Volunteer efforts were hit hard with sheltering in place. But, some organizations that support Alzheimer’s and dementia efforts are still looking for virtual volunteers. Most of their outreach, advocacy, and administrative tasks be done online, even support groups have shifted online.
Creative solutions are in the works everywhere. Clio Muses, a group of high school musicians who learned that listening to music can delay the onset of dementia, has been playing for elderly patients at rehabilitation centers in the Peninsula since 2016. Though originally classical musicians, they gladly took requests for anything from Sinatra, to Elvis, to the Beatles. Now, these musicians are recording their performances in their homes so that their listeners don’t miss out on these musical gatherings.
In this article, we’ve listed mostly local organizations that are now looking for online volunteers. Though living in the vicinity isn’t a requirement, we have organized the list by location.
Training for volunteer roles with organizations, like the Alzheimer’s Association, are all online. The Alzheimer’s Association provides general training for all volunteers and specialized training for specific roles. Their online training is valid at all of their chapters. And yes, they’re still taking new volunteers.
We hope you’ll join us in finding ways to support community efforts while sheltering in place.
In This Article |
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Advocacy |
Volunteer Opportunities |
Clinical Studies and Trials |
Donations |
Advocacy
IN THIS ARTICLE
- Alzheimer’s Impact Movement (AIM)
The Alzheimer’s Impact Movement (AIM) advocates for critical legislation and research funding in Congress and in every state capitol. Since 2011, they’ve increased federally funded research five-fold. You don’t need experience to help out, as they provide training for each role.- cultivate relationships with targeted state officials.
- Alzheimer’s Ambassadors develop relationships with their assigned members of Congress.
- Alzheimer’s Congressional Team Members work with an Ambassador.
- Alzheimer’s Association
Alzheimer’s Association is working to make it a national priority for funding education, research, and support for all those affected by dementia. Find out how you can help support the Improving HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act.
Volunteer Opportunities
Northern California
- Alzheimer’s Association | Northern California and Northern Nevada Chapter
The Northern California and Northern Nevada Chapter of the tremendous national Alzheimer’s Association has offices in Chico, Fresno, Lafayette, Monterey, Sacramento, San Jose, San Rafael, Santa Cruz, and Santa Rosa. Check out a few of their volunteer opportunities:
- Alzheimer’s Association | California Central Coast Chapter
The California Central Coast Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association serves San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and Ventura. As a very active organization, they have plenty of ways that you can volunteer, whether through education, outreach, or facilitating support groups. Descriptions of the roles and the time commitment are posted on their website.
If you’re not finding a role that interests you, reach out to them. There are new opportunities coming soon. Call Donna Beal at (805) 892-4259 ext. 1921 or email her at dbeal@alz.org to find out more. Here are some of their current openings:- HELPLINE Volunteer
- Support Group Facilitator
- Community Voices Lead (Our Speakers Bureau)
- Volunteer Outreach/Management
- Public Outreach/Health Fairs/Education
- Promotores (Spanish speaking support)
- Advocacy
Southern California
- Alzheimer’s Association | California Southland Chapter
The Alzheimer’s Association of California Southland has offices in Bakersfield, Beverly Hills, Ontario, Palm Desert, and Van Nuys. If you’d like to participate in their efforts, these are their volunteer roles:- Support Group Facilitator
- Community Educator
- Faith Outreach Representative
- Community Representative, Chapter Promotores, Early-Stage Social Engagement Leader – Email Jorge Chavez at jhchavez@alz.org.
- Become an Advocate
- Alzheimer’s Association’s | Orange County Chapter
The Alzheimer’s Association’s Chapter in Orange County keeps their website up-to-date with volunteer openings that they’re currently searching to fill. Their Education Programs and Support Groups are now entirely online. Click on the links below to learn more about the ways you can help out.
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- Alzheimer’s Orange County
Alzheimer’s Orange County operates out of their main office in Irvine, where they need both volunteers and interns. They also operates the South County Adult Day Services (SCADS) in Laguna Woods, a licensed Adult Day Center providing both social and healthcare programs to South Orange County’s elder adults and adults with disabilities. Volunteer opportunities are available. Here are some of the volunteer positions currently available.
- Alzheimer’s Orange County
Alzheimer’s Orange County also offers the following internships for those who want to learn and serve the community.
- Alzheimer’s Family Center (AFC) As seniors continue to shelter in place, AFC is supporting families through videoconferencing a rich array of programs. Their “center without walls” offers families needed services via phone and video-conferencing, as well as referrals to resources.
9451 Indianapolis AveHuntington Beach, CA 92646(714) 642-0851 or (714) 593-9630
- Alzheimer’s Association | San Diego/Imperial Chapter
The Alzheimer’s Association-San Diego/Imperial has one very active office in San Diego, where they’re heading many efforts that require volunteers:- Legislative Advocate
- Voices 4 ALZ: Speakers’ Bureau Volunteer
- Graphic Design / Web Design Volunteer
- Community Educator
- Caregiver Support Group Facilitator
- Physician Outreach Volunteer
Clinical Studies and Trials
Clinical studies and trials are still running with appropriate and necessary health safety precautions in place.
Northern California
- UCSF
https://clinicaltrials.ucsf.edu/alzheimers-disease - UCSF | Memory and Aging Center
(415) 476-0661
(415) 514-5745
clinicaltrials@memory.ucsf.edu
https://memory.ucsf.edu/research-trials/clinical-trials - Stanford | Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center
(650) 724-8736
memoryresearch@stanford.edu
https://med.stanford.edu/adrc/clinicaltrials.html - UCDavis | Alzheimer’s Disease Center
https://health.ucdavis.edu/alzheimers/Clinical_Trials.html
Southern California
- UCLA | Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior
760 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095
(310) 478-3711 x54437
https://www.semel.ucla.edu/bbar/participate-alzheimers-research-studies - UC Irvine
https://clinicaltrials.icts.uci.edu/alzheimers-disease - USC | Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center
7601 East Imperial Highway
800 West Annex
Downey, CA 90242
(562) 401-8130
http://adrc.usc.edu/ - USC | Alzheimer’s Therapeutic Research Institute
1975 Zonal Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90033
(323) 442-1100
https://keck.usc.edu/atri/research/studies/ - PRI | Pharmacology Research Institute
6345 Balboa Blvd, Building III, Ste 363
Encino, CA 91316
(818) 705-7450
encino@priresearch.com
https://www.priresearch.com/ - PRI | Pharmacology Research Institute
1601 Dove Street, Suite 290
Newport Beach, CA 92660
(949) 752-7910
newport@priresearch.com
https://www.priresearch.com/
- PRI | Pharmacology Research Institute
4281 Katella Avenue, Suite 115
Los Alamitos, CA 90720
(714) 827-3667 & (562) 795-6955
losalamitos@priresearch.com
https://www.priresearch.com/ - CNS
2600 Redondo Avenue, 5th Floor
Long Beach CA 90806
(855) 425-1515
(866) CNS-TRIAL
https://www.cnstrial.com/ - Parexel
1560 E. Chevy Chase Drive, Ste 140
Glendale, CA 91206
(818) 705-7450
https://www.parexel.com/trials/locations/los-angeles/en - Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Department of Neurology
217 S. San Vicente Blvd. A6600
Los Angeles, CA 90048
1 (800) CEDARS-1
https://www.cedars-sinai.org/research/areas/neurosciences/current-studies/alzheimers.html - UCSD | Shiley-Marcos Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center
9444 Medical Center Drive, Suite 1-100
La Jolla, CA, 92037-0948
(858) 822-4800 (Ask for Tracey Truscott, LCSW)
ttruscott@ucsd.edu
https://clinicaltrials.ucsd.edu/alzheimers-disease - UCSD | Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study (ADCS)
9500 Gilman Dr
MC0949
La Jolla, CA 92093-0949
(858) 246-1333
alzinfo@ucsd.edu
https://www.adcs.org/ - Sharp | Mesa Vista Clinical Research Center
7850 Vista Hill Ave.
San Diego, CA 92123
(858) 836-8350
https://www.sharp.com/hospitals/mesa-vista/sharp-mesa-vista-clinical-research-center/
If you still haven’t found the clinical study for you, check out these websites that can help you with your search.
- Trial Match | Alzheimer’s Association
(800) 272-3900 (press 1 for clinical trials)
TrialMatch@alz.org
https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/research_progress/clinical-trials/about-clinical-trials - WCG CenterWatch
Donations
The Alzheimer’s Association’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for care, support and research. Held annually in more than 600 communities nationwide, this year’s walk will be happening but slightly differently. Walkers will meet online and walk in their favorite paths, neighborhoods, and trails.
Contact any of the following organizations to make a donation in support of education and research.
Northern California
- UCSF | Memory and Aging Center
UCSF Foundation
Lockbox 45339
San Francisco, CA 94145-0339
(415) 476-0661
(415) 514-5745
clinicaltrials@memory.ucsf.edu
https://memory.ucsf.edu/about/support-us - Stanford | Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center
Development Services
P.O. Box 20466
Stanford, CA 94309
(650) 725-2504
medicalgiving@stanford.edu
https://med.stanford.edu/adrc/gifts.html
Southern California
- Alzheimer’s Association
- Alzheimer’s Los Angeles
- Cure Alzheimer’s Fund
- Alzheimer’s Orange County
- California Community Foundation
- UC Santa Barbara | Neuroscience Research Institute
6129 Biology II
(805) 893-4963
bethany.innocenti@ucsb.edu
https://www.nri.ucsb.edu/give - UCLA Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Program | Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Program
200 UCLA Medical Plaza, Suite 365A
Los Angeles, CA 90095
(310) 319-3222
dementia@mednet.ucla.edu
https://www.uclahealth.org/dementia/ways-to-give - UC San Diego | Shiley-Marcos Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center
9500 Gilman Drive #0937
La Jolla, CA 92093
(858) 246-1141
e2little@ucsd.edu
http://adrc.ucsd.edu/giving.html - Alzheimer’s San Diego | Collaboration4Cure
6632 Convoy Court
San Diego, CA 92111
(858) 492-4400
info@alzsd.org
https://www.alzsd.org/resources/san-diego-research/collaboration4cure/
Collaboration4Cure unites local government, research institutions, and philanthropists around a single goal: finding a cure.
- Alzheimer’s Family Center
As seniors continue to shelter in place, AFC is supporting families through videoconferencing a rich array of programs. Their “center without walls” offers families needed services via phone and video-conferencing, as well as referrals to resources; however, 80% of their seniors do not have the technology to access these services. Their GoFundMe campaign is raising funds for the purchase of technology and comfort items to help their seniors feel connected and loved.
9451 Indianapolis Ave, Huntington Beach, CA 92646
(714) 642-0851 or (714) 593-9630
volunteers@afscenter.org
https://afscenter.org/volunteer-opportunities/
Whether you are volunteering your time, talent, or treasure, we hope this list helps you find a way to support research while sheltering in place. Share this post and encourage a friend to join the support efforts today.