John Strader lives in Florida with his wife, Lisa, who is living with Alzheimer's. They included the Alzheimer's Association in their estate plans, making them proud members of the Founders Society. In addition, they are part of the Alzheimer's Impact Movement (AIM) Leadership Society. 

In 2014, John started to notice the early signs of Alzheimer's in his wife, Lisa.

"Different people approach it different ways," he says. "Some people are accepting and want to learn and understand and do what they can to mitigate it. That was not my wife. My wife went into complete denial and refused to see a doctor … it was really a difficult time."

It was years before they finally got to a doctor. By that point, the disease had progressed significantly. At that time, there was still very little that the medical community could do in any event.

"I was finally able to get my wife to a doctor," John says. "And I could see other people struggling [with the disease], husbands taking care of wives, wives taking care of husbands, daughters taking care of mothers. And it broke my heart. It really did."

In 2019, John decided to retire from his career so that he could spend more time taking care of Lisa. Through his local Florida chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, he found a support group for caregivers.

"I wanted to give whatever benefit my experience had to, perhaps, help other people who weren't as far along on the journey," he says. "And I found that tremendously satisfying. I still belong to that group to this day."

Today, Lisa is cared for by a team of home health aides who support her around the clock, giving John more time to increase his involvement with the Association.

"She's well cared for here at home," John says. "I've done everything I can to see that she's comfortable and has everything she needs. Since I'm retired, with time on my hands, and still possess a reasonably agile brain, I decided I wanted to get involved."

He joined the Alzheimer's Impact Movement (AIM), a separately incorporated advocacy affiliate of the Alzheimer's Association. AIM develops and advances federal and state policies to overcome Alzheimer's and all other dementia through increased investment in research, enhanced care and improved support. In 2023, and again in 2024, he joined rallies to lobby elected officials in both Tallahassee and Washington, D.C. As an AIM National Leadership Society member, he is particularly passionate about improving caregiver support.

"I really appreciate all that's being done in the realm of research, it's necessary," he says. "We need to find the cure for this thing. But at the end of the day, if we don't find a cure for another 10, 20, 30 years, there are all these real-world crisis situations going on [right now] in millions of families around the country."

John's dedication to fighting Alzheimer's and other dementia also led him to include the Association in his estate plans, making the Straders proud members of the Founders Society.

"Lisa and I are lucky," he says. "Our assets will most likely outlive us. With my passion for the work I'm doing with the Association, and with the dire necessity to improve the situation for the people that are living with this disease and the people that are caring for them, I decided this is the best place to invest our estate after Lisa and I are gone."

John and Lisa's commitment will leave an impact on their community for generations to come, and it's a legacy John knows Lisa would be happy with as well.

"If you're someone who needs help with or is looking to offer help with dementia-related issues, the Alzheimer's Association is the absolute best organization you could possibly be involved with," he says.