Nancy Hornsby CARES for Alzheimer’s patients through song and love
Nancy Hornsby, right, has been a volunteer with Collat Jewish Family Services' CARES program from day one. (Karim Shamsi-Basha/Alabama NewsCenter)
I put the camera down when the singing started.
Uttering words may be a thing of the forgotten past for many dementia and Alzheimer’s patients, but as Nancy Hornsby led a group of them into ‘Let Me Call You Sweetheart,” they sang like the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
The singing, along with balloon volleyball, art and other social activities, is part of CARES (Caring for Adults through Respite, Enrichment and Socialization), sponsored by Birmingham’s Collat Jewish Family Services. The program provides a social outlet for 50 dementia and Alzheimer’s patients a year, relying on volunteers like Hornsby. She has volunteered at the Friedman Center for Jewish Life since the first day.
“My favorite part about being with CARES is the community that we’ve formed. Whether you’re a volunteer or a participant, we’re always playing games, singing, having lunch or just talking,” Hornsby said. “I’m not worried about what’s coming next, or what happened yesterday. We are absolutely in the moment, just as people with dementia are living in the moment.”
Alabama Bright Light: Nancy Hornsby CARES for those with Alzheimer’s, dementia from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.
Six years ago, Hornsby’s best friend’s husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. She noticed that he became isolated as the disease progressed. When she volunteers with patients, she is propelled from that personal experience.
“I went to visit my friend and became aware of how isolated he was. A person with dementia becomes very lonely. When I first learned that this program was starting, I immediately wanted to get involved. My friend’s husband needed a place where he can feel welcome,” Hornsby said.
She leads the singing and provides genuine, heart-felt smiles. The CARES program started in January 2015, and was open only two days a week from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Since then, the program days have doubled.
“Looking into the future, I would love to help other organizations develop these kinds of programs. It’s becoming more prominent to have cognitive impairments as we are living older,” Hornsby said. “I would love it if there was a place where they can belong and contribute, and also for their caregivers to have the respite they need.”
The famous tune “Let me Call You Sweetheart” ends like this:
Keep the love light glowing In your eyes so true. Let me call you sweetheart, I’m in love with you.
Nancy Hornsby certainly keeps the love light glowing at CARES.
For information, visit http://www.cjfsbham.org.
Alabama Bright Lights captures the stories, through words, pictures and video, of some of our state’s brightest lights who are working to make Alabama an even better place to live, work and play. Award-winning journalist Karim Shamsi-Basha tells their inspiring stories. Email him comments, as well as suggestions on people to profile, at karimshamsibasha@gmail.com.
