In March, Atria Newport Beach joined forces with Alzheimer’s Orange County (AlzOC) and the Orange County Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association to support the battle against Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
The InspirationALZ Gala on March 1 and Walk4ALZ event on March 15 represent two of the biggest annual Alzheimer’s fundraising events in Orange County, promoting awareness and raising thousands of dollars for Alzheimer’s care, research and advocacy.
Atria Newport Beach served as a Champion Sponsor of the gala and a Gold Sponsor of the walk.
“Our ongoing collaborations with Alzheimer’s Orange County and the Orange County Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association reflect our commitment to supporting our memory care residents, their families and the larger community of people affected by Alzheimer’s and dementia,” says Sofiane Lahouasnia, Assistant Executive Director at Atria Newport Beach. “And I think the relationships have been very rewarding and productive for all.”
The Alzheimer’s Association and AlzOC
With more than 6 million Americans now living with Alzheimer’s, the need for more resources, care and support has never been higher. Families living with Alzheimer’s – and the cognitive decline and loss of independence that come with it – have to navigate a number of emotional, financial and logistical challenges that can become overwhelming without support.
Since its founding in 1980, the Alzheimer’s Association has grown into the largest Alzheimer’s and dementia nonprofit in the world, with chapters in every U.S. state. The organization works tirelessly to spread awareness about the disease, provide help for families facing dementia, fund groundbreaking national Alzheimer’s research efforts, and advocate for better support and care services.
Some of its accomplishments include:
- Establishing online resources and a 24/7 Helpline that provide families with information about symptoms, caregiving strategies, financial planning and more.
- Investing over $400 million in more than 2,900 scientific investigations into Alzheimer’s, ranging from genetics and brain imaging to behavioral interventions and potential drug therapies.
- Advocating for political action and policy changes, including the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA), passed in 2011, which established a national strategy to fight the disease.
The nonprofit that would become AlzOC was founded in 1982 by a small group of local caregivers. Starting in 1984, they served as the official local chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association before branching off in 2015 to become AlzOC, an independent nonprofit. AlzOC’s mission is to provide local care, support and education services with a hands-on, community-based approach.
As part of their collaboration with Atria Newport Beach, the Orange County Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association hosts quarterly support and education groups for residents and their families at the community, with each meeting centered around a different topic. The first 2025 support group meeting in February focused on providing a better understanding of the effects of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
Future support groups will focus on:
- Communicating Effectively – Wednesday, May 28 at 6 pm
- Building Foundations of Caregiving – Wednesday, August 27 at 6 pm
- Exploring Care and Support Service – Wednesday, November 19 at 6 pm
“Working with the Alzheimer’s Association has helped us provide residents and their families with invaluable supplemental support and education resources,” Lahouasnia says. “But they also do so much for everyone in Orange County who is affected by Alzheimer’s. We’re proud to support them and Alzheimer’s Orange County in all the fundraising they do for research, family support and policy advocacy.”
The InspirationALZ Gala
On March 1, the Orange County Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association hosted the 3rd annual InspirationALZ Gala at Balboa Bay Resort.
This year’s theme was “Mind, Music and Memories” and featured a Wall of Dignity, where attendees posted photos of family members with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, along with a brief biographical note telling their life’s story.
“A lot of the people on the wall were our residents,” says Lynda Eyler, Engage Life Director at Atria Newport Beach. “As someone who knows them personally, it was very powerful to touch the wall and really feel how many people and family members are affected. It’s great to be part of a community that takes such pride in supporting Alzheimer’s families and working to find a cure.”
Walk4ALZ 2025
On March 15, AlzOC hosted Walk4ALZ 2025 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, its largest and most popular annual event.
The approximately 2-mile walk route circled around and into the stadium, starting at a festival area in the parking lot and ending out on the field. Several Atria Newport Beach residents made the walk, along with their families and Atria staff, and many attendees wore custom T-shirts decorated with residents’ handprints in bright paint.
In the festival area, attendees enjoyed live music from an energetic lineup of local artists. The 501st Legion was on hand dressed as Star Wars characters, and family-friendly activities included face painting, pickleball, cornhole and a rock wall. Local food trucks provided a range of treats, from gourmet French fries to funnel cakes.
All the money raised from Walk4ALZ 2025 will go directly toward benefiting the estimated 164,000 Orange County residents affected by dementia or mild cognitive impairment.
A community of care
Lahouasnia says he’s looking forward to future collaborations between Atria Newport Beach, the Alzheimer’s Association and AlzOC.
“Atria, the Alzheimer’s Association and Alzheimer’s Orange County all support each other’s mission, and that lets us provide better support and care for our residents and their loved ones,” Lahouasnia says. “We hope these events raise awareness and build community for people affected by Alzheimer’s, and we want those people to know we’re here to support them.”
For anyone interested in attending an Alzheimer’s Association-led support group or scheduling a tour, contact Atria Newport Beach. Information about upcoming AlzOC events can be found here, and information about future Alzheimer’s Association events can be found here.
You might also like
Want to learn more about life at Atria Senior Living?
