The James M. Dixon Foundation, Inc.

The James M. Dixon Foundation, Inc. The James M. Dixon Foundation, Inc. The James M. Dixon Foundation, Inc.
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    • Home
    • About Us
    • Podcast
    • ABOUT ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
    • Donate & More
    • Shop
    • Contact Us
    • THE PURPLE AFFAIR
    • IMPORTANT UPDATES
    • In The News
    • Resources
    • The Intentional Caregiver

The James M. Dixon Foundation, Inc.

The James M. Dixon Foundation, Inc. The James M. Dixon Foundation, Inc. The James M. Dixon Foundation, Inc.
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Podcast
  • ABOUT ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
  • Donate & More
  • Shop
  • Contact Us
  • THE PURPLE AFFAIR
  • IMPORTANT UPDATES
  • In The News
  • Resources
  • The Intentional Caregiver

Making a Difference Through Research

Making a Difference Through ResearchMaking a Difference Through ResearchMaking a Difference Through Research

Learn what we are doing to support Caregiving, Awareness, and Research in the areas of Alzheimer's and other Dementias.  

What is Alzheimer's Disease? (The Alzheimer's association)

Making a Difference Through Research

Making a Difference Through ResearchMaking a Difference Through ResearchMaking a Difference Through Research

Learn what we are doing to support Caregiving, Awareness, and Research in the areas of Alzheimer's and other Dementias.  

What is Alzheimer's Disease? (The Alzheimer's association)

About The Foundation

Grassroots and In the Community

There are many organizations, in the United States and around the world, working to end Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.  The Foundation supports and/or works with many of these organizations, because we sincerely believe that "alone we can do so little, together we can do so much." However, there are a few things that separate The Foundation from many of the other organizations. Instead of focusing in one or two areas, or only providing large scale support, opportunities, and activities, we support in many different areas.  Some of these areas include: 

  • Our involvement in the community.  We participate with care providers, persons living with Alzheimer's disease, assisted and residential living facilities, churches, community organizations, and wherever we are needed, working up close and personally with those in need of support, assistance, resources, a kind word, or just a smile.
  • We host, facilitate and participate in small and large community forums to bring awareness to communities regarding Alzheimer's disease, helping to bring together experts in many necessary areas of care, assistance, research, and resources.
  • We continuously look for ways to give back to the community of those living with, caring for, and serving in areas of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, by providing funding, food, services, materials, resources and references, support, care, and much more.
  • We work one-on-one and with small groups to support families of persons living with Alzheimer's disease.


Not only does The Foundation support organizations actively seeking to find a cure for Alzheimer's disease, The Foundation supports those living with Alzheimer's disease, assisting in helping them live their best life with the disease, and we support care providers with mindfulness and meditation training, retreats, and specially designed courses.  


Contact us to volunteer.

Volunteer

Research

Currently, we know there is not a cure for Alzheimer's disease, although breakthroughs are happening every day.  The Foundation supports organizations and agencies that conduct promising research in the areas: of causes of Alzheimer's Disease; brain disease and other Dementias; and, eventually a cure for this disease.  We also support programs that provide information in the areas of awareness,  prevention and care.    You can see some of these organizations below.

Encourage Research Participants

Organizations and agencies cannot conduct research if they do not have participants, especially in the African American community.  Alzheimer's disease affects African Americans more than any other group.  However, African Americans are one of the least likely groups to participate in research or give to organizations or agencies conducting research and awareness on their behalf.  It is important for this to change, if we are going to make headway in the fight against Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.  The Foundation supports organizations that conduct research in the area of Alzheimer's disease and brain health.  

Alzheimer's is a Very Expensive Disease

Alzheimer's is a very expensive disease!  Alzheimer's disease is considered the most expensive disease in America.  It is estimated that Alzheimer's disease cost $305 billion in the U.S. in 2020, which was a $28 billion increase from 2018.  These costs are expected to increase to $1.1 trillion by 2050, with 88 million Alzheimer's patients.  This data is from the Alzheimer's Association, but does not include an estimated value of $244 billion  for 18.6 billion hours of unpaid care and financial support, provided by 16 million unpaid American Caregivers.

  • It is estimated that Alzheimer's costs an average of $341,000.00, for healthcare needs from diagnosis to death.  Most families pay about 70% of this cost.

Our Food Insecurities Program

Tackling food insecurities in caregivers and those living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia, as well as seniors and people living with disabilities in Atlanta and the surrounding area.

Contact Us to Donate or Request Food

Phone: 404-263-6380

Email: www.thejamesmdixonfoundationinc.com

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The Foundation's COVID-19 Response

Providing Food, Water and Other Food Items to Assisted Living Facilities

Providing Food, Water and Other Food Items to Assisted Living Facilities

Providing Food, Water and Other Food Items to Assisted Living Facilities

Dr. Lori and Dr. Powe loaded up the trucks to deliver water, Gatorade, snacks, fruit, fresh vegetables and more in Southwest Atlanta, prior to the shelter in place order.  

The Foundation Answers The Call with Purple Masks!

Providing Food, Water and Other Food Items to Assisted Living Facilities

Providing Food, Water and Other Food Items to Assisted Living Facilities

The Foundation retained the skills of  South Fulton seamstress Ethelyn to create three-ply face masks, in various hues and designs of purple.  We also purchased many more facemasks.  The Foundation gave away more than 500 masks in Atlanta and Columbus, Georgia.  

Dr. Lori and Atlanta City Council Member Marci Overstreet

Dr. Lori and Atlanta City Council Member Marci Overstreet

Dr. Lori and Atlanta City Council Member Marci Overstreet

Atlanta City Councilmember Marci Overstreet picking up gift bags and boxes, as well as face masks, like the one Dr. Lori is wearing, for residents at QLS senior living facility.  

Atlanta City Council Member Marci Overstreet

Dr. Lori and Atlanta City Council Member Marci Overstreet

Dr. Lori and Atlanta City Council Member Marci Overstreet

Atlanta City Council Member Marci Overstreet holding her specially designed Pampering Box!  Surprise!

COVID-19 Response Continued

Arbor Terrace

East Point COVID-19 Testing Site

East Point COVID-19 Testing Site

The Foundation partnered with Paul Vaughn, immediate past President of the 100 Black Men of South Metro Atlanta, to provide lunch and face masks to the staff at Arbor Terrace.

East Point COVID-19 Testing Site

East Point COVID-19 Testing Site

East Point COVID-19 Testing Site

The Foundation partnered with the 100 Black Men of South Metro Atlanta to assist with COVID-19 testing in East Point, Georgia.

Dr. Lori and the Mayor of East Point - Deana Holiday Ingraham

Atlanta COVID-19 Testing

East Point COVID-19 Testing Site

Atlanta COVID-19 Testing

The Foundation partnered with the 100 Black Men of South Metro Atlanta to assist with COVID-19 testing at Jackson Memorial Baptist Church, in Atlanta.

Waiting for Testing

CDC Coronavirus Guidelines

Atlanta COVID-19 Testing

The lines were long waiting for COVID-19 and antibody testing, at Jackson Memorial Baptist Church in Atlanta.  The Foundation assisted with testing and passed out face masks.

President Paul Vaughn

CDC Coronavirus Guidelines

CDC Coronavirus Guidelines

President Paul Vaughn, of the 100 Black Men of South Metro Atlanta, partnered with The Foundation to assist with COVID-19 testing and face masks distribution.

CDC Coronavirus Guidelines

CDC Coronavirus Guidelines

CDC Coronavirus Guidelines

CDC Coronavirus guidelines distributed by The Foundation.

Defining Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's Disease 

AD Fact Sheet (PDF)

From Emory University's Goizueta Alzheimer's Disease Research Center


Alzheimer’s Disease is the most common cause of dementia.  Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disease that slowly destroys memory, thinking, understanding, language, and eventually even the most basic functions of swallowing are impacted.  The disease has early (mild), middle (moderate) and late (severe) stages. In the early stage of AD, people have problems with their recent memory such as who called them on the phone, keeping track of appointments and remembering to take their medications.  In the early stage of Alzheimer’s long term memory is not impaired.  People with early Alzheimer’s disease can easily remember many details about their childhood and other earlier phases of their life.

With time, other areas of thinking become affected. These may include new difficulty with:

  • Planning or initiating activities
  • Completing familiar tasks at home or work
  • Keeping track of time and/or place
  • Seeing or understanding visual information (e.g. reading)
  • Recalling words or keeping up with a conversation
  • Misplacing things
  • Making good decisions and solving problems
  • Participating in work or social activities as they have done during this lifetime
  • Changes in personality and/or mood

In the middle stage of Alzheimer’s disease short term memory is significantly impaired and people become repetitive.  Problems with long term memory become more evident.  Families begin to notice changes in their loved ones ability to do daily activities such as grooming and dressing.  While they are still physically capable of dressing they often begin to change clothes less frequently or wear the same clothes over and over again.  At about the same time people with Alzheimer’s disease may begin to bathe less frequently than has been their life long pattern.  Sometimes these changes have been so gradual that families have been compensating without realizing the significance of these changes. 

During the middle stage of AD people often begin to have changes in personality and behavior.  Some of these changes present major challenges to the family and require the family to learn new skills to cope with the changes.

Today we believe that the changes in the brain associated with Alzheimer’s disease begin a decade or more before problems become evident. During this time period people are free of symptoms, but lethal changes are taking place in the brain. Abnormal deposits of proteins form amyloid plaques and tau tangles in the brain, causing the neurons to work less efficiently. Over time, these neurons stop functioning all together and eventually die.  The neuron death eventually spread to the hippocampus, which is essential in forming memories. As more neurons die, affected brain regions begin to shrink


The Purple Chair Blog by Dr. Lori

Mindful Caring

Mindful Caring

Mindful Caring is the entity of The Foundation that provides support for Caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's and Dementia related diseases.  Some of the activities of Mindful Caring include; continuing education and training, conferences, retreats, Pampering Boxes, Dental Day, respite care, resources and more.

Mindful Caring Pampering Boxes

Mindful Caring Pampering Boxes are boxes developed for persons with Alzheimer's dementia and other brain diseases, their Caregivers, and anyone who wants to care for themselves just a little bit better.  These wonderful Boxes contain carefully sourced products, containing pure ingredients and superior quality items  that encourage you to take care of your loved ones and yourself, while providing comfort and calm.  You may request your Mindful Caring Pampering Box through the website or by attending a Mindful Caring or Foundation Event, or by giving us a call.


Pampering Box

The Purple Chair

Join us for Conversations from The Purple Chair talk show, hosted by Dr. Lori, as she interviews interesting, insightful, well known, and knowledgable guests.  Learn about resources in your area, how to care for loved ones, policies, research and current studies and data, ways to become involved, area resources and much more, during these impactful and casual conversations.   Stay tuned for the debut of:

 Conversations from The Purple Chair Talk Show, hosted by Dr. Lori, August 2021

Let's Take On The World Together!

Join Dr. Lori every morning for The Purple Focus Podcast beginning September 1, 2021.  She will share special themes, information, meditation and topics of interest to anyone who needs to start their day feeling rejuvenated, empowered and ready to tackle all that it will bring.  

2019 Community Brain Health and Care Forum

The James M. Dixon Foundation partnered with Emory University to present the first annual Community Brain Health and Care Forum, hosted by Rev. Dr. Rodney Turner at Mount Vernon Baptist Church. Join us for the 2021 Forum. Date and location to be announced.

An AARP Representative shares information with Forum participants.

Visiting the Vendor Table

Dr. Lori shared the importance of mindful caring of persons living with Alzheimer's disease, as well as care providers.

Dr. Lori gives a mindful hand massage to a Forum participant. He really enjoyed!

Atty. Dione Duckett discussed the importance of planning and making sure your legal house is in order. She shared a wealth of information about wills, trusts and a much more useful information.

Rev. Dr. Rodney Turner, Pastor of Mount Vernon Baptist Church

Ms. Vony-tza Cine, representative of Beauty Water USA, shares a table with a Forum participant.

Brain Health Forum Participants

Dr. Monica Parker, Emory University Goizueta Alzheimer's Disease Research Center

2019 Brain Health Forum Participants

2019 Brain Health Forum Participants

The Foundation Supports The Longest Day 2020

Dr. Lori's daughter Taylor dressed up her Yorkie Winter to draw attention to The Longest Day and raise money for The Alzheimer's Association, on June 20, 2020.

Sharon and her dog Mimi celebrating The Longest Day and raising money for The Alzheimer's Association with the treadmill challenge.

Dr. Wanda Greenwood and the summer camp students, parents and staff of Horizons Atlanta launched the Dimes for the Time to End Alzheimer's campaign, to raise money for The Longest Day!

The Alzheimer's Virtual Walk September 2020 & 2021

    The Alzheimer's Walk September 2019

    The James M. Dixon Foundation Participated in The Alzheimer's Foundation's Alzheimer's Walk in 2019.

    The Foundation raised more than $5,000 for The Alzheimer's Foundation.  Help us raise $25,000 for the 2020 Walk to End Alzheimer's on September 26, 2020.  Look for more information in the near future.

    Video

    The Alzheimer's Walk 2019

    Photo Gallery

      Support Legislation for Federal Oversight of ALF

      Legislation for Federal Over-site of Assisted Living Facilities

      Although in January 2018, Congress requested a study of nursing homes and assisted living facilities to determine if oversight is required, and the results and answer was a resounding "yes," no action has been taken as of this writing.  Language in the Bill that Dr. Lori has presented to two Congressmen, mimic the Language in the study presented to Congress in 2018.   We will continue to pursue making sure that this Bill is reviewed and presented, until there is a response, and the Bill is brought to the floor of Congress. 


      Citizens of the United States need to understand that many residents of Assisted Living Facilities are nutritionally underfed, not given proper medical care, in a timely manner, incidents not documented or reported, often hospitalized for dehydration, and unfortunately and documented killed.  However, since there is not federal oversight, although trillions of dollars are spent on Medicaid and Medicare for ALFs, states are left to set there all rules and regulations, which are few, lacking, and uncaring.  


      Please check back for a petition for Congress to provide oversight of Assisted Living Facilities.  The Bill is currently named: The James M. Dixon Assisted Living Services Federal Oversight of Beneficiary Health and Welfare Act of 2019.  Thank you in advance for your support of this Bill.


      Update:

      The Bill was reviewed by the Alzheimer's Association and determined that it is a viable piece of legislation and we should continue to push for consideration.  Currently, it is in Congressman Sanford Bishop's office.  We are very hopeful that movement on the Bill will take place during the 2021 legislative session.  We are in the process of completing a letter writing campaign to several congressional leaders.

      Learn More

      The James M. Dixon Assisted Living Services Federal Oversight of Beneficiary Health and Welfare Act of 2019

      Who We Support?

      Caregivers

      The Foundation was established to support Caregivers and the service they provide to persons living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.  Some activities and services that are taking place or planned for the near future are below.  Many of our activities, such as the Caregivers Retreat, will take place annually.

      • Supporting Caregivers with gifts, face masks, baskets, lunch and other items at Arbor Terrace and other Residential Living Facilities.
      • Caregiver Retreats
      • Awareness/Training Sessions
      • Resources
      • Dental Resources
      • Legal Resources
      • Mindfulness and Meditation Training
      • Food Assistance
      • Much, much more.

      Emory University Goizueta Alzheimer's Disease Research Center

      Part of the proceeds from the annual fundraiser support the efforts of Dr. Monica Parker at Emory University.  Our original goal was to fund a Neurology Chair, in order to provide more services to African Americans living with Alzheimer's disease, when they seek services from Emory.  With support from the community, we know we will be able to provide more support for awareness, prevention, and services to populations that are affected more often by Alzheimer's disease and unfortunately served less often.  We will continue to follow the very capable guidance of Dr. Parker in this area.

      Morehouse School of Medicine

      We will sponsor two student scholarships each year, at Morehouse School of Medicine, in honor of James M. Dixon, Sr.  One scholarship will be for a student with a desire to practice in the area of geriatric medicine or aging.  A second scholarship will be for a student with a desire to specialize in neurology.

      Arbor Terrace at Cascade

      We are committed to providing scholarships, retreats, training, and other assistance to Caregivers.  We are excited to begin our support at Arbor Terrace at Cascade.  


      We also support family members who are Caregivers of loved ones living with Alzheimer's and other Dementia diseases.

      Faith Villages

      Faith Village Connections is working to spread dementia awareness. We work with partners to develop dementia-friendly faith villages to support families caring for persons living with dementia.

      The Foundation has partnered with Faith Villages on several activities and will continues building this partnership in the future.  

      faithvillage@sagenavigator.org

      404.549.4504

      The Alzheimer's Association Formed in 1980, the Alzheimer's Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer's care, support and research.

       24/7 HELPLINE

                                 800.272.3900                          

      Disclaimer Information


      There are many organizations whose primary goal is to provide awareness of the debilitating and deadly disease of Alzheimer's, and provide resources, assistance, as well as other activities.  They have definitions of Alzheimer's disease, symptoms, and a wealth of other information.  We provide information from these organizations and other resources on this website, where the organizations are cited.  Please note that medical and other specific resource information documented on this website will be cited from it's official source.  More information, about a specific topic or answers to questions, may be obtained from that cite.  We do not recommend using this cite as your sole source for information, nor does this cite make specific recommendations, a diagnosis, or a plan of action.  We encourage continued involvement with all medical and other support personnel.  

      Stay in Touch

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