Rosetta Richardson's Trailblazer Elderly Care Scholarship

I often reflect on the woman who shaped my world in unexpected ways. With her warm smile and twinkling eyes, my grandmother was the beacon of warmth and love in my life, but dementia slowly stole her memories and her essence. I witnessed her vibrant soul begin to decline. My grandmother was diagnosed with dementia a few years ago. My family thought it was best to put her in a nursing home. For the first couple of years, she was thriving, although she would forget me at times, she was still her vibrant self, but that all changed 2 years ago. Her dementia got worse, and she also had an untreated UTI which led to her getting sepsis. She went to the hospital as soon as possible and I had to watch her be hooked up to the ventilator. This broke my heart, my grandma who was once radiant and the center of attention turned gloomy and was fighting for her life. A couple of days later my grandma was released from the hospital and sent to a memory care center, where she was placed on the hospice level. When she first arrived I visited her with my mother, and she didn't look like herself. She looked like she was suffering, depressed, and tired. I felt sympathy for my grandma, and I was trying my best to lift her spirits, by talking to her. Our conversation consisted of who I was, and how I grew up so fast. Although my grandma had select memories of me, it was good to know that she remembered some things about me. I knew my grandma wasn't doing the best physically but to be there for her was all I could do. I didn't want my grandma to feel like no one cared about so I made sure to visit her as much as I could. During my senior year of high school, I had taken a PLTW class called Biomedical Science. This class required each individual to do a research project where they would choose to create a research design or create a project and try to make a change for a problem. I decided to do my research project on the effects of antipsychotics on geriatric memory. I decided to pursue this research because my grandma was prescribed drugs like Ativan, Sertraline, Lasix, and multivitamins. I found through my research that many nursing homes give their patients drugs such as antipsychotics and benzodiazepines for their convenience. I wanted to raise awareness of this because it's not fair to the geriatric community. Geriatric patients don't understand that drugs have severe side effects if taken in large doses. I presented all of my research to judges, and they believed that if I continued my research then I would make a huge impact in the medical field. This inspired me to pursue a career in nursing, specifically for geriatric patients in nursing homes. Although I face criticism for my career choice, I believe that I will make a huge impact in the geriatric field. I want to make a change to how people see the geriatric community, I want others to see them as people who have changed the world, and not just as weak individuals. Also, I want to provide comfort to the geriatric community, because some of them don't have family or their family don't visit them as often, which leads them to feel alone and develop other mental health issues. My grandma had sadly passed away on April 28, 2023. Although it was hard for my family and me to comprehend my grandma's passing I knew that her time had come. My grandma was my biggest inspiration, she was a successful businesswoman, a loving wife, a sister, a daughter, and a delightful grandma. She was the inspiration for my research project and she inspired me to pursue a career in the medical field. Despite the pain of watching her slip away, I found comfort in being there for her, providing her comfort and companionship in her darkest hours. 7 months after her passing, I realized that I wanted to help others whose parents/grandparents suffer from Alzheimer's, dementia, and Parkinson's. I applied for a caregiver job at a company called Senior Helpers. At Senior Helpers, their main objective was to help those who suffer from Alzheimer's, dementia, Parkinson's, and many other life-changing diseases. The job required each of their employees to go through an Alzheimer's simulator. This meant that we all had to experience what a person with Alzheimer's disease goes through. We had to put these insoles in our shoes, we put on headphones that played loud street noises, and we put on glasses that affected our vision. It was an eye-opener. I never realized that it was that scary. During the simulation, I felt fear and confusion, and I felt like I wanted to curl up in a ball and hide away. I tried to self-soothe myself but the loud noises kept on distracting me. Although the simulation lasted for 15 minutes, it felt like the hardest 15 minutes of my life. I felt empathy for those who suffer from dementia or Alzheimer's because people don't realize how hard it is for them. During my time working at this company, I was able to change a lot of people's lives. I saw how many of my elderly patients felt alone because they didn't have much family, and they felt a sense of comfort when I was around. I was able to build a bond with many of my patients, we would laugh, watch TV, do activities, cook, and enjoy each other's company. Although I had to leave my job due to the stress of school, work, and my personal life I still enjoyed doing it. I enjoyed being able to change the lives of many and to help others not feel lonely. As I go into my sophomore year at Park University, I am excited for the opportunities that lie ahead. I hope to further my understanding of how to support the geriatric community. My main objective is to continue to learn and grow while balancing my studies and work commitments. I'm passionate about making a positive impact on the lives of those who need assistance the most, and I am determined to find a job that aligns with my schedule. Whether that is working as a caregiver, home health aide, or geriatric nurse, I know whatever career I choose will be the right fit for me. Although I am at the beginning of my journey I am confident that my dedication, empathy, and willingness to learn will enable me to make a meaningful difference in the geriatric community. I'm excited to see where my future takes me and how I can positively impact the lives of those along the way.