Every June, Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month invites us not only to learn more about dementia and cognitive health, but also to recognize the people who show up day after day, with patience, creativity, and deep compassion for those living with memory loss.
At Bristol Glen, one of those people is Peggy Albert, a Certified Medication Aide who has spent 16 years caring for residents in Tapestries®, our memory support neighborhood.
“I love everything about my job,” Peggy said. “The paperwork is not the fun part. Being with our residents — that’s the part that makes me leave saying, what a great day.”
Peggy’s days are anything but routine. When she arrives for her 2–10 p.m. shift, she reads the residents’ energies.
“When I walk in, I can tell if some of our residents aren’t having the best day, and when that happens, we sing,” she said. “Everybody knows how to sing. Even if their dementia is very far along, they remember. It lights them up and puts them in the best spirits.”
Peggy started the Memory Lane Choir, pulling out songbooks filled with familiar tunes such as patriotic songs, classical music, and childhood favorites.
But music is just one tool. Peggy is very creative with events that stimulate the brain, from trivia built around old commercials, themed craft projects, or gathering everyone around the TV to watch a historic moment such as a rocket launch.
“When they remember it the next day, that says something,” she said. “That energy carries.”
One of Peggy’s strongest beliefs is the importance of consistency in memory care. That includes familiar faces and predictable rhythms.
“Each person speaks their own language,” she explained. “I can look at someone and know what they need, and whether they’re feeling uncomfortable or anxious. That comes from being with them every day.”
It’s also why Peggy advocates strongly for resident choice, even in the smallest moments.
“As simple as it sounds, asking ‘socks on or socks off’ is still a decision,” she said. “They need to feel they’re in control of their life.”
That philosophy extends to communication as well. Peggy is known for her gentle redirection — sometimes through humor, sometimes through reassurance — always with the goal of easing anxiety, not correcting reality.
“Peggy has an incredible ability to understand our residents as individuals,” said Nastassia Fleischer, Director of Memory Support Services at Bristol Glen. “She brings dignity, creativity, and compassion into every interaction, and she constantly reminds us that meaningful memory care is about thinking of the person first, not the diagnosis.”
Advice for Families and Caregivers
For families navigating memory loss at home, Peggy offers practical wisdom rooted in years of experience.
“Never set them up for failure,” she said. “Give choices. Let them feel successful. Let them feel needed.”
She encourages caregivers to build on what a person has always loved, such as folding clothes, organizing papers, or solving puzzles — adapting activities rather than abandoning them.
A Legacy of Respect and Love
When asked what she hopes her legacy at Bristol Glen will be, Peggy paused, and then said, “I hope future generations of caregivers always remember how much I care for our residents and this community. And I hope they always care just as much.”
This Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month, her story reminds us that dignity, joy, and humanity remain at every stage of memory, and at every stage of life.
