When Lisa McKim’s mom, Kathy, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, she didn’t know anything about the disease. After attending a local support group, Lisa became inspired to help others. Now Lisa volunteers not only as a support group facilitator but also as a Committee Member for Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Her work not only honors her mother’s memory but also strengthens the Alzheimer’s community, offering hope, education, and connection to those facing the disease.

Estranged for 20 years

Lisa McKim’s mom, Kathy, spent 30 years as a waitress helping to support her five children. She loved to throw a party and kept a clean house. When Lisa was 12, her parents got divorced and her relationship with her mother became estranged.

Nearly 20 years later, when Lisa’s own son was almost seven, Lisa was convinced to attempt to rebuild the bridge between them and is so glad she did. “My best friend said, ‘You need to resolve this with your mom, you will regret it some day,’” recalled Lisa. “Ever since my closeness [with my mom] went Mach 5 over the next twenty years. It’s interesting the way the stars line up.”

Odd behaviors

By the early 2010s, more than a decade into Kathy and Lisa’s rekindled relationship, things with Kathy began to change. Knowing nothing of Alzheimer’s or dementia, Kathy’s odd behavior didn’t raise any red flags for her family.  

In one instance, Kathy called Lisa and told her how worried she was about her son’s motorcycle accident earlier that day. Lisa was in shock, no one had told her about the accident. She called her brother to find out what happened, only to learn it wasn’t true. Her brother was fine and had not been in an accident at all. Lisa said, “I thought she must have had a dream, and it felt so real.”

A few months later, Kathy called Lisa to let her know the Shariff had just left her house. Someone had come in and taken Kathy’s purse, camera and a few other things. Despite the police report, the intruders were never found. Lisa said, “After [Mom] passed, I realized [the robbery] was something that was in her head. I found her camera and her purse when I cleaned out the house [when she moved].”

Another example was when Kathy was asked to make deviled eggs for her granddaughter’s baby shower and instead made egg salad. Lisa said, “[My stepdad] handed me a bowl of egg salad and said, ‘Yeah, I don’t know why you had her make egg salad.’”

The final realization that something was wrong, happened when Kathy made two house payments in the same month. “She kept her finances like a bookkeeper. Mom would never do that,” said Lisa. “It was just like, it was crazy. You make excuses for it. At that time, I didn’t have friends, parents or relatives with the disease, I didn’t know. It seems like weird stuff, but it was different back then.”

An Alzheimer’s diagnosis

Lisa took Kathy to the doctor in 2013. Through a series of tests, Kathy was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia that affects memory, thinking and behavior. “I honestly, I had no idea what Alzheimer’s was, what caused it, what the onset of symptoms were. I was very uneducated about it.”

Kathy’s disease progressed relatively quickly. While Lisa and her family tried to keep mom in her home in Sacramento, it became clear that she needed to move closer to Lisa in Vacaville. Initially Kathy moved into a mobile home park and later into a care setting in Davis.

One night in 2018, Lisa knew she needed to see her mom. She rushed to the care setting in Davis and could tell her mother was nearing the end of the disease. Lisa said, “I hugged her and said, ‘Mom you can go. I will take care of everything. I got this, you raise me right, I got you.’ Forty-five seconds later she was gone.”

Learning she’s not alone

Subsequent to her mother’s diagnosis, someone suggested to Lisa that she should attend a local caregiver support group. “I joined that group facilitated by Bob Panzer, and I was blown away,” said Lisa. “I thought I was on this island, no one’s mom has this, what was I going to do? I had no idea. I’m a smart person, but I had no idea what to expect.”

Lisa continued to attend the support group meetings, and her facilitator, Bob, could see Lisa’s potential and asked her to become a facilitator as well. Between caring for her mom and working full-time, Lisa was unable to accept Bob’s offer. However, after the death of her mother, Lisa decided it was time.

“I went to the support group every month. Bob was trying to recruit me.” said Lisa. “Bob is a lot of the reason I followed this path. Talk about someone with tenacity. He never gave up on me. I love [leading] support group meetings. I feel like I make a valued contribution to the groups. I feel accomplished at the end of the day. It’s something I loved, always have, always will.”

Volunteering for Walk

Lisa has since dedicated her free time to helping other families who have a loved one living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. In 2023 she started volunteering at NorthBay Health in their Alzheimer’s’ Resource Center. There she provides services to caregivers managing and caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s.

That same year, while attending an Alzheimer’s Association education program in Solano County, Lisa was approached by Mady Palmer, walk manager for Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Solano County. Mady asked if she had any interest in becoming a Walk volunteer and joining her committee.

While Lisa had attended Walk in the past, she never thought to volunteer. “I jumped in headfirst,” said Lisa. “It’s the most important thing to me. The Walk is incredible. How many people will stop and talk to you about what goes on and how many people will talk to you about dementia and Alzheimer’s.”

The Walk Committee

2025 marks Lisa’s third year on the Walk Committee. This year she is helping to bring in in-kind donations, like snacks and other things that can be handed out during the event. She also helps call past participants to remind them about Walk in the hopes that they’ll sign up again.

Mostly, Lisa likes the people she works with. “[My favorite part is the people, the camaraderie the community and contributing to something important,” said Lisa. “It’s a big deal. This is the Alzheimer’s Association’s biggest fundraiser effort. It comes along with the territory, when you jump in and commit.”

Education and community

For caregivers, Lisa has two pieces of advice:

1. Don’t do it alone.
   “There is a huge community out there,” said Lisa. “Don’t try to do it alone. There are people who can support you.” Lisa encourages caregivers to call the Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline at 800.272.3900 or go to the website at alz.org. “They have so much information and if at 2 a.m. you don’t have someone to talk to, call that number. There is a person at the other end and it’s not a recording.”
2. Learn about the disease.
   “I believe 100% in the Alzheimer’s Association, they’re phenomenal,” said Lisa. You can see the work they put into it. Reach out to the Association, educate yourself [about] things like wandering.” The Alzheimer’s Association offers free education programs online, virtually and in-person.

Finding a cure

Lisa has a family history of Alzheimer’s, with her mother, grandmother and great grandmother all having the disease. Her hope is that her work with Walk to End Alzheimer’s will help find a cure.

“There is going to be a cure someday,” said Lisa. “I’m worried about me, If I’m going to get it. I can’t spin my wheels worrying about it. Maybe in 10 years there will be a cure and I’ll be the first person to get the white flower [the first survivor of Alzheimer’s disease].

“That’s what drives me. We have to work for everybody in the now. We’re so close. We’re not going to get closer if we’re not going to volunteer and keep it out there and keep hustling. Thats how I feel about it.

“I hope if and when it hits me, the cure is there. I believe that. I also believe, I’ve buried my heart in this [cause], maybe it’ll skip me.”

Join Lisa and her team, Walkin 2 Beat ALZ!, at Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Solano County on October 18, 2025. Not in Solano County? Find a Walk near you at alz.org/walk.