Melissa V.

“ I attended a medical assistant program where I performed my externship at an adult daycare center dedicated mostly to people suffering from some form of dementia. While there, I performed such tasks as socializing with the participants, blood pressures, urinalysis, blood glucose tests and anything else that was needed. About a year after I graduated, I began working with my maternal grandmother as her personal...

I attended a medical assistant program where I performed my externship at an adult daycare center dedicated mostly to people suffering from some form of dementia. While there, I performed such tasks as socializing with the participants, blood pressures, urinalysis, blood glucose tests and anything else that was needed. About a year after I graduated, I began working with my maternal grandmother as her personal care attendant for four years. She had many strokes which brought on dementia. I took care of her daily needs including cooking, showers, toileting, doctors appointments, and giving her medications. I worked with my grandmother until she became violent and had to be placed in a nursing home. She recently passed but I will always remember the special times we had together. I have enjoyed working with the older generations since I was very young because my other paternal grandmother used to take me with her to her client's houses when she was a home health aide. I think that living in a family where both my grandmothers always lived with us has given me a greater appreciation for the older generation and believe that they deserve to participate in everything that life has to offer until they move on to the great beyond. Currently, I work as an activities assistant in an adult day program one day a week and a nursing assistant in the same program one day a week. It doesn't even seem like work because I am so happy being around everyone. Working with the elderly is my passion.

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