James L. West Center for Dementia Care

Since its founding in 1993, inspired by Mrs. Eunice West who experienced first-hand the heartbreak of a loved one who succumbed to Alzheimer's disease, the James L. West Center for Dementia Care has remained the preeminent facility for exceptional dementia care and training in North Texas. The West Center was built with a mission to provide compassionate and highly skilled residential and adult day care to persons with dementia disorders, to serve as a teaching model to other dementia care providers, to participate in research, and to help community members cope with the disease's life-altering effects on families. Since 1993, the Center's care team has been led by one of the nation's most respected internists and geriatricians - Janice Knebl, D.O., as well as a distinguished group of Board members and truly dedicated facility leaders.

A pioneer from inception, the West Center remains true to its original mission to reach far beyond simple housing for persons suffering from all types of dementia disorders. The Center is dedicated to advancing the art and science of dementia care-daring to innovate and eager to share. There is a long time and a lot of life to live between the typical diagnosis of dementia and death from the disease, and we dedicate our services to helping families live well all along the way.

As a 501(c)(3) designated charity, the not-for-profit James L. West Center is not a federal or state-funded organization. Ongoing operations are funded through daily rates paid by residents and day program participants, philanthropic scholarships from the James L. West Presbyterian Special Care Center Foundation, and community donors.

The West Center's Dementia and Caregiver Education Program was launched in 2012 through a generous gift from the Sid W. Richardson Foundation. Over the last eight years the West Center has provided dementia training to thousands of community-based caregivers and healthcare professionals. Dementia training has been provided to students from five nursing schools as well as students associated with the University of North Texas Health Science Center, the TCU/UNTHSC Medical School, Texas Women's University, John Peter Smith Hospital and dozens of other organizations. The Center's COVID response has created significant demand for its education and dementia caregiver support programs.

Our Needs

Caregiver and Dementia Education:

Celebrating 12+ years of providing outstanding dementia and caregiver education programs, the West Center's Dementia and Caregiver Education Program has been providing services to caregivers and persons living with dementia since 2011.   With over 100 courses ranging in topics from specific disease profiles to communication there is a course that will provide tips, tools and support to event the most advanced care partners.

Since January 2023 the program has:

• Offered over 110 different educational programs; 
• Provided education to more than 11,110 people who have participated in an education class/program;   
• Trained over 20 different student groups/disciplines from middle and high school to nursing, therapy, and medical students; and 
• Educated over 23 different healthcare professional groups through requested customized training. 

In addition to class session, the Caregiver and Dementia Education Program offers five different support groups that are open to the larger community.  These support groups have consistent attendance ranging from 15-35 people per group that meet either online or in person.

An educational program library, housed on the James L. West Center for Dementia Care You Tube Channel contains over 150 videos receiving more than 4,019 views

Our newest program, launched in 2022 ,is the Center's Bi-Lingual Caregiver Education Program featuring evidence-based and evidence-informed programs written by the Rosalyn Carter Institute for Caregiving.  This program has been added to the extensive library of courses delivered online, in-person and on-demand by visiting the West Center's online education portal jameslwestlearn.org.  

All gifts received from North Texas Giving Day will be allocated to operating support for the West Center's Caregiver and Dementia Education programs.