Alzheimer’s Community Care Renames Boca Raton Day Center to Honor Advocates

Alzheimer’s Community Care, a recognized leader in dementia-specific care since 1996, renamed its Boca Raton Day Center at Advent Lutheran Church in honor of longtime Alzheimer’s Community Care leader Mary M. Barnes and Reverend Dr. Ronald Dingle.

Alzheimer’s Community Care’s day centers give families peace of mind by providing care and therapeutic activities for patients in a safe and secure environment. Each center maintains a staff-to-patient ratio of 1-to-5 to ensure each patient receives the individualized care needed. Alzheimer’s Community Care day centers have served thousands of patients in the community.

“The significance of today’s renaming ceremony cannot be understated,” said former Alzheimer’s Community Care Interim President and CEO Kevin Wrenne. “The renaming of our Boca center not only celebrates Mary and Ron’s individual contributions, but also solidifies their legacy of advocacy and compassion. We could not be prouder to have our Boca center bear their names.”

Mary M. Barnes is an advocate for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and Founding President & CEO of Alzheimer’s Community Care. Barnes, along with three other founding members, founded the organization in 1996 after realizing no specialized services existed locally for those with dementia and the number of people affected by Alzheimer’s disease was rapidly growing. Barnes served as President and CEO from 1996 to 2023.

Reverend Dr. Ronald Dingle was senior pastor at Advent Lutheran Church. He was a passionate community advocate and dedicated time and resources to numerous charities is South Florida. A champion of Alzheimer’s disease support services, Reverend Dr. Dingle dedicated space for a brand-new Alzheimer’s Community Care day center on the Advent Lutheran campus over 26 years ago.  The day center on the Advent Lutheran campus became a model for ten other dementia-specific day centers in Palm Beach, Martin, and St. Lucie counties.