Life before Alzheimer’s San Diego

“I love that we focus on the abilities a person living with dementia still has, the laughter and joys that many care partners can still find despite the challenges of their role, and the feeling of teamwork I have with my colleagues in doing our utmost to help our clients live their best lives.”

Prior to joining our team, Adrianna had worked in volunteer management for ten years, mostly for animal-related organizations. Combining that with a Masters of Science degree in medical anthropology from the University of Oxford, she was “excited to use [her] skills to enhance the lives of people living in [her] community.” Adrianna was originally hired to create and run the ALZ Companions program back in 2014, and not long after that also began managing the general volunteer program. A few years later, she added social activities to her list of responsibilities. She’s able to draw equally from her work and education experiences to help her optimize the value of all the social programs.

Volunteer Impact

Adrianna has the “benefit of touching the lives of hundreds of volunteers every year, connecting them to meaningful, learning experiences through their work with the individuals and families we serve.” As previously mentioned, she’s responsible for managing many programs, including ALZ Companions, VITALZ, social activities & outings, and volunteer programs (such as opportunities for Walk4ALZ).

Since Adrianna joined, the volunteer department has grown 25%, with the annual volunteer value currently equaling nearly $300,000. Through managing a team of four people, they’re able to work directly with both clients and care partners and see the impact on their lives through “much-needed respite and social connection.”

Adrianna McCollum’s Perspective

Adrianna remembers that when she first joined the team, the “most powerful thing” to her was everyone’s positive approach and being able to focus on the “abilities a person living with dementia still has.” She knows that there is a lack of awareness about dementia in our community, so it’s important to her to appropriately train volunteers. She feels that with each new volunteer that’s educated, she’s taking “one tiny step in the right direction.” Adrianna enjoys hearing stories about meaningful experiences from care partners and volunteers alike, and year after year continues to feel grateful for the opportunity to improve the lives of people living with dementia and their care partners.

Check out our volunteer page to see current opportunities, including many roles for Walk4ALZ at Balboa Park on October 21st! To learn more about our free services like social activities, ALZ Companions, VITALZ, and more, see our Services page or call us at 858.492.4400.

By Braulio Ambriz