TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – When someone you love is diagnosed with a memory disorder like dementia, knowing where to turn for help can be overwhelming. <\/p>\n
The Alzheimer\u2019s Project<\/a> offers free resources and respite care for families navigating the disease. <\/p>\n Sonya Graves said her mother Susie Mae Gilliam had a gift for making people feel loved. <\/p>\n \u201cShe was just the joy. When she walked in a room, she just lit the room up,\u201d said Graves. <\/p>\n Graves said her mother spent her life serving others, but over time she began noticing changes. <\/p>\n \u201cWhen was she diagnosed and what was that like for your family? (3:25) When she was first diagnosed, I noticed some years prior to her diagnosis, some behavioral changes. And it just it was devastating,\u201d Graves said. <\/p>\n Graves\u2019 mother was diagnosed with dementia, leaving her family searching for answers until she found the Alzheimer\u2019s Project. <\/p>\n The nonprofit provides free support for people with memory disorders and their caregivers across the Big Bend area. <\/p>\n David Handy, Executive Director for the Alzheimer\u2019s Project, said they don\u2019t want any family to feel alone. <\/p>\n \u201cA big piece of our work is helping families just navigate the journey. A lot of times they come to us and they don\u2019t know what to do,\u201d Handy said. <\/p>\n The Alzheimer\u2019s Project services include day-respite care, social clubs, educational programs, and community resources. <\/p>\n \u201cWhile we are a tiny office, we are a mighty office and we want to help provide support to as many families in the community as we possibly can,\u201d said Mindy Towler, Program Director for the Alzheimer\u2019s Project. <\/p>\n Through music therapy and other activities, clients stay connected while caregivers get support. <\/p>\n Through support groups, caregivers connect with people who understand what they\u2019re going through. <\/p>\n The project also connects eligible veterans and military families with in-home respite care through AmeriCorps volunteers. <\/p>\n That companionship gives families a break from the demands of caregiving. <\/p>\n For Graves, in-home respite care made a difference during her mother\u2019s final years. <\/p>\n \u201cI mean, I couldn\u2019t have asked for a better organization to assist us. So I\u2019m just so grateful and just I cherish those memories that we share, you know, even though mommy wasn\u2019t herself, you know, but she was happy during those times,\u201d Graves said. <\/p>\n And the need in the local area for help is growing. <\/p>\n The Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare Memory Disorder Clinic has a waitlist of over 2,000 people waiting for assessments. <\/p>\n But the Alzheimer\u2019s Project is here to help, even for those who feel alone.<\/p>\n Please reach out to Alzheimer\u2019s Project, They are 100 plus percent. They\u2019re there. They\u2019re in your corner. I mean, they\u2019re exceptional people. They\u2019re angels on here on Earth. They really are. And I\u2019m so grateful that God put them in our path,” Graves said. <\/p>\n The Alzheimer\u2019s Project said its work is all locally funded, helping it connect families with resources right here in the community. <\/p>\n For caregivers, that support can make a difficult journey a little less lonely. <\/p>\n To keep up with the latest news as it develops, follow WCTV on Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, Nextdoor<\/a> <\/a>and X<\/a> (Twitter<\/a>).<\/p>\n Have a news tip or see an error? Write to us here<\/a>. Please include the article\u2019s headline in your message.<\/p>\n Be the first to see all the biggest headlines by downloading the WCTV News app. Click here<\/a> to get started.<\/p>\n Copyright 2026 WCTV. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n