WEST ALLIS, Wis. — It’s a rare sight to see Diane Beckley Milner at the office. She’s normally out in the community.

“I help communities, especially diverse communities,” said Milner.

She’s the diversity, equity and inclusion director at the Alzheimer’s Association Wisconsin Chapter. 

“My job is to make sure that people know we have these resources and these resources are designed to help them and be designed to be embraced by their communities,” said Milner.

Milner has been with the association for two years. Before that, she worked at other aging services throughout Milwaukee. 

Milner got her start in the field after caring for her mother, who passed from Alzheimer’s disease in the early 2000s. 

“It was pretty traumatic,” said Milner. “When you’re going through it you don’t realize how traumatic it is. You just do. You get in the mode of doing.” 

Milner remembers flipping through the yellow pages. She tried to find resources and even support for her mother. 

“I found the Alzheimer’s Association and just called them and said, ‘can I come and take a look at your library?’” said Milner.

Twenty years later she’s now works for the same association that helped her care for her mother. 

“I’m sitting here helping people like myself to come to grips with the fact that there are resources, that there’s education, that there are support groups,” said Milner.

Executive Director Dave Grams said more than 120,000 people are living with Alzheimer’s or dementia in the Badger state. More than 191,000 are caregivers for those suffering from the disease.

He said it’s important to know that you’re not alone. 

“We’re there to help people through that journey to make sure they have the right strategies in place to care for their loved one,” said Grams.

Milner knows her mother would be proud of her work to help families that are going through a similar journey. 

“I think she’d be thrilled to know I’m doing something to help others,” said Milner. “Like her and like myself.”