The Key Word : Empathy

        Over the many major events of my life, Alzheimer’s disease has impacted me from early fifth grade to now. One of the most remarkable impacts was from my monthly visit to the nursing home. When I took a glance back at the residents, I used to see ‘disease’ through them; showing context to now, I look at the residents in the eye and I now realize they have potential. This cannot be truly seen from someone without full empathy. Empathy is a keyword to think when communicating with people suffering with dementia. As it says in the Bible, ”Rejoice them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be on the same mind one toward another,” (KJV. Romans 12:15-16.) This means to feel as others feel and to have a mind to think to one another, together.

      Empathy. We see how much thought we put into this word especially when, still,” up to 40 percent of living with Alzheimer’s disease suffer from significant depression.”(Alzheimer’s Association. Stages and Behaviors: Depression.https://www.alz.org/help-support/caregiving/stages-behaviors/depression. Accessed 1/4/2025.) How this connects to what I learned in the individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease is by how I received this experience. My visit to the nursing home is to communicate with the residents. For me to see and learn what they see is showing me their insight and the potential they actually have.

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The 2 Different Worlds : Part one (How)

       Through my experience in volunteering, I also have seen differences and changes from the different people in nursing homes. Through communication and empathy, I notice the lifestyle between two different individuals; one rather mentally stable(S), while the other is rather mentally unstable(M). M is an individual who keeps trying to find an identity. One day, he could be a hippie with long fingernails, the next day, he would try to have a totally different personality. His physical body has also dramatically changed like weight loss and loss of hair. When I look back at S, he is someone with a strong faith and is rather humble.

 

The 2 Different Worls : Part Two (Why) 

      When I make an inference of the two individuals, I see who is mentally stronger and who is mentally weaker. I see who knows who he is and someone who doesn’t. When I volunteer and communicate with them, I know their past context. S tells me about his inference on the Bible and God’s promise. He expresses how strong Israel is after many wars since that was the promised land. On the other hand M may sometimes talk about his belief in butterflies, the yin yang, etc. How different S and M’s health levels are is very implicit, though it makes a huge difference. My experience from S and M taught me the direct lesson on how different both lifestyles are with and without God. The religious context is very important because, at the end of the day, we were born for and from God. Personally, when my grandfather was about to pass from Alzheimer’s he, at the last minute, received and accepted Jesus. This is proof of how powerful religious context is. It is stronger than dementia itself. For me to see not only M, but everyone else suffering from the disease having faith will be something that is life changing. The individuals will have something inside themselves that is stronger than any disease. 

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My Part (To the Community)

       For others to experience what I experienced, is something that can truly benefit themselves, our schools, the community, and further research. A way to communicate to individuals is by the individuals communicating to us. A type of communication to others that will give you the context on how they feel is through arts. As people play any music in the background (including silence), the residents could express what they feel in a good, environmental way. For these individuals to express their mood in an artistic form is very unique and full of context everyone can learn. We, as a community, can learn many things from residents suffering with this disease.  This can create a bond that is very special. For the next three years, I am also encouraging the individuals to find a song. A song that they want to pick. Whether it is something that takes them back to their memories, or a melody that cheers them up, as long as it makes them feel something, it can really light up everyone's perspectives. Sequencing the next five years, I want them to take that song and express it in their own way. I want the individuals to share the piece of music to each other and to interact. It can be expressed by crafting or as simple as blinking a rhythm. 

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       The research that is to be contributed for Alzheimer’s disease can be reached by sponsoring a fundraiser. The money could not only be shared for research in the U.S, it could also be for other countries where they financially suffer. For those countries who have less money, they would most likely use that money rather for people not suffering from dementia, since they already have financial difficulties. Keeping that in mind, I use the advantage of a fundraiser to donate to people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. The fundraisers would grow over the years and so will the donated money. With this process, it would be a circle of gratitude we all share. 

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As a Whole 

       These plans are all for a certain reason; to learn what individuals with dementia deal with and to bless them. This is all through communication and empathy. What I am planning can help raise awareness and contribute to what people with dementia deserve all this time. What I start can lead to a whole group starting. But who will finish it? This can be from whoever takes the initiative to act.  It can change our sight of those people with Alzheimer’s disease and contribute generously to everyone in our community.

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