About
Kern’s Only Locally Based Organization Solely Dedicated to Dementia & Alzheimer’s Support
About ADAKC
Founded in 1982, the Alzheimer’s Disease Association of Kern County, Inc. (ADAKC) is the only locally based nonprofit in Kern County solely dedicated to Alzheimer’s disease and dementia caregiver support. For more than four decades, we have walked alongside the families, caregivers, and professionals, navigating one of the most challenging journeys a person can face.
What began as a small community program has grown into a countywide organization with a clear and urgent mission: to make sure that no family in Kern County faces dementia alone, regardless of where they live, what language they speak, or where they are in the caregiving journey.
In Spring of 2026, ADAKC transitioned into a new model of service, one built not around a single building, but around the communities we serve. Today, we bring caregiver navigation, education, support groups, and professional training directly to families in Bakersfield, Shafter, Taft, and communities in between. Our reach is broader, our services are deeper, and our commitment to this county is unchanged.
We are a nonprofit organization supported by donors, volunteers, grants, and community partners who believe that caregivers deserve real support, not just information, but someone in their corner.
What We Do
ADAKC serves three groups of people: family caregivers who are managing the day-to-day reality of caring for a loved one with dementia, individuals and families who have recently received a diagnosis and don’t know where to start, and professionals and community organizations who want to better serve those living with dementia across Kern County.
Our work is organized around five core areas of support:
Caregiver Navigation: Our team provides free, personalized guidance to help families understand a diagnosis, identify resources, coordinate with healthcare providers, and plan for the road ahead. This is one-on-one support from someone who knows the system and genuinely has time for you.
Caregiver Education: We offer free workshops and education classes on topics that matter most to caregivers: understanding dementia, managing difficult behaviors, preventing caregiver burnout, and planning for care transitions. Classes are offered in English and Spanish, in-person and at community locations across Kern County.
Support Groups: Our weekly Caregiver Support Groups in Bakersfield give caregivers a consistent, safe space to connect with others who understand what they’re going through. New group locations are expanding throughout the county, because support shouldn’t require a long drive.
Professional Dementia Training: We offer trainings for healthcare teams, home care and hospice agencies, senior living communities, first responders, employers, and faith organizations. We’re taking what we learned from our forty years in adult daycare and sharing to build real empathy and practical skills.
Community Leadership: We work with businesses, civic organizations, and faith communities to build a Dementia Friendly Kern County, a place where people living with dementia can participate fully in community life, and where those around them know how to help.
All of our services for families and caregivers are free of charge. If you’re not sure where to start, call us at (661) 665-8871. We’ll help you figure it out.