The Alzheimer's Care Champions
Reducing family caregiver burnout
What is Alzheimer's?
Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills.
Did you know...
There are currently 15 million Americans who provide over 80% of the care required by their family members with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Yet available resources for caregivers continues to be fragmented
The Statistics
Family caregivers are the backbone of our healthcare system. They provide over 80% of the care needed by their family members with dementia but often struggle on their own with limited support.
The Alzheimer's Care Champions
Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and the only one among the top 10 without a means to prevent, cure or even significantly slow its progression. [1] The burden of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia extends far beyond the person with a diagnosis, with significant costs and consequences for the family, the healthcare system, and for society. Family caregivers (families, friends, neighbors) are especially impacted by the disease, not only related to the emotional impact of the diagnosis but also by the role they take on in care provision. Family caregivers provide over 80% of the assistance needed by their family members. [2] Caring for a family member with dementia can be particularly challenging because of the related cognitive decline as well as the changes in personality, behavior, and functional ability of the affected individual. Those providing care to persons with dementia are more likely to take on multiple responsibilities including assisting with activities of daily living, coordinating health care services, and managing finances as well as other instrumental activities of daily living compared with caregivers of persons without dementia. [3] Although some caregivers report positive benefits associated with the caregiving role such as a closer relationship with the care recipient or an opportunity to assist others, [4, 5] there is an extensive body of evidence showing the negative consequences on the caregiver’s physical, emotional, social, and financial health. [6,7,8]
Our Mission
The Alzheimer's Care Champions (TACC) is a non-profit dedicated to promote the health and well-being of family caregivers. Our goal is to reduce family caregiver burnout by enhancing the lives of caregivers with education, respite care and resources.
Meet the Founders
Tracy Arnell Williams
Founder & Alzheimer's Care Champion
After graduating Lamar University with her Bachelor’s degree in Criminology and Sociology, founder, Tracy Arnell Williams, accepted a position in the Texas Legislature. She then transitioned into a civil service career as an Adult Parole Officer and thereafter, went on to become a Juvenile Probation Officer. During her tenure, she discovered that meeting the needs of others was her passion and was led to move beyond the complicated and often ugly experiences that come with state and government civil service and redirected her passion and skill set into the world of beauty.
​
After graduating from beauty school, she opened Salon 1700 and became a TEA Recognized, Distinguished Certified - High School - Career and Technical Education Teacher, providing cosmetology instruction for the Dallas Independent School District. Then in January 2019, the unthinkable happened and her mother, Carol Stanley, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. As her only child, she was then tasked with relocating her mother from Houston to Dallas and soon became her mother’s age-in-place caregiver.
​
Juggling her career as an owner-operator as well as her teaching responsibilities for two school districts, she soon became overwhelmed and thereafter sought the assistance of a private duty attendant but quickly discovered that there were limited resources for African American family caregivers. Determined to make the transition and the experience as uneventful and pleasant for her mother, she later began attending support groups and it was while attending an African American caregivers summit that she reconnected with her then client's daughter, co-founder, Shylondia Peters, whose mother also suffered from the disease; and together the two founded, The Alzheimer’s Care Champions.
​
Tracy currently resides in Dallas and is the proud mother of a North Carolina A&TSU school of engineering graduate.
Shylondia Peters
Co-Founder & Alzheimer's Care Champion
In 2010, co-founder, Shylondia Peters’, mother, Ida Turner Robertson, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. As the only child, Shylondia had no clue where this journey would take her. Unfortunately, she soon discovered there were limited resources for people of color which led her to make the decision to dedicate her life to advocating for African American women who are disproportionately affected by the disease. That dedication led her to serve as a Community Educator for the Alzheimer’s Association of Dallas as well as being a member of their Diversity & Inclusion team. She also serves on the Board of Directors of Dementia Care Warriors and is a Caregiver Support Group Facilitator who also speaks at various churches and organizations educating and advocating for the cause. Since 2020, she’s had the pleasure of serving as Walk Chair and Grand Champion for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s whose team, Ida's Angel's has been recognized as a top fundraiser, doing their part to raise funds to find a cure.
Although she lost her mother in 2018, Shylondia works tirelessly to volunteer her time and resources to bring awareness to the disease and pave the way for other caregivers facing this journey. She is an insurance professional by trade and is the mother of two outstanding adult children. She presently resides in Dallas, Texas.
Need an Alzheimer's Care Champion to speak at your event?
We want nothing more than to equip, empower, and encourage caregivers and it would be our distinct pleasure to speak to your organization, keynote your event or be a guest on your podcast. Let's connect!