Banner Alzheimer’s Institute has received a $10 million charitable investment from the family of the late J. Orin Edson. The funds are designated to advance innovative dementia care and caregiver support for patients and families living with Alzheimer’s disease and other memory disorders. The investment will create new programs and expand existing services available to patients at one of Banner Alzheimer’s Institute’s specialty memory centers—Stead Family Memory Center in Phoenix, the Toole Family Memory Center in Tucson and the Cleo Roberts Center at Banner Sun Health Research Institute in Sun City. The gift honors the memory of J. Orin Edson, who built the Bayliner recreational boating company and died last year.
The investment will support Banner Alzheimer’s Institute’s new 24-hour Alzheimer’s and Dementia Support/Resource Referral Center, which will provide much-needed, round-the-clock support to caregivers from a dementia-[trained health-care professional who is equipped with the patient’s electronic medical record to provide personalized information, education and support.
The gift will also support the J. Orin Edson Family Lewy Body Dementia Center at the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute in Tucson; the Peer-to-Peer Mentorship Program, a tele-mentorship program; and Dementia Care Partners, a developing program intended to capitalize on the use of specially trained health coaches to ensure families and care providers have access to the knowledge, resources and support necessary to maximize quality of life after a diagnosis.
