Alzheimer’s Tennessee Mission:
To serve those facing Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, to promote brain health through education, and to champion global research, prevention and treatment efforts.
Alzheimer’s Tennessee, Inc. provides family support, offers community and professional education, advocates for the needs and rights of those with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, as well as research for its prevention, cure, and treatment.
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Families receive assistance through such programs as the agency’s locally-staffed Helpline, consultations on care for persons with the disease, adult day care in Knox County, more than 42 support groups, help with local resources and referrals, financial assistance, in-service training opportunities for staff at area facilities, advocacy aimed at enhancements in law and policy, an annual research symposium for physicians and healthcare professionals, and educational materials and programs such as caregiver training workshops for families and professionals featuring local specialists and nationally-renowned experts.
Alzheimer's Tennessee is well-known for supporting programs and research through regional Walks across the state.
Alzheimer's Tennessee: Our History
In 1983, a small group of East Tennessee families began to meet informally in an effort to understand and cope with the ravaging effects of Alzheimer’s disease. Together, the group was able to anticipate, confront, and solve seemingly insurmountable problems with a renewed sense of hope, confidence and accomplishment.
Alzheimer’s Tennessee, Inc. began providing services in East Tennessee as a non-profit organization in 1983. Two years later, the group affiliated with the Chicago-based National Alzheimer’s Association and became known as the Alzheimer’s Association, Eastern Tennessee Chapter, Inc. However, it always remained incorporated in the state of Tennessee and governed by a local Board of Directors.
The Eastern Tennessee Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association returned to its original independent status under the new name Alzheimer’s Tennessee, Inc. in August 2011 to ensure that more resources support top research and local services for individuals and families struggling with the devastating disease.
“The Board had become increasingly concerned that funds raised in East Tennessee and the Cumberlands were going out of the area and limiting our ability to fund the vital programs we offer locally,” said Mary Lyn Goodman, Board President. “The fund-raising format the Chicago-based national organization recently put into place redistributes significant money raised through this great state’s volunteer spirit.
“We want to guarantee those dollars – made possible by generous area individuals, families, foundations, companies, and countless volunteers committed to grassroots fundraising – will directly benefit local families as well as the most promising research. This community’s outstanding support along with the backing of our local media are making a huge difference in our programs.”
To read more about Alzheimer’s Tennessee’s decision to separate from the Alzheimer’s Association, read below.
Change to Benefit Families
Alzheimer’s Tennessee, Inc. Makes Change to Benefit Families
The Eastern Tennessee Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association is returning to its original independent status to ensure that even more area resources support top research and local services for individuals and families struggling with Alzheimer’s disease.
The local organization is now known as Alzheimer’s Tennessee, Inc. and will focus even greater attention on Tennessee through the valuable community partnerships and trusted reputation for service it has developed during the past three decades.
“To ensure that more funds raised in Tennessee go to individuals and families in this state, our local Board of Directors decided unanimously that it was time to return to our original independent status,” said Board Chairperson Mary Lyn Goodman. “The organization’s name has changed, but its services, staff, Board, and supporters remain committed to serving those affected by Alzheimer’s and dementia in Tennessee.”
Janice Wade-Whitehead, who has led the local organization for 20 years, will continue as executive director. She can now be reached at janice.wade@tnalz.org
The local group is noted for supporting caregiver programs and research through Alzheimer’s WALKs. Volunteers with Alzheimer’s Tennessee, Inc., will raise funds through four regional WALKS this fall, as well as the Knoxville Alzheimer’s WALK in the spring of 2012.
“We want to guarantee those dollars – made possible by generous area individuals, families, foundations, companies, and countless volunteers committed to grassroots fundraising against Alzheimer’s – will directly benefit local families as well as the most promising research,” Wade-Whitehead said.
Wade-Whitehead said the Chicago-based national Alzheimer’s Association has been increasing its demands for locally raised funds to re-distribute nationally.
“We became increasingly concerned that funds raised in East Tennessee were going out of the area and limiting our ability to fund the vital programs we offer locally,” Wade-Whitehead said. “The fund-raising format the national organization recently put into place redistributes significant money raised through East Tennessee’s great volunteer spirit.”
Other U.S. chapters have ended their relationship with the national organization due to similar concerns.
Local families founded the Eastern TN Chapter in 1983 and two years later became a Charter Chapter with the national organization. However, it always remained incorporated in the State of Tennessee and governed by a local Board of Directors.
Alzheimer’s Tennessee, Inc., will support research into causes and treatments to attack Alzheimer’s, a fatal brain disease that has no cure. About 5.4 million Americans have Alzheimer’s, the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. In Tennessee, more than 120,000 Tennesseans have Alzheimer’s disease, and an estimated 400,000 Tennesseans are caregivers for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia.
With offices in Knoxville and Cookeville, Alzheimer’s Tennessee, Inc. will continue serving Knox and 25 other counties from Putnam in the west to Hancock in the northeast part of the state.
Area families receive assistance through such programs as the agency’s locally-staffed Helpline, consultations on care for persons with the disease, adult day program in Knox County, at least 42 support groups, help with local resources and referrals, financial assistance, in-service training opportunities for staff at area facilities, advocacy aimed at enhancements in law and policy, an annual research symposium for physicians and healthcare professionals, and educational materials and programs such as caregiver training workshops for families and professionals featuring local specialists and nationally-renowned experts.
“We like the fact that people in Tennessee will be making the decisions about how to best help their neighbors,” Wade-Whitehead said. “As always, people will still be able to rely on us for the information and assistance they need to help family members with Alzheimer’s and related dementias.”
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