RBC Wealth Management Backs Fight Against Alzheimer's

When Wally Chapman's father was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia in 2018, he suddenly understood what 13 million American caregivers face every day. The emotional weight was crushing, and the financial reality hit faster than he imagined.

Now, as Co-Head of RBC Wealth Management's Private Client Group and board member of the Alzheimer's Association Minnesota-North Dakota Chapter, Chapman is turning his family's struggle into action. "If Alzheimer's or dementia has touched your family the way it has mine, know you're not alone," he said.

The numbers tell a sobering story. An estimated 7.4 million Americans live with Alzheimer's, and one in three older adults die from the disease or another form of dementia. In Minnesota alone, more than 102,000 people aged 65 and older currently battle the condition.

RBC Wealth Management has stepped up as a longtime partner of the Alzheimer's Association, supporting the Purple Gala fundraiser, the Walk to End Alzheimer's, and brain health workshops. But their commitment goes deeper than events.

The firm has equipped its 2,200 financial advisors with specialized training to recognize early warning signs of cognitive decline. Unpaid bills, unusual spending, unopened account statements, and repetitive questions can all signal that something has changed. Early detection means families can access treatments that slow progression and spend more quality time together.

The Ripple Effect

The Alzheimer's Association provides free support groups, education programs, care consultations, and community resources to anyone impacted by dementia. For caregivers juggling work, family, and the daily demands of care, these services become lifelines.

Juliette Francis, chapter executive for the Midwest and Central Plains Territory, sees the partnership creating real change. "We're leading a national movement to help people improve their brain health and reduce risk," she said. The Association is helping people access early-stage treatments and practical planning tools for the financial decisions every diagnosis brings.

June is Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month, but the need for support doesn't end when the calendar turns. Through partnerships like this one, families navigating Alzheimer's find community, resources, and proof that companies are standing with them for the long haul.