Marcelo’s Journey of Compassion in Memory Care
Marcelo (right) was recognized for his service with a Team Steward award, standing with Executive Director Eric
Some ideas exist beyond the realm of words. They need to be felt, to be experienced first-hand.
My conversation with Marcelo, a Med Tech at Bruceville Point, transported me to a place where words did not extend. As he talked about caring for residents in Harbor, the Memory Care apartments in the senior living community, I felt a sense of warmth and generosity that is rare in my day-to-day life.
Growing up, Marcelo lived with his parents, two siblings, and maternal grandparents. His parents worked hard to create a beautiful life for their children, and his grandparents fulfilled many of the care responsibilities for the children—taking them to school or activities, making meals, being at home with them after school, and running errands. Marcelo’s grandparents were like second parents, he said.
“They taught me how to care,” Marcelo said. “We would go out with them or see them with their friends and I saw how they treated everyone with such respect.”
Every year or two, his grandparents would travel back to the Philippines, where they were born and had family. Marcelo and his brother traveled with them often, especially as they aged.
A few years ago, Marcelo and his brother had just finished school—Marcelo’s freshman year at San Jose State—and boarded a plane to meet his grandparents in the Philippines. While in the air, they received a voicemail from Marcelo’s mom. His grandfather had had a cardiac event and died.
They rushed from the plane to his grandmother. Together, the family mourned the unexpected loss of their grandfather. It was a tragedy that Marcelo’s grandmother would never recover from. In the days and weeks after the funeral, Marcelo’s grandmother started feeling unwell. Despite multiple doctor visits, no one could say what was wrong with her. Just as words don’t extend to certain feelings, scientific knowledge does not cover the entirety of how our human bodies work.
With school starting, Marcelo was forced to travel back to California, reluctantly leaving his grandmother and hoping to see her soon. Sadly, she died a week later. Marcelo flew back to the Philippines again to mourn the passing of his family.
His grandparents had been a constant and loving presence in his life, and suddenly, they were both gone. Marcelo struggled to make meaning of it. He left school to concentrate on recovering from the loss, supported by and supporting his family.
When he was back on his feet, Marcelo enrolled in community college to continue his education while staying close to family. He found a job as a respite aide to a family with a young child needing assistance. Initially, it was just a job that worked well with his school schedule. It didn’t take long for it to change Marcelo’s life. He loved caring for another person, supporting the family, and making a difference.
Instead of studying chemistry, Marcelo decided to go into medicine. When the pandemic hit and Marcelo’s role as a respite aide was no longer needed, he went to school to become a Certified Nursing Assistant. Upon graduation, Bruceville Point had just opened and was hiring. Marcelo applied and started as a Care Partner, loving his new role. Soon he was promoted to a Med Tech and began caring for the residents who live in Harbor, the Memory Care apartments in the community.
“Everyone deserves dignity,” Marcelo said. “They deserve to feel love. They deserve to know that they are okay.” Marcelo’s job description includes giving medication, checking vitals, and monitoring for symptoms. That is a very small part of what Marcelo does, though. As he learned from being with his grandparents, medical treatment is only part of what humans need to thrive.
“Bathing, dressing, and preparing them for their final farewell are responsibilities that carry a weight far beyond the physical,” Marcello recognizes.
Marcelo forms a bond with each resident he cares for. To truly know the residents, Marcelo actively learns who they are, asking family members about their past, engaging in conversation with residents daily, and observing them. It’s only then that Marcelo can be attuned to the slightest changes in a resident—changes that can often be a harbinger of bigger issues.
Marcelo takes the time to engage with residents and really get to know them.
Marcelo continued working and attending school at Sacramento State. He graduated in May and is now applying to schools to become a Physician’s Assistant. When he finishes, he hopes to work in geriatric care.
“It’s more than just a job,” Marcelo says of his work with residents. “Everyone is here because they love to be here, to support the residents. There are a lot of other fields in this world, and this isn’t an easy job, but it is the work we love to do every day.”
Until Marcelo leaves for his PA program, residents and their families are fortunate to have his care—care that extends beyond words. “Dignity matters the most. What they desire, they deserve. It’s their lives and I’m there for them,” Marcelo says.
To learn more about the Care Services available at Bruceville Point, please reach out to our Counselors to schedule a tour.
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