Bourgeois Family Foundation:
Advancing Dementia Care Excellence
Together, we can advance dementia care.
Our mission is to transform the landscape of dementia care. By focusing on person-centered behavioral interventions, the next generation of dementia scientists will produce innovations that empower individuals to optimize their dignity and sustain a high quality of life.
About Us
At the Bourgeois Family Foundation, we are dedicated to advancing dementia care through research, education, and support. We strive to make a positive impact on the lives of individuals and families affected by dementia. Join us in our mission to create a world where dementia is understood and managed with compassion and expertise.
Dr. Bourgeois’s discovery that reading was a preserved skill opened new avenues for dementia care. Reading could facilitate clients’ access to memories, avoid behaviors annoying to others, and prevent behavior problems. She used text and pictures to facilitate life care decision- making, allowing service providers to treat individuals with dignity and give them a voice in their self-determination. She advocated for compensatory strategies that allowed individuals to maintain interests and activities that fulfilled their lives.
Michelle with Audrey Holland, her major professor
UPCOMING EVENTS
Forthcoming request for student proposals:
The Foundation intends to fund diverse projects that focus on optimizing the dignity and quality of life for those affected by dementia through effective, person-centered behavioral innovations. Selected students will complete research within a year as part of a mentored experienced. A Request for Proposals will be available in Fall, 2026.
Forthcoming Dementia Care Workshop:
An annual workshop will bring together selected students, mentors, and guest speakers for a Think Tank to explore innovative approaches to dementia care and associated research needs. The first workshop is being organized in anticipation of a March 10 meeting in Louisville, KY (prior to the Aphasic Access Leadership Summit).
Support Our Cause
Join us in making a difference. Your generous support will enable us to nurture the next generation of dementia scientists and leaders who are dedicated to supporting individuals at-risk for and with dementia, and their caregivers. Together, we can optimize their dignity and quality of life through effective, person-centered behavioral innovations. What better way to honor the legacy of Michelle Bourgeois and inspire continued work in her spirit!
The Bourgeois Foundation was determined to be exempt from federal income tax under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 501(c)(3). Donors can deduct contributions they make to the private foundation under IRC Section 170. The Foundation is qualified to receive tax deductible bequests, devises, transfers, or gifts under Section 2055, 2106, or 2522.
PROJECTS
Key Initiatives
Our initiatives include expert think tanks, mentorship programs, and supporting doctoral research to foster new ideas in dementia science.
Mentorship
Guided Learning
We support graduate students by offering mentored experiences, facilitating learning and research focused on behavioral innovations surrounding dementia.
Collaborations
Partnerships Matter
We promote collaborative events that bring experts together, creating a network to address dementia care challenges and develop innovative solutions.
Research
Ongoing Studies
We facilitate applications for doctoral and post-doctoral research grants to support scientific progress that addresses inquiries into people with dementia and their caregivers.
FOLLOW US
HIGHLIGHTS
Our Commitments
We are committed to enhancing the quality of life for individuals at risk of dementia through innovative research and mentorship programs.
Accountability Matters
Transparency in our operations ensures trust and encourages further support for our cause and our initiatives.
Community Focused
Our programs prioritize community engagement, connecting researchers and graduate students with the needs and experiences of dementia-affected individuals.
