As we take time to reflect on 2024 and all the unique challenges our clients face on a daily basis, we can’t help but notice that at the heart of every dementia diagnosis is the same thing—a person facing some of the hardest days of their life. While every person is unique, at the center of every story is the same cry:
This is hard. I feel alone. Please help.
Whether it’s a couple in Del Mar, or a multifamily household in La Mesa…a veteran in Oceanside or someone living alone in Hillcrest…whether someone speaks English or another language, whether they have unlimited resources or are struggling to get by, we pride ourselves on being able to find ways to help support every person in every unique situation.
It is our honor and privilege, every single day, to make sure everyone we encounter can say:
I feel heard. I feel seen. And I don’t feel so alone.
No matter who we interact with—a caregiver, family member, friend, or someone with dementia themselves—one of the biggest gifts we are able to give is the gift of being seen and heard. It is only through the generosity of our community that these gifts are possible. Thank you to all who helped keep our programs 100% free to all who need it in San Diego. We look forward to continuing to serve our neighbors and our community with dignity and respect.
Help those impacted by dementia know that
they are not alone
Every year, the generous and giving members of our community come together to support San Diegans impacted by dementia through Alzheimer’s San Diego’s annual motorcycle ride and walk, Rides4ALZ and Walk4ALZ, respectively. In 2024, this dedicated community raised $616,000 to benefit people living with dementia and their care partners. 100% of every dollar raised stays in San Diego County to help the community we know and love. To all who gave the gift of community this year, thank you. Because of your generosity at these events, the programs and services you see on the pages of this report are available to any one of the hundreds of thousands of care partners and people with dementia living in San Diego.
Loneliness, fear, anxiety and other negative emotions can be felt by many people impacted by dementia throughout their journey. But for the 1 out of 4 people living alone with dementia in San Diego, it is often multiplied tenfold.
In 2020 Alzheimer’s San Diego launched a volunteer social call program to address the devastating isolation many solo agers living with dementia face on a daily basis, providing 483 hours of friendly calls in 2024 alone.
In 2022 our LEADS program launched in conjunction with local law enforcement to provide case management support to solo agers with dementia that were found through a law enforcement interaction.
What has become clear since launching these programs is that many of these individuals face food insecurity, unsafe home conditions, and a lack of access to medical services. Our programs are sometimes the only time anyone checks on them, makes sure they’re taking their medications, or hears if they’re having a crisis. With no one else to advocate for them, they are left to fend for themselves, often until an emergency happens.
That’s why in August 2024, Alzheimer’s San Diego launched a program called ALZ Ally that combines and expands those former programs to offer more services that meet the deep and unique needs of this population.
With the support of our ongoing federal U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL)* grant and contributions from our donors, ALZ Ally’s expanded services for people living alone with dementia c an now include:
In just five short months, ALZ Ally has meaningfully helped 51 clients who live alone with dementia.
Take, for example, Maria**, who lives alone with dementia. Lonely and isolated, Maria was paired with a volunteer, Alexis, who speaks her native Spanish. Alexis has been able to identify safety concerns at the home, and has been delivering food from the Food Bank to ensure Maria has enough to eat. But in addition to just these fundamental needs, Maria and Alexis have bonded over a shared love of telenovelas, giving them a personal and meaningful way to connect while helping to alleviate Maria’s loneliness and isolation.
* This project was supported by grant number 90ADPI0066-01-00 from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Administration for Community Living policy.
** Names changed throughout for privacy
Phone Support and Family Meetings
The core of our organization is providing access to information, resources, and guidance to people impacted by dementia. Our knowledgeable team had over 4,000 supportive interactions with clients this year, and one message shines through each call and conversation:
Linda, who lives out of state, called looking for support in caring for her mother-in-law with dementia who lives in San Diego. On our recommendation, Linda eagerly scheduled a 60 minute family meeting during a visit to San Diego. When she came in with her husband, they discussed their challenges with caring from a distance. At the end, she expressed how much the family meeting validated that they were going in a good direction in providing support to Linda’s mother-in-law. Just spending the time listening to Linda’s situation gave her and her family the support they hadn’t gotten anywhere else.
Linda and her family were one of the 224 family meetings Alzheimer’s San Diego conducted in 2024, providing a unique support for the entire family that is hard to get anywhere else.
Support Groups
In our support groups, caregivers come together to connect with others, share openly about their experiences, and to feel understood during their caregiving journey. In the last year alone, nearly 700 support groups were hosted (online and virtually) by Alzheimer’s San Diego, giving space for caregivers to connect to others who know how they feel.
Gift of Clarity – Our free memory screening program, available in both English and Spanish, provides an easy and accessible solution to various barriers that exist within the healthcare system including: long wait times for screenings, provider unwillingness to perform screenings, and lack of access to healthcare services. This year, Alzheimer’s San Diego dementia care coaches gave the gift of clarity to over 80 people by conducting 100% free memory screenings, letting clients take control of their cognitive health by establishing a baseline and receiving guidance from our dementia experts.
Continuing to give the gift of knowledge
Alzheimer’s San Diego’s continues trying to reach Hispanic/Latinx communities in San Diego County who are disproportionately affected by dementia. This year, we increased the number of Spanish language classes throughout San Diego County by 29% and we educated 236% more people than last year.
Community education partner locations
We strive to offer relatable and culturally relevant dementia-specific classes through a variety of partnerships throughout San Diego County. In 2024, we were supported by 23 community partners for community education classes in English and Spanish.
Law enforcement training/education
Not only is it important to educate people with dementia and their care partners, but other professionals who may interact with people with memory issues as well. This year Alzheimer’s San Diego again partnered with law enforcement organizations throughout San Diego to provide training to more than 250 professionals on how they can better assist a person with dementia or memory issues.
On Fridays, our office fills with the lively sound of people laughing, singing, and dancing along to the in-person social activity classes. No matter the worries you carry into class, you are sure to leave a little lighter and with happiness in your heart. Our cherished Social Activities offer free, planned, and dependable activities for caregivers and people living with dementia to enjoy together. We strive to engage participants in brain-stimulating activities, physical exercise, and other programs that can improve social connection, mental health and cognitive functioning.
Our compassionate volunteers continue to provide a much needed break to caregivers supporting people with dementia in San Diego.
For many, their motivation to volunteer comes from a desire to honor a loved one and a personal connection to the disease. This program continues to nourish the gift of compassion for our volunteers, caregivers, and people with dementia.
“Since my wife’s diagnosis, not many friends visit. Also, we do not have family. The 90 minutes per week makes us feel less alone. Thomas will always be remembered with respect and gratitude for the gift of his time bringing joy, not only to my wife, but also to me.”
More ways we delivered on our mission in 2024:
Our partnerships throughout the community led to 833 referrals from law enforcement, community agencies, Adult Protective Services, and other concerned community members that helped deliver support to individuals facing dementia throughout San Diego County.
As part of a multi-year grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance*, we printed 48,500 brochures with information on San Diego’s Take Me Home program to help at-risk San Diegans get home safely. Brochures were reprinted in English and Spanish, and also created in six new languages: Farsi, Arabic, Chinese, Somali, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. The brochures were shared with local law enforcement and other community organizations to spread the word of this critical safety program.
*This project was supported in part by Grant No. 15PBJA-21-GG-02958-MAPX awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and the SMART Office. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Community Partners
Continuing to make an impact through meaningful partnerships
Administration for Community Living
AM Oretga
Axos Bank
Bureau of Justice Assistance
Cordoba Corporation
David C. Copley Foundation
Grossmont Healthcare District
Icon Utility Services
Jingoli Power
Johnson & Johnson
Meruelo Enterprises Inc
Moroni’s Angels Foundation
Patriot General
Rancho Santa Fe Rotary Foundation
SDG&E
SDSU Research Foundation
Sharp Healthcare
Southland Electric, Inc
St. Paul’s Episcopal Home, Inc
Sycuan Casino and Resort
UCSD
Walter J. and Betty C. Zable Foundation
The Power of Bequests: You can have a significant impact on improving the quality of life for those affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias by remembering Alzheimer’s San Diego in your will. If you are thinking about making this incredible gift, reach out to Michelle Van Hoff, Director of Development, at 858.966.3300 or mvanhoff@alzsd.org.
2025 EVENTS
For more information about these events, please contact Michelle Van Hoff, Director of Development, at 858.966.3300 or mvanhoff@alzsd.org.
Thousands of people in San Diego impacted by dementia need your support right now. If you’d like to make a difference, learn more about how to:
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Spread the word to someone dealing with dementia about our free programs by sharing our website
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No action is too small.