Mission & History

History

Founded in 1983, Via Cognitive Health* was started by a local group of volunteers that saw a need for resources for families living with Alzheimer's.  The In-Home Respite Care program began in 1986 for those diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease/dementia. In 1989, a Day Center was opened one day a week at Covenant Presbyterian Church in west Augusta, eventually increasing to three days a week.

In 1996, the center moved to its new location at 1901 Central Avenue, now open five days a week, with more space to serve more families. The growth was spearheaded by a group of dental students who lost someone they greatly admired and respected to Alzheimer's: Dr. Jud C. Hickey, the founding dean of the School of Dentistry at the Medical College of Georgia. The center was named in his honor. Dr. Hickey died in 2005, at the age of 78, following a long battle with Alzheimer's disease.

In 2019, The Jud C. Hickey Center embarked on a capital campaign to raise funds for a new building.

As community needs continued to grow, the Center expanded programming. In 2022, the board of directors worked with a local marketing firm and changed the name to Via Cognitive Health to better reflect our programming.

With the support from many generous donors in the Augusta area and throughout Georgia, the new Via Cognitive Health opened in 2024. The new location is on Washington Road near I-20 and serves as a Campus and Resource Center for Dementia and Cognitive Decline. The new facility offers a state of the art venue for programming for living with cognitive decline, as well as space to serve exponentially more care partners and members. The number of people currently living with adult cognitive decline from Alzheimer's, or a related dementia is overwhelming, but there are ways to proactively combat its progression and its effects on our community.

*Formerly known as the Augusta Area Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association and The Jud C. Hickey Center for Alzheimer's Care.

Mission and Vision

Via Cognitive Health's mission is to provide life-changing programs with a dignified approach focused on living with Alzheimer's or a related dementia through our innovative day program, community education and support, and empowering people to improve brain health as they age.

The mission is carried out by:

• Referring to those who attend the center as "members" to value the dignity of each individual and foster each individual's capabilities and freedom of choice.
• Delivering purpose-driven programs for members and promoting new friendships and meaningful experiences.
• Reducing stress for care partners and helping with their day-to-day responsibilities involving nutrition, fitness, socialization, and cognitive stimulation.
• Providing a passionate and expert nursing staff dedicated to enhancing the individual worth of each member.
• Offering outreach and community resources through care partner and public education, brain health programs and in-house support groups.
• Assisting members and their care partners in accessing a complete continuum of care through community referrals.

The vision of Via Cognitive Health is to help create a world where the stigma of Alzheimer's and related dementia doesn't define the person's self-worth and contribution to our community.