Care Partner of the Month: Michele Baksh

Care Partner of the Month: Michele Baksh 

“A little patience goes a long way.” 

Born and raised in Guyana, Michele Baksh found her calling at an early age.  

“Growing up, I was inspired by the hospital opposite our house. Many of the nurses there were close family friends, so I saw firsthand what they do from the time I was very little. In my heart, I was inspired to become a nurse. I grew up knowing that caring for people was what I wanted to do,” Michele shares.  

After she became a mother to five daughters, Michele channeled her innate talent for caregiving by helping her friends and neighbors in Guyana while planning to move to America. "I was taking care of my friend’s mother-in-law. She said, ‘When you get to America, you can be a home health aide. It’s basically the same thing you’re doing here, but it’s a real career.’” 

When she first came to New York with her daughters in 2008, she started working in a retail store. “I realized right away, ‘I can’t stay here,’” Michele recalls. Fortunately, her aunt’s mother-in-law worked at a homecare agency and encouraged her to get her home health aide certification. “I’ve been doing it for 12 years now. I really look forward to my days with my clients,” she shares. 

Michele joined Renewal in 2015. For the past three years, she has worked full-time with a client living with Alzheimer’s disease. "I realized first and foremost that I have to be very patient and very calm with her. I put my best foot forward and said ‘we’re going to work together.’” 

“I changed the whole dynamic in the home,” she shares. “I improvise in every area that’s needed, and use everything I know – different approaches work on different days. Now, things are running smoothly.” Her client thrives on personal interactions, so Michele focuses on shared experiences to engage her, like window-shopping or watching concerts on YouTube. “We play music and dance and sing together. I just chat with her like I would with anyone else. She’s my friend,” Michele explains.  

“What I really like about Renewal is that they give us trainings that we can put into practice,” Michele adds. “It improves my knowledge and makes my job easier. The tools they give us really work.” 

Some of the tools that Michele has found to be most effective in her work with those living with Alzheimer’s disease include: 

Wait It Out: 

“If I want my client to get up and go for a walk and she refuses at first, I just let it slide. I wait another 15-20 minutes, and then ask her again “Are you ready?” Just like that, she’ll be up and ready to go. I let her set the pace.” 

Explain: 

“It really helps to explain what you’re going to do, so she is aware of what’s happening and is less fearful or confused. It helps that she is prepared for what’s coming next.” 

Reassure: 

“It’s good to reassure clients they are in safe hands. I will often tell my client, ‘There’s nothing to be scared of, I’m here, you can trust me. I'll help you.’” 

Adapt: 

“To put it simply: different client, different approach. You have to be the patient one and adapt yourself to the client’s environment and to the client’s well-being. You have to take the time to get to know each person.” 

Above all, Michele says, “Love prevails.” Coming from a large family, she knows the value of collaboration and compromise. She grew up with five sisters and one brother, and is very close with her five daughters and four grandchildren – three granddaughters and a grandson. “I tell my kids, ‘Family is all you got. We keep the love together.’” 

In her free time, Michele focuses on what brings her the most joy. “I like dancing because that’s a way anyone can make themselves feel happy. I like singing, even though I’m off-key. I love comedy movies and telling jokes, even though they might be off-key, too,“ she says with a laugh. But when it comes to caring for others, we think Michele has perfect pitch!