Humans of Dementia - Jasmina

After Jasmina completed her university education, she became a stay-at-home mother. Spending all her time at home, she felt like she was sitting idle without a purpose, especially since she was qualified to take up more work. She was dissatisfied with her current state and decided that she would venture out to work. This is when she was introduced to A1Snehanjali assisted living elder care home, a project of Silver Innings and the work they do for elders and dementia. And the credit also goes to her husband, who encouraged her to take up some work, then being idle at home. 

Prior to her introduction to A1 Snehanjali, she didn’t know what Alzheimer’s disease was. However, when she visited the centre and spoke to the staff, she learnt more about the disease itself as well as the role of a caregiver in the dementia person lives. As she began coming to the job, she felt a homely feeling, an affection and closeness, which was missing in her life. The person with dementia seemed like her old parents and grandparents, and she found happiness in serving them. The missing piece in her life had been filled by her job.

Jasmina has now completed two years as a Center In charge and caregiver at A1Snehanjali. Serving the person with dementia (called as Residents) over the years, she has come to realise the value of her own parents and elders, and how fragile those relationships are. She has also found her co-staff and management to be helpful and supportive of each other, creating a healthy work environment. This is why she considers the person with dementia (residents) and staff to be her second family. But, it is also due to this attachment that when a any residents passes away, it really affects her a lot. When you serve someone every single day and one day they are no longer there, it creates a void and the absence is felt. While this hurts Jasmine a lot, she knows that this is a part and parcel of her work as a caregiver, and so, she continues to work in order to better the life of the residents.

Jasmina’s family members are very proud of Jasmina and the work she does. Her children and mother-in-law are extremely supportive of her job, and it is due to this that she is able to contribute time at her job and at home. Every morning, Jasmina wakes up, sends her children to school and comes to the centre. At the centre, she spends time with the residents, person with dementia - talking to them, facilitating prayer time, doing meaningful activities with them like singing, playing, drawing and watching TV. While she is at the centre, her mother-in-law looks after the home, which provides Jasmina support as she is freely able to go to work without worrying about the house. When Jasmina returns from work, she spends time with her children and finishes up the housework.

Having worked as a caregiver for last two years, Jasmina only has one thing to say - “Understand the value of your parents and grandparents. Respect them and care for them. Teach your children the same because if you don’t, one day you will be in the place of your parents and you won’t have anyone there for you.”

- By Vansh Tibrewal

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Humans of Dementia - Ganesh

 Ganesh is a 24-year-old full-time caregiver at A1Snehanjali. He is from Adivasis community (indigenous peoples of India) from small village near Vikramgad, Palghar District. His journey as a caregiver to person with Dementia (called as residents) began when he was looking for a job after completion of his class 12th education in village. He was introduced to Silver Innings assisted living elder care home ‘A1Snehanjali’ at Rajodi, Virar and decided to take up caregiving as his full-time job alongside continuing his education with encouragement and support of compassionate management.    

As a caregiver, his job entails of several tasks such as making the Residents eat food, giving them a bath, conducting prayer time, and making them go to bed at night. Every day, the residents also have scheduled recreation and mental stimulation activity time where Ganesh and other staff members facilitate activities like playing games, music, dance, art & craft, walk etc

Before coming to the centre, Ganesh didn’t know anything about Alzheimer’s disease or A1Snehanjali’s work. When he came here and learnt about the disease for the first time, he was shocked - “Aisa kaise? Aisa hota hai?” (How is this possible? This happens?) Slowly, he learnt more about Alzheimer’s, the needs and challenges of its person and how care can be given to them to make their life experience smoother. Since then, he has been working for A1Snehanjali, taking care of residents at the centre. 

As a 24-year old, he is one of the youngest staff members at the organisation. Working in a place where the other staff members are older than you can sound like a barrier in making friends at work, however, Ganesh didn’t seem to face that challenge. Rather, he believes that he found his co- staff members to be more than friends - he found a family in them. This is because the staff and management helps each other out and treats each other with respect, which makes it a peaceful work environment. 

Whilst working full-time, Ganesh also managed to study side-by-side, and recently he completed his Graduation BA with 93%. One would assume that balancing both is a challenge, and the job would be adding to Ganesh’s stress. However, it is surprising yet pleasing to know that he doesn’t find his job stressful nor does he find it tedious. Instead, he feels that the job brings him happiness and joy. It relieves his stress and gives him the satisfaction of having done good in society. Everyone at A1Snehanjali is helpful and supportive of each other as well as the residents, and so he feels like he belongs there. 

Being a young man working at a centre that takes care of Dementia / Alzheimer’s person – mental health issues, one would think that his family would have some reservations, perhaps the typical expectation of getting a corporate job. But, Ganesh’s family doesn’t seem to think that way. On the contrary, Ganesh’s family gives him blessings because he is helping people, helping Elders, doing good and virtuous work. It is a form of seva and his family is proud of him for doing it. 

Ganesh is an example and inspiration to youth of India, which thinks differently, being progressive, and committed to humanity!  

By Vansh Tibrewal

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