Alzheimer’s Association, Orange County CEO Honored With Lifetime Achievement Award

IRVINE, Calif. - Aug. 12, 2014 - PRLog -- Alzheimer’s Association, Orange County (AAOC) (http://www.alz.org/oc), one of Southern California’s premier nonprofit organizations for Alzheimer’s research and education, is proud to announce that President and CEO Jim McAleer will receive the Senior Care Hero Awards’ 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award. Well-respected for his work serving the aging population and individuals touched by Alzheimer’s disease, McAleer will be presented with this honor at SeniorServ (http://www.communityseniorserv.com/)’s fourth annual Senior Care Hero Awards™ (http://www.seniorcareheroawards.org/) on Saturday, Oct. 18 in Anaheim. The event celebrates the unsung heroes in senior and health care, including physicians, caregivers, families and volunteers with a heart for seniors.

“Jim has been a tremendous supporter of SeniorServ and the Senior Care Hero Awards,” said Holly Hagler, CEO at SeniorServ. “His dedication to the senior community is unparalleled and we’re so excited to honor him for his contributions to the betterment of our seniors’ lives.”

As president and CEO, McAleer leads day-to-day operations of one of Alzheimer’s Association’s largest chapters. Celebrating his 10-year anniversary with the nonprofit, McAleer has helped AAOC more than double its capacity for services and programs over the last decade. In addition to his daily responsibilities –  which include managing the organization’s annual budget and staff and assisting more than 84,000 Orange County residents with Alzheimer’s disease – McAleer personally meets with families on a regular basis and is actively involved in his community.

“Serving the urgent needs of the senior population in Orange County is so vitally important” said McAleer. “I’ve dedicated my professional life to advocating for those whose lives have been so terribly impacted by an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. I am privileged to receive this honor for work that gives me tremendous personal satisfaction.” A resident of Orange, McAleer and his family volunteer hundreds of hours per year with orphanages in Tijuana and with other community charities.

McAleer has supported the Senior Care Hero Awards since its inception in 2011. He also is a member of SeniorServ’s Academy of Leaders (http://www.seniorcareheroawards.org/academy), an invitation-only group comprised of the most influential leaders in senior care.

The Senior Care Hero Awards will be held at 6 p.m. at The Grove of Anaheim. General admission tickets are $125. For more information, or to nominate a deserving candidate, visit http://www.seniorcareheroawards.org/ or contact Susan Papiri at (714) 229-5284.

SeniorServ provides assistance to Orange County seniors who are otherwise unable to care for themselves. Services include Meals on Wheels, activity and volunteer opportunities, adult day services, case management, home services, care transitions to reduce hospital readmissions and a friendly visitor program that provides homebound seniors with companionship.

About Alzheimer’s Association, Orange County

The Alzheimer's Association is the world’s leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Its mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s through the advancement of research, to provide and enhance care and support for all affected, and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Since 1982, Alzheimer’s Association, Orange County Chapter has been providing programs and services, free of charge, to Orange County residents with Alzheimer’s and related disorders, their families, caregivers, and the community. Alzheimer’s is a neurodegenerative illness that weakens the memory and other cognitive and emotional functions. For more information, call the 24/7 Helpline at 1-800-272-3900, or visit www.alz.org/oc. Find AAOC on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ALZOC) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/OCAlzheimers).