Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Lori-Renee Dixon James.
Hi Dr. James, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My story began long before my father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. I come from a family of caregivers and servant leaders. Although I would not have believed I would be doing what I am doing today ten years ago, I believe that I was groomed for this.
My mother died when I was two years old. Although I’m sure I didn’t know it at the time, a couple of years later my life’s mission became to make sure that my father was alright. So, I would make sure he ate breakfast, even if it was just the Wheaties that I made him, and encouraged him to drink more water. I could also very much feel if something was not quite right with him. I helped care for my grandfather when he developed leukemia and prostate cancer, and I cared for my grandmother when she had her legs amputated due to artery disease. So, when my father began to show signs of dementia and was subsequently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, although groomed, it caught me by surprise, and I knew that I had to step up my game of caregiving.
Daddy spent the last several months living in an assisted living facility, Cypress Creek, which was supposed to be the best in the retirement town, Sun City Center, Florida, where they lived. Unfortunately, it was not, and I did not learn that until it was too late. After my father’s death, I learned that his death was exacerbated by blunt-force trauma to his frontal lobe, which was determined to have been caused by another party. Because of the way the laws are written, or unwritten, the facility did not have to tell me what happened, and to this day (5 years later), I still do not know what happened to my father.
To say that I was sad, depressed, and extremely angry are understatements. However, after a few months, I began to think about the plight of caregivers, especially those who care for persons living with dementia, and I realized that most are untrained, underpaid, and under-supported. I began to consider what would have happened to my father and countless others if those things were not true. So, after much prayer and contemplation, I made the decision to make caring for the caregiver, as well as those journeying through Alzheimer’s and related dementias, my life’s goal. That is when The James M. Dixon Foundation for Alzheimer’s Research and Support was created.
Initially, I thought The Foundation would support with pampering boxes, training classes, and the like. However, I quickly realized that the need is so great, especially in Black, Brown, and underserved and unaware communities. This caused the work that we do to expand greatly. This caused the work that we are planning to do to expand greatly. I am honored that this work has become the reason I rise every day, aside from caring for my family.
The Foundation currently supports communities with Brain Health and Care Symposiums, resources, referrals, information, care programs, and more. We have partnered with dentists to initiate the Oral Hygiene Program; established Daddy’s Closet to support residents of senior facilities with personal care, hygiene, nutrition, and other items; we have a group of friends who support our bedtime stories podcast; we are planning a caregiver’s retreat, luncheon workshop, and charity bike ride. In 2022, we began supporting caregivers and their families who are living with food and rent/mortgage insecurities.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, not at all. It has not been a smooth road? I wish I could say that it has been; however, if it was I would not have learned the necessary lessons.
The Foundation is only four years old, so of course, as a new start-up and as a new non-profit start-up, there have been many financial challenges and obstacles. However, we have made it through and continue to grow and work. Trying to get organizations and individuals to support a new business/organization, especially during a pandemic, has been challenging.
Trying to obtain a physical space for The Foundation is also a challenge, which we are hoping to conquer that challenge this year.
Keeping up with all of the paperwork was challenging. However, we are working through new and old document requirements, as well as keeping supporters informed.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I began my professional career as a teacher of students with disabilities, initially working with students with severe emotional disorders. My career spanned from 6 years of classroom instruction to being a coordinator of four programs for a public school district. My work in the area of disabilities prepared me for the work that I currently do in the area of Alzheimer’s and related dementias.
I retired early from the school district and became a contractor supporting school districts around the United States, the Department of Education, and private organizations. At that time, I incorporated my second company, Focus on Education, which is currently active, not only supporting school entities, by also, under the name Focused Passenger Services, supporting airports in becoming dementia and invisible disabilities friendly, as well as supporting caregivers as they plan for their loved one to travel.
In November 2018, The James M. Dixon Foundation for Alzheimer’s Research and Support was created as a not-for-profit 501c3 organization. The Foundation supports persons living with Alzheimer’s or related dementias, their caregivers, and organizations who support these individuals. The Foundation is known for being a grassroots organization, involved in the community and providing individual support to those we serve. This is also what sets us apart from other organizations supporting this community.
I am most proud of the work that we do through The Foundation and the growing number of people and organizations we are blessed to support. I am also proud of The Foundation’s advisory board members, partners, and others who support the work that we do. Finally, the fact that The Foundation is so young and we are able to do so much is something that we are very proud of, and the vision for the future is extremely bright. One of the major accomplishments is The Purple Affair, which will take place on August 20, 2023, and this is our fourth event. We have many supporters and partners and have been able to honor so many people who are caregivers, researchers, community leaders and more.
What matters most to you?
The thing that matters most to me is The Foundation’s ability to touch support, and benefit as many lives as possible to help make their dementia journey just a little bit easier, whether they are caregivers or those going through the journey.
My father was an absolutely wonderful and kind man. Although the funds were available for him to be cared for comfortably, he wasn’t, and that was for many different reasons, one being that he was a Black man. Going through this journey with him, I was quickly reminded that economics and race play such huge roles in the provision of care and support. The disparity is much greater than one can imagine, especially in 2023. As well, the lack of knowledge is so great in certain communities so resources and benefits are not utilized simply because those in need do not have the awareness to locate and utilize them. Also, basic information about prevention and care are not readily available, especially to caregivers. All of these facts, and much more, are the reasons supporting persons with Alzheimer’s, related dementias, and their caregivers matter so much to me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thejamesmdixonfoundationinc.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/jamesdixonfoundation?igshid=MzRIODBiNWFIZA==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesDixonFoundation
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-lori-renee-dix
- Twitter: https://twitter.com@JamesDixonFou
- Other: https://lnkd.in/gNTSbn-m
