The George G. Glenner Alzheimer’s Family Centers, Inc. is a San Diego-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a clear mission: to provide affordable and accessible day care for individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, while simultaneously offering critical respite for family caregivers. Since 1982, the Glenner Centers have served as a lifeline to families and under the leadership of CEO Scott Tarde, the organization has undergone a remarkable transformation.
Scott Tarde has played a central role in the Glenner Centers, first as a volunteer Board Member and as CEO for the past ten years. With over 25 years of experience in dementia care, Scott has brought vision and innovation to the organization; most notably through the creation of Town Square®, a groundbreaking adult day care model and through a virtual dementia care service called GLENNERCARE™.
Town Square, located in Chula Vista, is a day care center that recreates a 1950s/1960s small town within a 9,000 square foot indoor space. The center is complete with a retro diner, movie theater, city hall, barber shop and more. This immersive environment utilizes Reminiscence Therapy to stimulate long-term memory which helps participants feel safe, engaged and joyful in familiar surroundings. The Town Square team involves participants in brain-stimulating activities with compassion and dignity while enabling caregivers to continue working or resting during the day.
The model has received national and international media attention and is now being franchised across the country, dramatically expanding the Glenner Centers’ impact. More Town Square locations are in development, offering even more families the ability to care for loved ones at home and avoid premature placement in nursing or assisted living facilities.
In addition to the Town Square model, the Glenner Centers also run specialized adult day centers in Encinitas and Hillcrest to serve the north, south and central regions of San Diego. While these locations do not mimic the Town Square design, they offer the same high level of specialized, compassionate care tailored to individuals living with dementia.
In addition to the launch of Town Square, and also under Scott’s leadership, the Glenner Centers established a virtual dementia care program called GLENNERCARE that provides remote support to enrolled families from the comfort of their homes. This service helps to reduce the incidence of hospitalizations and/or trips to the emergency room.
In a time when the cost of care continues to rise across the healthcare industry, Scott has remained deeply committed to affordability. Due to the generosity of grantors and donors, rates have only been raised twice by minimal amounts. This is a rare and meaningful achievement that reflects Scott’s deep commitment to serving families at all income levels and to making specialized dementia care available to many who would otherwise go without.
Scott’s leadership has not only transformed the Glenner Centers but has also advanced public understanding of Alzheimer’s care. Through collaboration, innovation and advocacy, he is reshaping how day care services are delivered while championing the needs of family caregivers across California.
In light of the vital work and innovation outlined above, the Glenner Centers warmly invite you to attend its Fall 2025 Fundraising Gala at the beautiful Gaylord Pacific Resort (details to be announced soon). Your support will directly fuel the operations of the three Glenner Centers, its virtual dementia care support program as well as allow the Glenner Centers to remain affordable and accessible to all. Please join this November and help build a future where every person facing dementia has access to compassionate, innovative support.
www.glenner.org
