one employee’s connection between pace and her culture
This blog post is guest written by Blerta Alikaj, Education and Outreach Manager at CenterLight. Blerta shares the story of “Mrs. M.”—an Albanian participant—who loved coming to the Teamcare center. Having staff who could deliver care in her native tongue meant the world to Mrs. M. and her family.
In the Albanian community, caring for aging family members is a sacred duty.
The younger take care of an elderly parent or family member at all costs. True wealth lies in the larger family support circle rather than the material riches one may accumulate in life. This is why CenterLight Teamcare is the logical choice for this tight-knight community.
One particularly powerful example is the story of “Mrs. M.”
When Mrs. M. first saw the CenterLight nurse, she burst in tears. She could not understand why her daughter was placing her in a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), and why she had to spend time in the Day Health Center where she knew no one. “We have food at home,” she told her daughter. “Why are you kicking me out?”
The daughter shared her apprehension. She had seen the center, spoken to me and the Albanian physician at the site, conferred with friends and family—and yet she remained unconvinced. What would the community say when they found out? Yes, her mother had issues with memory, yes, she had a blood clot and had fallen twice in the last month. Despite this, was she dishonoring her family name in seeking outside help?
“The work of the youth is a blanket for the old.”
Albanian participant listening to music at her Teamcare center.
We convinced Mrs. M. to try the Teamcare site for a month. She would get physical therapy, see her Albanian-speaking medical provider and we would provide a translator for her medical appointments. When she first came, she brought her daughter and a sandwich because she did not want anyone to think she did not have enough food at home. However, it didn’t take long for the warmth of the site, the laughter of the other participants and the vibrant atmosphere to capture her heart. The day flew by! When the driver came to pick her up the following day, Mrs. M. was already dressed and waiting for “her nephew” as she took to calling him. She told her daughter to stay home.
The following week, I started receiving calls from other caregivers in the Albanian community. Mrs. M. started calling all her friends, who now were asking their children to call me and inquire about the center that gave such great care – in Albanian. They even knew how to speak the language! For non-Albanian speaking staff, I prepared a sheet with common Albanian words and phrases that all staff learned by heart.
Albanian participant and Blerta enjoying an Albanian dance performance at the center.
I was a little worried about Mrs. M. being by herself at the center, but she always had a big smile on her face when she saw the staff and spoke proudly of how good the care was. She had even made friends with a wonderful Spanish-speaking participant. They were able to understand each-other despite the fact that neither could speak English, and always had a great time together. In fact, even when Mrs. M.’s Albanian friends enrolled, she refused to change her seat and continued to sit with her Spanish friend.
Once, Mrs. M. had a reaction to the sleeping medication she was taking. The doctor could not understand why. The medication had proven effective up until that time. She spoke to Mrs. M. in detail in her own language. During the conversation, Mrs. M. mentioned that she had taken some other medication from her country. The physician checked and found out that that medication was interfering with her sleeping medication and giving her this reaction. Our team’s detailed knowledge of her medical history, along with the doctor’s knowledge of her culture, helped avoid a potentially grave health situation.
Albanian staff and participant celebrating Albanian Independence Day at Teamcare!
Mrs. M. was always proud of her site and basked in the affection and respect of the staff and other members. She used to tell every new Albanian participant “I was the first here” and referred to all CenterLight staff as her nephews and nieces. Her daughter referred to us as the “other branch” of their family and was grateful for the care and the dignified life we made possible for her mother, keeping her out of institutional care and in her own home up until the end.
As I tell everyone who will listen: PACE is a great option for any aging person in need of health and home care, who does not speak the language, misses the socialization and affection of their own country and appreciates independence. I am glad this is an option for my community and that I get to come to work every day and help someone from my own country live a better life.
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Last updated December 4, 2019
about the writer
Blerta Alikaj began working at CenterLight in 2005.
