Sonia Ledesma encourages the seniors she works with to recall their pasts and their favorite hobbies to stimulate movement and memory.
“You see how your memory is like a bank?” Sonia explained at a recent Friday morning session. “You put in memories, then you can bring them out and explain them.”
Music plays a significant role in Sonia’s life and her teaching. She asked Armand DeLeon to name his favorite musicians.
“Oh my god!” Armand excitedly declared. “I love bachata, Marco Antonio, and Jennifer Lopez.”
Sonia then instructed the group to make the movements for well-known instruments—guitar, tambourine, drums, trumpet, and congas.
“When you describe something, you can also use the movement to explain it more,” Sonia said during a recent Friday morning session. “There are people who can talk, and some people cannot talk, so they use signs to explain what they want to say. When you describe with movements, we can better understand what you mean, even if it might take us a little time.”
Embodying the DSP Role
Sonia’s time with AHRC NYC began in 2001. “I started as a home health aide for someone receiving service at Betty Pendler Day Services, and I used to meet her there. I was her one-to-one staff member. The staff their saw how other people gravitated to me and I was told to apply, and I did and I got hired.” She started as a substitute Community Support Professional and soon became a full-time employee. Sonia transitioned from Betty Pendler to a day program based at William Street near AHRC NYC headquarters, then moved to Walter and Evelyn Redfield Day Services in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood when that program opened.
“I met Sonia in 2014 when I joined the William Street team, and she has been my mentor and go to person for most everything, even though I was her supervisor,” said Alicia Williams, Operations Director, at Redfield Day Services. “She is a team player, leader and most of all, she embodies the true meaning of Direct Support and Professional.”
Alicia added “All people supported look to her for guidance and comfort. When we hire new staff, she is the person we assign them to, as a mentor because of her professionalism and dedication and love for what we do as Direct Support Professionals.”
Working with Seniors with Disabilities
Sonia has focused on her work with seniors for much of her tenure.
“I like discovering their memories,” she said. “It helps them to be better understood and allows you to have to have more patience with them. I focus on memories because they tend to get forgetful at this stage. One day we will be names they remember, one day will be talking colors and what they associate them with, and another to talk about a favorite event from their past.”
Sonia has a particular skill in helping foster memories of those who have passed on. The COVID pandemic sadly took a number of people from the program, but Sonia has made it a point to help seniors positively reflect on the good times with their companions.
“Sonia helps me remember my friends,” Kathleen Vogt said. “She’s also the best cook! I love her spaghetti. She should always be wearing a white hat!”
Alicia said, “When the pandemic hit, Sonia was one of the first staff to volunteer to work in the residence where most of her caseload lived. She did not miss a day. She enjoys what she does, and it shows every single day that she comes in to work.”
Sonia says working for AHRC “has been a great experience,” and wants to keep the people she works with around as long as possible.
“I talk to them about the importance of maintaining their doctor appointments. You’ll be here longer and keep coming here longer so we can stay together.”
