Alzheimer’s San Diego
858-492-4400
What is normal aging and what is dementia? This is the question many individuals and families ask themselves, says Eugenia Welch, president and CEO of Alzheimer’s San Diego, a nonprofit organization in San Diego.
“It’s not losing your keys,” she says. It’s “when you have your keys in your hand, and you look at them and you don’t know what they are or what they do.”
According to TakeOnALZ.com, Alzheimer is the third-leading cause of death in California. Alzheimer’s San Diego is there to help. “We really want to encourage people to reach out to us even when they’re seeing just a small concern because we can help with resources and support from the very beginning rather than wait until they’re further along,” says Welch.
Break the Stigma and Get Free Help
A lot of people think of Alzheimer’s as a mental illness, says Welch, so there is stigma around it. “Studies show that the Hispanic community is less likely to reach out to a physician,” she adds.
Alzheimer’s San Diego estimates a 196% increase in the number of Latinos over 65 with dementia from 2019 to 2040. The organization urges people to seek help. “What we hear over and over from clients who come into us is that they wish they had come in sooner,” Welch adds.
There is no cost. All services are free, and no information is collected, so it cannot affect people’s health coverage. And a quarter of the staff are native Spanish speakers.
“We don’t collect social security numbers…We’re not verifying anything,” says Welch. “We want to be a welcoming place where people feel comfortable getting the support they need.”
Volunteers can check in on people or drive them to appointments. “In San Diego County, 25% of the people who have some memory diagnosis live alone,” says Welch.
“There’s no downside to calling,” she says. “Reach out and get the support you need because that’s what we’re here for.”
Alzheimer’s San Diego
- Make an appointment to get free memory testing in English or Spanish.
- Talk with a clinical care coach for free.
- Get free services in Spanish and English, including educational workshops, private consultations, and support groups.
- Learn that you are not alone.
- Call even if you don’t have a medical diagnosis.
Programs
- Partnership with One Safe Place in San Marcos: In-person support such as memory screenings for clients in North County two days a week.
- Countywide programs include online Spanish-language support groups and help for individuals living alone with dementia.
- ALZ’s Companions program sends volunteers to the homes of persons suffering from dementia so that their caregiver can take a break.
- English- and Spanish-language classes at One Safe Place, libraries, senior centers, and the YMCA.
- Volunteer or donate through the website.
Top signs of Alzheimer’s, according to TakeOnALZ.com
Challenges planning or solving problems
Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home or work
Confusion with time or place
Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relations
New problems with words in speaking or writing
Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
Withdrawal from work or social activities
Changes in mood and personality
