease (LEAD), an advocacy coalition in Washington, DC
• The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issues an Informational Bulletin on Dementia at the urging of and based on policy work done by Alzheimer’s LA

2017 – part one

• The 5th Annual An Unforgettable Evening featuring Broadway Legend Jennifer Holliday raises $635,000
• In partnership with BrightFocus Foundation, Alzheimer’s LA provides first research grant for $100,000 to two local researchers
• Through a grant from the Rupe Foundation, Alzheimer’s LA develops and produces a telenovela, “Lost Memories,” in both English and Spanish, a four-part series detailing one family’s struggle to fight the stigma of Alzheimer’s
• 5th Annual Memories in the Making Art Exhibit is held at Bergamot Station with over 200 people in attendance and a performance by LA Opera
• The Los Angeles Aging Advocacy Coalition awards its 2017 Champion Award to Debra Cherry for advocating on behalf of seniors and their caregivers

Sergio Ochoa on stage performing his monologue El Cuidador

2017 – part two

• Dr. Debra Cherry is elected to the NAPA Advisory Council, providing advice on Alzheimer’s and other dementias research, care, and services to federal agencies
• Alzheimer’s LA sponsors the monologue, El Cuidador, a moving tribute from Sergio Ochoa, Jr. to his actress mother Leonorilda Ochoa, held at El Camino College
• Alzheimer’s LA’s programs and efforts receive visibility in several national publications in the aging world, including Generations, and through several webinars that reached over 1,100 participants
• 2nd Annual Visionary Women’s Luncheon raises $157,000

Debra Cherry at the SCAN awards ceremony

2018 – part one

• The SCAN Foundation selects the Dementia Cal MediConnect program for its 2018 Innovations in Healthcare Award
• Bring Our Loved Ones Home taskforce is created; launches Project Lifesaver –a radio frequency bracelet that can be used to find individuals who have wandered
• Alzheimer’s LA hosts the Statewide California Dementia Healthcare Summit assembled to stimulate improvements in dementia care and attended by over 170 healthcare champions
• Alzheimer’s LA leads a coalition of aging organizations opposed to legislation that would add barriers to the provision of mental health services for older adults
• The 5th annual Memories in the Making Exhibition & Auction is held with over 200 guests and 16 artists in attendance

The band playing at Caregiver Wellness Day

2018 – part two

• The 12th annual East LA Caregiver Wellness Day is held at the Alhambra Campus of the Keck School of Medicine with over 100 caregivers in attendance
• Caregiver Wellness Day is held in the San Fernando Valley with 75 caregivers in attendance and hundreds more stopping by the resource fair vendor booths
• Alzheimer’s LA public policy staff lead efforts that save state mental health funding for services that benefit people with dementia
• In Fiscal Year 2018, AlzDirect Connect generates 720 referrals, an increase of 25% from the previous year
• The 3rd Annual Visionary Women’s Award Luncheon raises $176,000

Nani from LA Opera singing at Memories in the Making Exhibition 2019

2019 – part one

• The annual An Unforgettable Evening with Leslie Odom Jr raises more than $720,000
• 6th annual Memories in the Making Art Exhibit is held at Bergamot Station with 40 pieces on auction, an LA Opera performance, and over 130 guests
• 13th annual East LA Caregiver Wellness Day with 182 family caregivers (20% increase over prior year)
• San Fernando Valley Caregiver Wellness Day with 90 caregivers plus several hundred additional connections through the senior health fair held simultaneously
• AlzLA launches a train-the-trainer program for Health Talent 2, an agency that employs more than 1,500 low-income family caregivers, for people who are enrolled in AltaMed’s PACE Program

Alzheimer’s LA’s CEO & President Heather Cooper Ortner(left) with Assemblymember Ed Chau at press conference celebrating the passing of AB 453

2019 – part two

• Alzheimer’s LA sponsored bill, AB 453 (Chau), is signed into law by Gov. Newsom, requiring all EMTs have dementia training on how to effectively interact with people with the disease and their caregivers
• Alzheimer’s LA is awarded the Grantmakers in Aging award for our diversity programs and in recognition of Faces of Caregiving, a Japanese American video program
• CEO Heather Cooper Ortner appears with advocate Tara Hicks on Olympic & Bundy ─a FOX11 podcast with anchor Christine Devine
• Bill Plaschke, preeminent sportswriter for the LA Times, writes an article about our basebALZgroup that appears in the Sunday edition garnering widespread attention for the program and Alzheimer’s LAy