Denise Y.

Meet Denise

• Speaks English and Spanish
• Comfortable with pets
• Has a car

I’m a former family caretaker of several years. I was certified as a family caretaker by the Alzheimer’s Association and have attended various Alzheimer’s Conferences to keep up with new and relevant information about Alzheimer’s and dementia. I am also a certified personal trainer via the San Diego based American Coucil on Exercise, you can find my profile on their website as well. I’ve been a trainer for almost two years and I enjoy working with special populations including seniors, medical rehabilition clients, and Autistic adults/youth. As a former caretaker for my grandmother, I learned the value of helping special populations to stay active and mobile especially during recovery from injury and regardless of aging. Although the aging process may contribute to eventual decline in ambulation and activities of daily living, it’s vital to remain active for as long as possible while maintaining safety and preserving the physical health of Read more the individual. Sadly my grandmother passed away from Alzheimer’s in April of 2017, but my efforts to help those with Alzheimer’s/Dementia still continue. As her caretaker I prepared meals, provided companionship, administered medications throughout the day, assisted with ambulation and various other activities of daily living. We spent countless hours in her garden and watching black and white films from the 50’s. Sometimes I quietly kept her company, providing a comforting presence. Some days were more challenging than others, especially when she became aggressive. Redirection or distraction was usually the best tactic, above all patience and not taking insults personally. Paranoia/sun downing was also a regular occurrence for a while. I went through just about all of the typical symptoms of caretaking an Alzheimer’s/Dementia sufferer. It was the most difficult thing I’ve ever done, mostly because we were so close to each other and it was difficult to see her decline and succumb to her disease. When she passed away, I was at her side, holding her hand. Since then, I have always been thankful for the opportunity to have been at her side and to have learned so much from her life, including being a caretaker for her. The elderly and especially those with Alzheimer’s/Dementia are an underserved population and I hope to continue my work with them for a long time.

Trust & safety

Experience

References

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