05/26/2026
Bay Area cousins and volunteer community educators Andree Guo and Ingrid Lai’s stories reflect the power of compassion, cultural connection and lived experience in supporting families facing Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
After Andree’s mother was diagnosed with dementia, she attended a local support group where she was encouraged to share her caregiving journey. Andree spoke openly and was met with emotions from other caregivers who recognized their own journey in her words.
Ingrid lost her father to the disease, which was an experience that shaped how she approaches life. “It has made me more compassionate and aware of the importance of empathy.” It made Ingrid realize that giving to others is one of the most meaningful ways to live.
Now, they both serve as community educators, meeting families where they are — linguistically and culturally — offering education, support and understanding in their own language. “Through this work, I’ve felt a deep emotional connection to the families I meet,” Ingrid says.
They treasure the moments when someone expresses a desire to join them as volunteers after learning about the Alzheimer’s Association’s work in their community. To them, it represents the continuation of care and hope being passed from one person to the next.
To those considering volunteering, the cousins offer the same message: you are not alone. “This may not be an easy path,” Andree says, “but it is a deeply meaningful one. You’ll not only help others, but also discover your own strength and grow in ways you never expected.”
💜 This Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we celebrate Andree and Ingrid for turning personal loss into purposeful action and for strengthening their local community through education and action.
