History of Alzheimer’s Community Care

Alzheimer’s Community Care was founded by a group of residents in Florida, who were concerned about the growing number of people affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related neurocognitive disorders.  

The Founders of Alzheimer’s Community Care, Mr. Gaston Jones, Mr. James Gregory, and Mr. Fred Kroll, strongly believed in establishing a community-based organization for Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers, which provided them with an environment explicitly planned for their safety and security, health, and well-being, while preserving their dignity throughout the disease process.

 In 1996, our founders submitted a non-profit IRS application in the name of Alzheimer’s Community Care and received its IRS Determination letter as a viable non-profit in October of that year. Mary M. Barnes, a longtime advocate for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related neurocognitive disorders, was hired as the founding Executive Director.  

Don Baxter, Trustee of the Baxter Foundation, developed a building to memorialize Mr. C. Kenneth Baxter, his uncle, who had died from Alzheimer’s disease. The mission of this memorial was to house an organization, namely Alzheimer’s Community Care, Inc., to serve and care for Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers throughout the disease process, within a community-based setting. Don Baxter learned of the affirmation of his dream from the nonprofit division of the IRS and sadly for the community, he died in November 1996, never seeing his dream materialize. Somehow, we believe he knows.  

Alzheimer’s Community Care – Select Historical News Items