Social Worker Spotlight: Meet Marcie

Chances are, you’ve seen Marcie Hanna zipping in and out of the Alzheimer’s San Diego office. She’s usually in a bit of a hurry, and always smiling.

When not answering calls or leading the Early Stage Support Group, Marcie focuses her time on ALZ Companions. This free in-home respite program pairs families with a Companion Volunteer who spends up to four hours a week visiting the person living with dementia, giving family care partners a much-needed break. Marcie not only meets with families in their home as part of the programs’ enrollment process, but provides regular support and assistance to families already enrolled in the program.

“The beauty of ALZ Companions is it allows caregivers to take some time for themselves – and the person living with dementia gets to have fun with their Companion Volunteer,” Marcie says. “It takes the guilt off the caregiver, so they can enjoy the break without having to worry about what’s going on at home.”

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Marcie, originally from Los Angeles, has 23 years of experience as a social worker. She graduated from San Diego State University with her Master of Social Work, and has dedicated her life to working with the elderly. She says she holds a special place in her heart for people living with Alzheimer’s, as she knows there’s still a strong stigma around the disease.

Marcie Hanna’s extensive career has covered many different fields, but she has found Alzheimer’s San Diego to be one of the most rewarding.

While ALZ Companions is one fantastic way we support families, Marcie hopes people take advantage of our other programs, too.

“I really want to see our families at our social programs or support groups or at an education class,” Marcie adds. “It’s all about learning a bit more, dealing with things a bit better and bonding with other people going through the same thing. It can make such a difference.”