With news of the homeless population increasing in Ottawa amid COVID-19, Carefor staff at Ottawa Inner City Health are working diligently to uphold the health and safety of people living with mental health or addiction.

For ten years, this health care partnership between the City of Ottawa and other stakeholders has been providing maintenance and health care services to the homeless population.

Colleen Jones has been a Client Care Worker from the beginning of its creation. She works at the Oaks, which houses the Managed Alcohol Program. She admits working hasn’t been easy amid the pandemic, but being in the front lines and helping her clients is more important now than ever.

“Our clients are as vulnerable as they can be and we have to do everything in our power by means of constant hygiene and education to keep them safe,” she says. “Many of them have lived through so much already and survived, so they think that COVID-19 is just another flu that they would survive, but chances are they wouldn’t.”

Before the lockdown, The Oaks relied heavily on volunteers for completing many tasks like cooking, cleaning, and laundry, but now all the responsibility lies on staff.

“We’re serving more than 50 clients and our work is doubled. Our clients see when we take our masks off our eyes are red from exhaustion. It’s nice to see some of them stepping up to the plate and working like some of our staff.”

Despite these challenges, staff are finding ways to brighten up the mood by playing music and telling jokes while respecting physical distancing. The pandemic has changed the way we communicate with others, but the sense of community remains the same.

“We’ve known some of these clients for a decade or more, they are our extended family and we are theirs.”

For that reason, protecting both clients and staff is crucial, because as Inner City Supervisor Kevin Nyembo says, without this service, his vulnerable clients would have nowhere to go: “Inner City is an essential service in the community – our clients are as vulnerable as they can be,” he stresses. “They tend to have challenging behaviours that people in other institutions, like hospitals, may have difficulty to handle. If we weren’t there, I don’t know where our clients would be.”

Learn more about the Managed Alcohol Program and Carefor’s partnership with Ottawa Inner City Health and Shepherds of Good Hope below.

Carefor: The Next Generation

At both Carefor Pembroke Mackay Residential Complex and Civic Residential Complex, residents admit that a heightened sense of social isolation these past few months has not been easy, but a few new friendly faces have made a world of difference.

For summer students like Hannah Rehel, a 19-year-old Carleton University student, and Bryan Fleury, a 16-year-old Jeanne –Lajoie high school student, working at Carefor meant positively impacting lives during a time of great need. 

“Sitting at home during these challenging times was not an option for me,” Hannah said.

Some of our summer students were brought in from the Canada Summer Jobs Program, which helped staff with the assistance they needed to run day-to-day activities to ensure safety and engagement, during lockdown. Hanna spent her time helping with various tasks, from administration to recreation at the Civic Residential Complex.

For Hannah, working in a retirement residence affected her in ways she would have never imagined. “[It] warmed my heart,” she said. “Every morning I was greeted with big smiles and every activity I attended the residents accepted me with open arms. I came into their home and they treated me as if I was family.”

This experience opened her eyes to see the true value of her work, both at the residence and in the community: “I had many one-on-one visits with residents. These visits allowed me to be an ear for some when their families could not visit during these challenging times.”

“I loved it all. The atmosphere, the people, the activities, I felt very appreciated going to work so much that it didn’t feel like a job, it felt like a second home.” Hannah said.

After completing volunteer hours last year, Bryan returned to Mackay Residential Complex as a maintenance summer staff: “I knew right away this would be a great place to work.” For Bryan, parting from staff and residents wasn’t easy this year, which led him to apply for a casual position in the kitchen while he attends school.

Although our summer students are back in school, they have left knowing they created a special bond with residents while understanding the great importance and value of keeping our seniors safe and connected. Thank you to all our summer students for their bravery and compassion this year. They will be missed, but we can’t wait to welcome them back with open arms.

Home care and support services have been around for more than a century in Canada, but keeping people safe and healthy at home is more important now, than ever. As health care in Ontario is changing, Carefor is at the forefront of ensuring our clients’ needs are not only met now, but also in the future. Inspiring a new generation of health care workers means shaping a healthier and brighter future for our seniors.

Client Service Coordinators: “It’s more than a schedule, it’s a bridge to care.”

Often when people in the community think about Carefor they think of our frontline staff, but there’s a team behind them helping them do their jobs. When a Carefor client needs support, whom do they speak to? When a frontline staff needs to know which client is in urgent need of care, who lets them know? When someone needs to book an appointment, who do they call? They reach out to one of our many Client Service Coordinators (CSC) working across Eastern Ontario.

As we continue to deal with the ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the continued efforts of our community health care workers are keeping people safe, connected and supported at home. That said, it’s more than frontline workers who are keeping people safe and healthy, CSCs also play a key role in ensuring the most vulnerable are receiving proper care and support.

Peggy Sue Brushett is among many CSCs who are catalysts in this circle of care. She has been at Carefor for seven years and currently does the scheduling for Personal Support Workers working from Downtown Ottawa to Carlingwood Mall, including retirement home clients.

She says the COVID-19 pandemic has been quite stressful for everyone, but she and her colleagues are working hard to ensure their both Carefor frontline staff and clients are health and safety.

“We’re doing the best we can. We stay strong for these clients because they are dependent on us. For some, we are one of the few people they talk to because they know we are going to answer the phone.”

While Peggy Sue and her colleagues are not out there side-by-side with our frontline staff, they’re always a phone call away: “I’m making sure all our clients get seen, all our PSWs are not overworked, that they have their breaks, proper PPE, they’re well-informed, and that they know that I’m always there if they need me.”

COVID hasn’t made the job of CSCs any less demanding. Since April 2020, Personal Support Services have made an average of 12,000 visits per week, including an average number of 27 new referrals each week. Peggy Sue says some weeks, she makes a whopping 440 calls: “When I go to bed, I’m still scheduling in my head.”

Despite the challenges of these times, CSCs are getting creative, finding ways to prioritize while still going above and beyond.

“I wear my heart on my sleeve. It’s very stressful, but I do it every day, because I know I’m making a difference. Even if it’s just a schedule, it’s important to remember it’s the schedule that got that person out of bed, their medication, and their shower.” 

Client Services Supervisor Sarah LeClaire has been in awe of the amazing work of her team during this time: “COVID has been a big challenge, but CSCs did a great job transitioning quickly and finding a way to still work side-by-side remotely with their colleagues.” 

She says it’s important to remember just how vital CSCs are in community care and the role they play in the frontline: “Without the coordinators, clients wouldn’t get seen.”

On Wednesday March 29th, Carefor announced the winners of the 2023 bursary program. Every business, organization and agency has something that makes it special, for Carefor, it is our people. Our staff are our greatest asset. For this reason, we actively choose to invest in our staff, and provide them with continual chances to seek out growth fortuities in their careers. While offer continuous training for our staff, our bursary program is in place to support staff members who take it upon themselves to grow their skills even more.

The ten bursaries Carefor offers represent the various areas of work that Carefor supports, from client facing staff, to the office staff, to our volunteers and part-time staff. We are honored to present these awards to our well-deserving staff members. Congratulations!

We are extremely thankful to everyone who has donated to Carefor, making these bursaries for our staff possible, and Especially to Neville Ward, for his ongoing commitment, support, and generosity with Carefor.

Congratulations again to all this year’s recipients.

COVID-19 Screeners: Keeping people safe when it matters the most

With the onset of the pandemic last spring, Carefor Pembroke residential care homes – Civic Complex and Mackay Centre – implemented a screening process at both buildings to ensure that residents remain safe while still getting to enjoy their meaningful relationships with family members and friends. 

Jana Wood, Community Support Services Program Supervisor, says the screeners have been working tirelessly on the front lines and have made a world of difference.

“Their attendance and dedication have been flawless. They have been faced with many challenges including ever-changing government directives to un-cooperative individuals, but they always rise to the challenge. Team screeners are instrumental in keeping our residents and staff as protected as possible, taking much needed pressure off the care team staff.”

Jesse Hein, Mackay Centre receptionist who does the day screening, says the job has not been without its challenges. The biggest being having to deny a visitor from entering the building.

“I find that most visitors are denied entry for reasons that are familiar to all of us; they may have misinterpreted a guideline, or they may have simply left their COVID test results on the kitchen table and forgot to grab it when they walked out the door. Saying no to that visit, when you know how much it means to not only the visitor but to the resident is never easy … That said, most people understand that it is for the safety of the residents.”

Despite these sorts of challenges, the screeners agreed that the job has been rewarding.

Brycen Godin worked with the Going Home Program prior to the pandemic, and when the opportunity came up to be a screener, he jumped at the opportunity. Both his parents were PSWs so he felt right at home working for Carefor. “I love the residents and everyone that works here is awesome; there is never a bad shift. This is the best job I have ever had.”

Bev Suprovich has worked as a Carefor Companion for thirteen years, and when the pandemic hit she was unable to go into clients’ homes. She happily accepted the position of keeping residents safe when they need it the most. Her favourite part, much like the other screeners shared, were the connections she made with the residents.

Jesse Hein says the best part of being a screener is “getting to see how much brighter and happier a resident is after a visit.”

“In a world where distance is not only prevalent but required, our residents can feel much removed from just about every aspect of their ‘normal’ lives. Getting to sit down and chat with a daughter, a father or a friend really helps to soften that distance. I’ve never met a visitor who doesn’t leave some cheer at Carefor when they go, nor have I ever met a resident who doesn’t spread that cheer to everyone they come across,” she adds.

A heartfelt thank you to all our screeners for helping keep our residents safe and connected!

Death in the time of COVID-19

By Dr. Raji Menon

COVID-19 is spreading like wildfire. There have been a few people who tested positive in Cornwall. Everything is shut down. The Hospice is not allowing more than one designated visitor per patient – and everybody who comes is screened. If anybody does report symptoms, they will be turned away.

Patients are not able to move out of their rooms freely. They can only go out with a staff member, if they want to smoke, and they have to go through the front door.

I visited Mrs. X every day. That day, she was in her chair, looking comfortable. But her face had a very deep, sad, pained look. After all the usual questions, I asked her what she was thinking, and she answered, “Just waiting”.

“For what?” I asked, knowing the answer, but I wanted her to say it her way, hoping that I would be able to come up with something that would make her feel better. I knew she was scared, knowing her end was near. Her only relative, her brother, was unable to come and see her for the last few days because he was feeling under the weather. I expressed my sorrow at the current situation and promised to visit her every day. I knew those words were woefully inadequate. (All my life, I had been told that I had the knack of saying the right thing in such circumstances – but in this case, I failed miserably.)

That was the last time I spoke to her.

The next day, I went in later than usual. She had taken a sudden turn for the worse. She was now unresponsive. She was comfortable, though. I went in to see her, and a member of the admin staff (an ex-nurse) was in the room holding her hand, speaking to her softly.  

She died a few hours later.

On the one hand, I was heartbroken, because of the sadness I had seen in her large eyes. On the other hand, I was relieved that she did not die alone. She perhaps got more love from those caring angels than we have seen some patients receive from family members.

Support Carefor Heroes like Dr. Raji Menon and her caring team of coworkers at Carefor Hospice Cornwall by donating at carefor.ca/donate. 

Transportation: A bridge to healthcare

For seniors like Betty, finding transportation to things like medical appointments and day programs can be one of the hardest parts of getting care. Often, seniors do not have access to standard vehicles or to accessible vehicles for those with disabilities. Thankfully, Carefor drivers like Gary Hobbes are working to solve this issue.

Gary has been a driver with Carefor for almost a decade, providing a vital link that connects seniors to healthcare and their community. While the drive is a huge help, he says that the relationships that come with the job are much more important. “Driving is a very small part of this job; it’s the people that really matter. That’s the heart of what this job is”. The reward, he says, comes in seeing the effect this service has on local seniors. “It’s such a delight to see that you’ve helped people”.

From clients, the feeling of gratitude is mutual. “Without them, I wouldn’t be anywhere”, says Betty. “You’re not just their job; you’re their friend.” 

To learn more about Transportation services in Renfrew County, click here or email us at info@carefor.ca.

A message from our staff to our clients: “Carefor staff care for you”

The Carefor Meal Delivery Program is one of the many essential services offered by Carefor. However, before your meal is delivered, there are amazing cooks working hard to prepare your meal.

Shannon and Heather are the two cooks from the Carefor Nor-Dun Support Centre and create the best home cooked meals possible for clients in North Dundas. This dynamic duo brings laughter to the Centre even on the dreariest of days. Although all Carefor Support Centres are closed to the public, the teams are still cooking up a storm to ensure clients are provided nutritious meals.

Since the closure of the Centres, Shannon and Heather miss seeing their regular Diners in North Dundas. “It’s very quiet. It was hard to get used to not seeing people coming into the dining room.” says Shannon.  To brighten the spirits of those receiving Meal Delivery, the duo puts together handwritten notes and adds special desserts to the deliveries of those celebrating a special occasion in isolation. “We write special notes since we don’t see the clients anymore and send a cupcake to make them feel special, or we’ll give them a call.” Shannon shared. 

Outside of the kitchen, the Nor-Dun team continues to bring joy to long-time clients in their own special way. “There’s one gentleman that’s a regular here. We’ll give him a call and we go meet him outside his home for a quick chat, and pick him up a Tim Hortons coffee before we head over just to let him know that we still care and are here for him.” says Heather.

Others on the Nor-Dun team have been making their rounds in the neighbourhood, stopping by the fronts of clients homes and sharing a big hello while waving a handmade sign with the words Carefor Staff Care For You, spreading reassurance and smiles to those feeling isolated in the area.

As the team continues to move forward and stay connected in the community, Shannon and Heather shared a special message: “Hang in there. This too shall pass. We’re only a phone call away.”

Help ensure the kitchens at all the Carefor Support Centres are well stocked so our cooks like Shannon and Heather can continue to feed your community.
Make a donation today by clicking here.

Check out some of our other Carefor Heroes and the impact they make within your community.

Bringing physio to community clients

Matthew is a physiotherapist with 26 years of experience. He has been working in the community for Carefor the past 3 years. A typical day for him starts with reviewing paperwork before he hits the road making sure he is ready to see his clients. “With home care, you can be dealing with just about anything,” says Matthew “we are seeing people that are unable to get out of their home for the most part.”

Once Matthew arrives at the home for an initial physio visit, he will assess the individual and their needs along with their environment and any existing equipment. Upon assessment “if it goes really well we might actually prescribe some exercise or some kind of pain management strategies as well,” says Matthew.

The progress of a client is then measured in follow up visits. These follow up visits allow Matthew to see how far the client has come and gives him the chance to adjust exercises for continual improvement. “My job is to help the person help themselves.”

To find out more about our Physiotherapy Services click here or contact info@carefor.ca.  

Carefor Civic Residential Complex residents give staff members a special surprise for their work during the pandemic

Making a tremendous impact on people’s lives is something Carefor staff do each and every day, but oftentimes they don’t realize just how far their kindness goes in impacting the people around them.

Residents at Carefor Pembroke Civic Residential Complex gave staff members, from health care professionals to administration personnel, a big surprise.

As lockdown restrictions have eased in the province, longtime resident Todd Sullivan and others wanted to do something special to applaud the bravery and dedication of Carefor staff during the pandemic, and for their continued support as things slowly re-adjust. 

In an effort to highlight their efforts, residents presented an appreciation plaque to staff for the great care they received during COVID-19.

Though changes have been challenging for residents, with an inability to participate in their regular activities, Todd who spearheaded the honour, shared that staff were very understanding and supportive throughout.  In addition, many residents recognized staff for going above and beyond in finding ways to engage them during this difficult time.

“Thank you so much to all staff for everything you have done to keep us safe. It was greatly appreciated by myself and all residents of Carefor Civic Complex. Keep up the great work,” Todd said. 

Staff members were truly humbled to receive the plaque of appreciation. They did not expect special recognition for their work, as they always show up with the residents’ best interests at heart.

That said, they were grateful for the thought that was put into presenting them with this honour. “Staff were both appreciative and humbled by this award, and it was even more special because it was from the residents. We couldn’t be more proud of the hardworking staff during this pandemic. Their hard work and dedication to our residents is truly remarkable,” Care Team Supervisor Jennifer St. Cyr said.

It really goes to show the family-like-bond that is created between residents and Carefor staff at this special residential facility. We are very proud of the work they do each day. 

Our retirement homes in Pembroke are a home away from home for many. Support our health care heroes who are making a difference each and every day.