We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lori James a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Lori, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.
I want to talk to you about Alzheimer’s. What do you think happens when you lose your memory? During my father’s journey with Alzheimer’s disease, I learned that in life you may forget, but you absolutely cannot forget to care.
Daddy was so tolerant. He practically had the patience of Job. He was kind, caring, and compassionate, Daddy was also a pretty snazzy dresser, except for the time he decided to wear those red boxers and undershirt under his white pants that were a little more sheer than he realized, until grandmother told him to take himself back upstairs and change. We sure got a good laugh out of that.
My father loved his family, good food, good jazz, and a short glass of Tanqueray and tonic when he got home from work in the evening. Daddy was an accountant. He loved Math, numbers and one of his favorite past times, believe it or not, was doing taxes. He also had a memory like an elephant, and a contagious sense of humor. My father loved to laugh, and you know what, I heard someone say people with a good sense of humor have a better sense of life, and one day, my father showed me that he had both.
Daddy liked to fall asleep on the sofa in the evening. One night after I woke him up, I said, if you fall asleep on the sofa again, I’m going to pour water on you head. He laughed, got up, and went to bed. Well, the very next day, Daddy fell asleep on the sofa again, and I sprinkled a few drops of water on his head. He jumped up, laughing of course, and told me he was going to return the favor. One thing I thought I knew about my father was that he did not believe in revenge or payback, but boy was I wrong.
Several months later, I was sleeping very soundly around 3 o’clock in the morning and I kept feeling this water on my head. It woke me up from a good dream. After my head was almost drenched in water, I sat up and blinked a few times to make sure I wasn’t dreaming, and would you believe I found father standing over me, laughing hysterically and holding an empty glass. Let me paint a picture for you. My father emptied a full glass of ice water on my just went to the hairdresser the day before hair. He then mumbled something about payback as he laughed all the way to his bedroom, leaving me to dry my hair and change my sheets. You know I had to laugh, after I got over the shock! Remember, you’ve got to have a sense of humor about life to get through it.
A few years ago, my Daddy stopped laughing, he stopped listening to jazz, no more Ella, Nancy, Miles or Coltrane, and he forgot how to do those taxes. His sense of humor that made every day so much fun, was fading too. Daddy had Alzheimer’s disease. I was devastated! I was losing my best friend. I couldn’t dwell on that because I had to start making plans to keep him safe and well cared for. It still wasn’t enough. I couldn’t find the information I needed, and a lot of the information I found was not helpful for Daddy, and I didn’t know it until it was too late. I believe it was Hosea who said, my people perish for lack of knowledge. Daddy did!
After losing my father to Alzheimer’s, I had to be part of the solution to the caregiving dilemma. Although my father had Alzheimer’s disease, his death was exacerbated by lack of training and understanding from caregivers, although I was paying more than $5,000 per month for his care. However, I did not know the full story until the hospice doctors refused to sign his death certificate.
They said that his death was accelerated by frontal lobe trauma that he received during his time at, what was supposed to be, the best assisted living facility in Sun City Center, Florida.
Once I stopped being so angry, I began to focus on the plight of caregivers and those living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia. So, I decided to create The James M. Dixon Foundation for Alzheimer’s Research and Support. Through various programs and initiatives, The Foundation supports both those living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, and their caregivers.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I currently live in Atlanta, GA, and I have been here for many years, however, I was born in Chicago, Il. Although my mother died when I was two years old, I had a wonderful childhood and that was because of my best friend, my Dad! I also had supportive grandparents and cousins. I first learned how to care for my Dad when I was very young, maybe four or give, encouraging him to drink more water and making him a bowl of Wheaties for breakfast. In my late twenties, I assisted my paternal grandmother as she cared for my grandfather. I later cared for my maternal grandmother after she lost her legs to artery disease.
My degrees are in special education and leadership and change. While obtaining my doctorate degree, I also had an emphasis on neuropsychology. I spent more than 25 years working with students and young adults with disabilities. This included assisting parents, school members, corporate organizations, and more. When I began to focus on Alzheimer’s and other dementias, I realized that the care plan is very similar to caring for persons with other cognitive disabilities, especially how you care for them. That’s when I determined that I would focus on being an intentional caregiver, as well as teach others how to be an intentional caregiver.
• More than 6 million people are living with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia in the United States.
• The projected increase in Alzheimer’s and ADRD, between 2020-2025, in the state of Georgia is 28-33.3%.
• Over 150,000 people are living with Alzheimer’s disease and ADRD in the state of Georgia.
• Over 130,000 people, over the age of 65, are living with Alzheimer’s disease and ADRD in the state of Georgia.
• 11% of individuals, 45 and older, are living with a cognitive decline in the state of Georgia.
• There are 343,000 family caregivers, in the state of Georgia.
• 14.1% of seniors (65 and older) are living with Alzheimer’s disease, in Fulton County, Georgia.
As well, African Americans are twice a likely to be affected by Alzheimer’s disease and receive the least amount of support, resources, and information. That is why The Foundation focuses on underserved and under supported communities to provide care and assistance.
Although not inclusive, this is a synopsis of where The Foundation provides support:
1. Daddy’s Closet: Recognizing the profound impact of specialty items, especially when resources are not available, in conjunction with The Atlanta Airport Rotary Club, Daddy’s Closet supplies essential personal care, hygiene, and cleaning items to seniors and those with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia, living in senior and assisted living facilities.
2. Oral Care: Dental health isn’t just about teeth; it’s intrinsically linked to overall well-being. We will make essential dental healthcare available for those living with dementia and caregivers.
3. Respite Care: Caregiving, while rewarding, can be emotionally and physically draining. By providing temporary relief, caregivers can rest and rejuvenate, as well as keep medical and other appointments.
4. Brain Health and Care Symposiums: Providing workshops supporting caregivers, with information on awareness, prevention, resources, and other information, will be conducted quarterly, with active participation from The Atlanta Airport Rotary Club.
5. Support Groups: Provide multiple bi-weekly opportunities for caregivers, in person and virtually, to connect, share experiences and resources, and obtain information and support.
6. Transport and Social Engagement: Social isolation exacerbates dementia symptoms. Regular social engagements revitalize the spirit, slowing cognitive decline. For caregivers, these outings provide a refreshing change, breaking the monotony of daily care routines.
7. Memory Box Workshops: Memories are anchors in the tumultuous sea of dementia. Crafting memory boxes allows individuals with dementia to connect with their past, giving them moments of clarity and joy. For caregivers, these sessions are a poignant reminder of the person behind the disease, renewing their commitment and understanding.
Dementia, a challenge both complex and deeply personal, requires a community approach. We envision a future where persons living with Alzheimer’s disease, related dementia, caregivers and families navigate this journey supported and informed.
As dementia’s ripple effect touches countless lives, we believe in a comprehensive strategy. These initiatives aim to enrich the lives of people living with Alzheimer’s, related dementia (ADRD), caregivers, and their families. Beyond addressing physical and emotional necessities, the emphasis lies on fostering a well-informed community and encouraging other organizations to harness our model, embodying the “paying it forward” mantra.
Dementia, a silent yet omnipresent challenge, demands a community’s collective strength and strategy. The surge in dementia cases necessitates a comprehensive community response. This is what makes The Foundation different from most other organizations that provide support for persons living with Alzheimer’s, a related dementia, their caregivers and families. The Foundation answers the phone when someone calls for help; we are in the community and focus on individual efforts of support; and we look for various ways to provide support, as we observe a need.
I am proud of many aspects of the work The Foundation does and has done in the past four years. We are a young organization, however, we have many supporters, including our amazing Advisory Board. I am proud of our annual event, The Purple Affair, where we provide awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and support and honor community leaders, caregivers, and others who align with the mission of The Foundation. During The Purple Affair 2023 (August 20, 2023), we honored five persons, including a salute to Louis Gossett, Jr. We were also presented with a Proclamation from the City of Atlanta, presented by The Honorable Doug Shipman, Atlanta City Council President. We hosted 300 guests, at the Atlanta Airport Marriott Gateway Hotel this year. In 2024, to celebrate our fifth year, we look forward to celebrating five honorees and hosting 500 guests. I am also proud of the amount of lives we have been able to touch, in such a short period of time.
Each component of the Initiatives of The James M. Dixon Foundation is intricately designed to ameliorate the challenges faced by those with Alzheimer’s, related dementia, and their caregivers. As we stride forward with resilience, innovation, and compassion, we humbly endeavor to shape a brighter, more inclusive tomorrow.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
The method I used to put together the initial capital is a method that I would never recommend and probably would not do again. My desire was to incorporate and begin providing service. I was also sad and angry about my father’s death. So, I did not think about financing prior to moving forward with The Foundation.
Initially, I thought The Foundation was only going provide pampering boxes for persons living with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers. I utilized my own money to purchase products, have the boxes designed and printed, develop the website and other marketing tools. However, within months we began to realize the enormity of needs in this community. So, I jumped in with both feet building our initiatives. Unfortunately, this caused me to go into debt.
The Foundation did not begin to bring in revenue until year 2, and then the pandemic hit. Although our revenue has increased each year, we are still not profitable where we can afford staff and I can stop utilizing personal funds and begin paying off the debt. If I had it to do again, I probably would have done a crowdfunding campaign and utilized more options for raising capital, before beginning to provide services.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
I believe being consistent and providing assistance in relevant and high need spaces have helped us build our reputation within the Alzheimer’s and related dementia community. We regularly have referrals of people in need of assistance; have developed partnerships and relationships with persons, organizations, and businesses desiring to participate in The Foundation and/or provide funding. We also have had opportunities to share The Foundation’s story, as well as present in relevant areas, and more. This has increased our visibility and helped build a positive reputation.
Being available and willing to assist is another way we have built The Foundation’s reputation. When asked to participate in activities or events of others in the arena, we are more than happy to support. When asked to share information and recruit potential clients for others, we are more than happy to support. When asked to share information and resources, we are more than happy to be of service. These are additional ways that The Foundation’s reputation continues to grow, in a positive way, within the Alzheimer’s community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thejamesmdixonfoundationinc.com
- Instagram: jamesdixonfoundation
- Facebook: The James M. Dixon Foundation
- Linkedin: Dr. Lori-Renee Dixon James