Jenet is a 37-year-old qualified social worker who has been taking care of Person with Dementia, Alzheimer’s for the past 7 years. In 2012, she was working with children who were diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, but she was simultaneously also looking for a job opportunity. This is when in 2014, her journey as a caregiver with A1Snehanjali, assisted living elder care home, a project of Silver Innings, began.
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| Humans of Dementia - Jenet |
In 2006, Jenet’s grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. This was the first time she encountered the condition and understood it. The diagnosis was a changing point in her life because she couldn’t fathom the fact that such a disease exists. However, in the process of taking care of her grandmother and looking after her, she learnt how important it is to be there for a person with Alzheimer’s. She recognized how important it is to tend to their needs and to let them know that there is someone to look after them.
As a professional, Jenet’s job begins at 9 in the morning and ends at 6 in the evening, but as a caregiver, she has a 24-hour job. She believes that there are no time boundaries for a job like this because the residents of A1Snehanjai require emotional care, which isn’t something that can be limited within fixed time periods. Her days are spent planning and managing other workers who work at A1Snehanjali and tracking the activities of the residents ― whether they’ve taken their medicines and meals, and if not, why, what’s their mood for the day, how they are engaging in different activities. She also arranges for doctors, physiotherapists, entertainment programmes and creative activities, helps her staff in grooming and feeding the residents, and always motivates and encourages the residents as well as her staff.
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| Dementia Friend |
She started working as ‘Center Manager’ at A1Snehanjali one of its kind Dementia home in India and her passion, dedication and curiosity to learn was not only noticed but also appreciated by Management and she been promoted as ‘Senior Center Manager’. Her work not only includes managing A1Snehanjali, but also to work and coordinate with local community and make meaningful impact for development of community including Zilla Parishad Primary Schools, Faith base organization, Municipal Corporation and Environment. Her work and and human management during 2020 and 2021 Covid Pandemic is her biggest achievement and moment of honour for her organization Silver Innings.
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| Unsung Corona Warrior |
She often came across situations where the family of the resident thought that the memory loss was just an act to gain attention and not a real symptom of something as severe as Alzheimer’s. That is why she believes that there should be more awareness as well as acceptance of the disease. People should know what Alzheimer’s is and if they suspect anyone is showing the symptoms, they should take it seriously and consult a neurologist or psychiatrist. There were also times when her own mood (or the staff mood) seemed like a challenge or hindered the caregiving work. In situations like these, Jenet conducts creative activities like painting and crafting, or different entertainment programmes like movies, listening to songs, dancing and playing games as a means to relieve the stress of her team and also refresh the residents mood.
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| Multi Role Dementia Warrior |
The person suffering from Alzheimer’s are dependent on others; they need love, care, support and attention. Even though there is some stress, the emotional attachment with the residents and their love makes up for all of it. She says that although the residents might not remember her name, they search for her when she is not around, and this, alone, is enough for her to keep working for them.
The day she had taken up this job, her family had been
bewildered, “Udhar jaake kya kaam karegi?” (What work will you do there?)
However, now, after Jenet has made a lot of people aware about Alzheimer’s and
how they need to be taken care of, people are proud of the work she is doing.
Jenet has learn from a wonderful quote from Leo Buscaglia that
“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a
listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of
which have the potential to turn a life around.”
-Vansh Tibrewal
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