Life Before Alzheimer’s San Diego
Before joining the team in 2023, Ana Ochoa worked in public libraries and “was able to see first hand the need for services like the ones our organization offers.” She became interested in Alzheimer’s San Diego and wanted to help connect the local community with resources they may not be aware of. Ana grew up in Mexico, and moved up to San Diego in her teenage years. She came to love the city and places like Balboa Park where she enjoys the variety of museums and “beautiful outdoor spaces to enjoy.”
With a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science, she knows how to analyze and preserve data in the most efficient way possible. Her work experiences in libraries and museums have exposed her to various types of environments and shown her the importance of collecting data properly for organizations so it can be used for funders to see the impact in the community and allow us to continue to provide free services throughout San Diego County.
Importance of Maintaining Records
Ana’s main responsibilities as our Data Assistant are keeping track of donations, as well as creating and updating the records of our donors and clients. She also creates the acknowledgements letters and tribute cards that you may receive in the mail after donating. Her educational background also helps her with knowing how to accurately pull important information from data to allow the organization to make informed decisions regarding programs and other things that will benefit the people we serve.
Along with maintaining our data integrity, Ana also helps with check in and registration at our fundraising events like Walk4ALZ. It’s at events like these and through personal messages from care partners and families where Ana says her role is most rewarding. She says, “they let us know the impact that Alzheimer’s San Diego has made in their lives and how important the resources we provide are to the local community.” She also enjoys the energy of everyone getting together to raise awareness about dementia, as well as feeling connected and sharing personal experiences with others.
Ana Ochoa’s Perspective
When Ana first began working at our organization, she thought she had no personal connection to dementia. After learning more about the disease and sharing information with her family, she learned that her grandmother had previously lived with Alzheimer’s disease. Ana encourages people to take advantage of the free services we offer that will “help people with this disease, care partners and family feel more supported and knowledgeable.”
Check out our free support groups, education classes, social activities, & more. You may also call our office at 858.492.4400 to speak with one of our Clinical Care Coaches (Spanish speakers available).
By Braulio Ambriz
RECOMMENDED: Meet Maddie Shureen, our Grants Specialist!
