By Kara Jacobsen
Ellen Boucher, a San Diego native, joined the staff at Alzheimer’s San Diego as a Dementia Care Consultant and Support & Discussion Group Coordinator in early 2020.
But she’s been a familiar face around the office well before then – she’s spent many years serving as a volunteer.
Ellen received her Bachelor’s in Social Work from San Diego State University in 2013 and started working with older adults living with dementia at a local hospice. In addition, she dedicated a number of hours helping out at the office, at the Walk4ALZ, and as a facilitator for three different support groups at Alzheimer’s San Diego (two in La Mesa and one in Chula Vista).
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For Ellen, working at Alzheimer’s San Diego was always a dream. She recalls stepping into the office one day and telling Rebecca McDaniel, our Clinical Services Manager: “I really wish I could work here.”
Fast forward a few years – and a position opened and that dream became a reality.
“I love working with the families here. I’m surrounded by like-minded individuals who are all so passionate about what I’m passionate about. I really feel like we are focused on helping people walk this journey – and do so with a lot of integrity and care,” Ellen describes.
That’s held true even as she had to switch to working remotely shortly after she started because of the pandemic.
“Although she misses seeing people, working from home because of COVID-19 hasn’t bothered me as we’ve learned how to adapt online,” Ellen explains. “Throughout everything, we’ve actually expanded our support and discussion group offerings and taken advantage of the situation, creating good out of the bad.” It is these three things that have helped her on her journey as a care partner for her mom and in her own life.
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Ultimately, her main advice to families on this journey is divided into three components: “Educate yourself about the disease, create support systems (such as the Support and Discussion Groups offered by Alzheimer’s San Diego), and finally take as equally good care of yourself as the person you’re caring for.”
Ellen also suggests that care partners take time every day to identify one valuable moment of connection with the person living with dementia. Whether it’s sitting together and holding hands or a brief moment of eye contact, write it on a calendar or in a journal. Even if the moment is just feeling like, I survived the day. Try to find at least one good thing and you’ll have a collection of positive memories to look back on.
To learn more or join a group today, click here or contact Ellen at 858.966.3305 or eboucher@alzsd.org.
