Published: August 25, 2007 08:28 pm            

PROFILE: Marlene Marciniak devotes her life to caring for the elderly in North Tonawanda

If things had gone the way Marlene Marciniak expected, she might’ve spent her career as a plant manager at a furniture store. Or maybe she would be a child psychologist right now.

Instead, she has spent the past 15 years developing the DeGraff Adult Day Care program, collecting a handful of awards along the way while enjoying the satisfaction of helping the elderly community in North Tonawanda.

“The work I do is about the people,” she said. “Just to know that we’re helping these people and helping their families. And they help us — it’s the experiences that they give us too. We truly become like family.”

What helped her find that new family was disappointment — she missed out on a promotion at S.A. Cook, a furniture manufacturer in Medina.

“I worked my way up from receptionist to purchasing agent,” Marciniak said. “I wanted to be and could’ve been the plant manager. I did very well there.”

Instead, it ended up that a new employee she trained was promoted to the plant manager position.

Realizing she was probably locked into her role at the company, she went to Genesee Community College to pursue an interest in child psychology. She eventually transferred to University at Buffalo, but one of the classes she had taken at GCC wouldn’t transfer, so she was forced to stay at UB an extra semester.

It was during the extra semester when she decided to take some classes about adulthood and aging.

“It just kind of threw me into another direction,” she said. “It was fate.”

Equipped with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and social gerontology, she began the work that would become her life’s passion.

Marciniak joined the DeGraff Adult Day Care program in 1991, when the program was only a few months old and had a total enrollment of eight.

“My goal was to increase its size and let people know what a social adult day program was all about,” she said.

The program, now boasting an enrollment of over 100, is designed to help the impaired elderly remain functioning members of the community and preserve their independence while offering them assistance with personal care and socialization.

Some activities include laugh therapy, an exercise using laughter to keep internal organs strong to lower blood pressure, and “gentle touch therapy,” an activity involving gentle massaging and hugs.

“We do these activities to stimulate the folks in a different way,” Marciniak said. “It gives them a different experience. We try to meet all their needs — physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual needs.”

In addition to working with the adult day care, she is involved in a number of other programs, including work as vice president of the Western New York Adult Day Services Association and managing the Alzheimer’s caregivers support group at DeGraff.

Marciniak has kept busy over the years, but not without recognition. She was honored with the Heart of Health Association of Niagara County Inc. Award in 2006 and the New York State Senate Woman of Distinction Award by Sen. George D. Maziarz, R-Newfane, in 2002, among others.

“I’m always surprised that people would give me an award for doing the work I do, because I’m just doing what I like to do,” she said. “They’re honoring me for the work I do for others, but it’s what brings joy in my life. I love working with these folks.”

Contact reporter Caitlin Murrayat 693-1000, ext. 113

        

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