In her role as a home health aide, Sandy Cesar’s guiding principle has always been to form a compassionate relationship with the recipient of care, even when that person may not remember who she is.
According to registered nurse supervisor Jodie Dolinar of Horizon Home Care and Hospice, Cesar’s humble yet compassionate nature comes across the moment you meet her. Dolinar says “amazing” progress has been made by Cesar with an elderly man afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease, whose son has become frustrated with his father’s physical and mental decline.
“Alzheimer’s disease robs one of memory, changes personality and even can cause displays of anger, first of rage, confusion and inability to communicate,” Dolinar says. “Sandy made it her mission to learn as much about the disease as she can, and to provide optimal care not only for her patients, but support for their loved ones, as well.”
Within any given day, the Alzheimer’s patient can become easily confused and agitated. Cesar has found that she can comfort him by gently rubbing his back and reading a book to him. Even though he may not always understand the words, he responds to the rhythm of a soothing voice. Cesar takes the time to leisurely pace each meal to enable the patient to enjoy one of his remaining pleasures in life.
“If you develop a relationship from the beginning, even if they forget, they remember the feelings — that it was something good,” says Cesar, 54, a registered nurse who has worked as a home health aide for Horizon Home Care for 28 years. “They may not remember the event, but they remember the connection.”
Cesar also provides valuable consultation with the family members of her patients.
“I watched a very long program about Alzheimer’s on TV. They did four case studies, and the caregivers passed away before the patient did. So, it’s fulfilling to me to fill that void so that they (family members) can have a break, too,” Cesar says.
Cesar does not presume that her patient does not understand — she communicates with him as if he always does. She talks to him about the weather, current events and his interests. She took the time to learn as much about his life story as she could from his son.
