Alzheimer’s San Diego Marks 10 Years of Life-Changing Support for Local Individuals, Families Facing Dementia

For ten years, Alzheimer’s San Diego has become an indispensable local resource — offering free, high-quality programs tailored to the unique needs of the San Diego community. The organization’s services include caregiver education, support groups, volunteer respite care, memory screenings, and professional training. Each year, Alzheimer’s San Diego serves thousands of San Diegans, empowering families across our region to navigate the realities of dementia with dignity, courage, and care. Every service and program is 100% local and is available at no cost thanks to grants, major fundraising, and community support from individuals, companies, and foundations.

“Ten years ago, this organization was founded on the belief that San Diego’s dementia community deserved support that was local, responsive, and grounded in the everyday challenges families navigate here at home. At Alzheimer’s San Diego, we put local families first and keep every dollar raised in San Diego helping our community,” says Eugenia Welch, president and CEO at Alzheimer’s San Diego.

By transitioning from the national Alzheimer’s Association a decade ago, Alzheimer’s San Diego was able to become an independent nonprofit organization completely focused on San Diego. Their leadership ensures every program is specifically designed to meet the unique needs of local families, individuals, and caregivers. The organization remains steadfast in its mission to serve San Diego County with tailored, free services that provide guidance, connection, and care to those affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementias. This local focus allows Alzheimer’s San Diego to respond quickly to community needs, build meaningful partnerships, and create programs that truly make a difference in the lives of San Diegans.

10 years of continued and evolving commitment to San Diego.
Over the past decade, the team at Alzheimer’s San Diego has worked hard to identify the needs of local individuals and families affected by dementia, including those in the early stages of memory loss, to ensure programs and services meet the needs of a growing community.

In 2018, Alzheimer’s San Diego launched the first-ever gun lock program for people with dementia in the U.S., a groundbreaking initiative to promote safety and peace of mind for families. In 2019, they created the Law Enforcement Referral Program, providing a dedicated way for San Diego area law enforcement officials to refer families in crisis, addressing a need that local law enforcement and the community recognized. And they have partnered with the San Diego Sheriff’s office for years on the Take Me Home program, designed to help San Diegans at risk of wandering to get home safely

The team has also developed programs tailored to specific San Diego communities, expanding volunteer training to Spanish speakers, hiring a bilingual educator to support our County's large Latino demographic, and reaching residents in Southeast San Diego. Additionally, the organization’s ALZ Ally program, which launched in 2024, has quickly become a lifeline to many of the region’s “solo agers” or those aging alone while living with dementia. The program provides emotional support through regular volunteer visits, calls, and social connections, while enhancing safety by connecting clients with resources, providing home safety items, and providing advocacy support on behalf of clients to medical providers and community organizations. The ALZ Ally program also addresses food insecurity, with volunteers delivering fresh, ready-to-eat, and easy-to-prepare food to clients who are no longer able to cook for themselves or can only manage limited food preparation.

Stepping into the future with refreshed branding.
Alzheimer’s San Diego has always been about and for San Diego. As the local, independent nonprofit celebrates its 10th anniversary, it was inspired by its clients and families to make a small but critical change to its visual brand and logo.

“Our new logo was designed to highlight and emphasize our local connection and the warmth, care, and welcoming compassion we strive to bring to the people we serve across San Diego County,” says Welch. “The gradient reflects the warmth and vibrancy of the community, complementing the cooler blues that long represent the calmness and trust Alzheimer’s San Diego is known for.”

The new logo

One major differentiator of Alzheimer’s San Diego is that it is the only local dementia-focused organization that uses every dollar donated strictly for San Diego residents experiencing memory loss. While other organizations have a local presence, many of their staff members are in other parts of the country. Alzheimer’s San Diego’s team is fully committed to serving the San Diego community, so when check-in calls take place, residents can be sure the person on the other line is in San Diego and that volunteers are just a drive or a call away.

Recent funding reductions from the federal government have made an impact, and the community’s support is needed to fill funding gaps that are dire for programs critical to those experiencing dementia to continue.

Alzheimer’s San Diego invites the community to learn more about its free services and donate at alzsd.org. If you or someone you know needs service or support for memory loss or dementia, call (858) 492-4400.

About Alzheimer’s San Diego
Alzheimer’s San Diego is a local and independent nonprofit, not affiliated with a national organization or association, dedicated to providing support, education, advocacy, and social connection for individuals and families affected by Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Alzheimer's San Diego strives to enhance the quality of life of all those impacted by these conditions in San Diego County. For more information, visit alzsd.org or call (858) 492-4400.