Hello and thank you for your interest in my page.
I am friendly, patient, and supportive and love to laugh at myself. I embrace challenges to help people live their best active and fulfilling lives. I truly love my work.
I personally know change and its challenges are a natural part of life; that everyone given time, age or circumstance will be in need of support.. for a short time or longer, when life does not easily allow for the difference. So I offer my help to you.
I have spent many years within the Independent and Supported Living Health Care Systems in B. C. as a Home Health Care provider, Special Education Assistant and as a Community and Mental Health Support Worker.
I was trained in hospitals, supported care facilities, independant living homes, rehabilitation centers and public schools . My primary work has been in private homes of clients in support of their independant living or as additional support to clients seeking to transition to more independant living options.
My employers are my clients. As an employee, I will bring with me everything I have gained over a mature lifetime, understanding fully what respect, dignity and support in maintaining as much independence and identity truly means. Its your life. Im here to care and assist you living it.
If you have any questions about my knowledge or qualifications, I am happy to meet with you and review your concerns. I will provide current vaccinations proof and require yours unless an immuno compramised illness inhibits these, a CRC with Interpol vulnerable persons check, ICBC 5 year to current Drivers Abstract, certifications and references upon request.
I am interested in casual to part time pernament work, ideally with a single client. Employment that is a good fit for both of our needs. I am older and my days of full body assisted transfers are less appealing. But mechanically assisted or guided assistance transfers are fine.
In these days of Covid, I use full hygene protocol in my private and professional life. If trust and comfort are established and you are my sole client, we can mutally agree to lessen some of these protocols in the home but it must be based on safety and risk evaluations done together. Take care and stay safe.
Kay.
I support my clients with daily living activities and provide approved medical, physiotherapy, mental health and personal care needs, as directed in either their Independent or Supported Living Plan or as discussed with client and/or family.
5 years of direct experience with in collaborative healthcare delivery systems, such as hospice, hospitals and care homes; delivering a client centered philosophy in support of greater independence
14 additional years, working privately and directly with clients in their homes to support them in their independant living situations.
Respect of my clients' individuality, dignity and life experiences
Supporting client directed care in any capacity they can make their wishes known and are safe
Respectfully assist or perform personal, medical health and mental health care needs
Work with clients to re-orientate their life to changes in care, accommodations or health outlooks until a positive comfort level is reached
Experienced working with a wide cross section of people with physical challenges and multiple barriers
Adaptive to different personalities, behaviours, communication styles
Behavior management strategies and communication styles across spectrums
Conflict resolution and crisis prevention education, training and experience
Provide assistance and access to additional safety equipment where appropriate to support client independence
Personal and medical care/ therapy for physical, behavioral, intellectually challenged clients or a combination of vulnerabilities.
Advanced personal care: Geriatrics, Quadriplegia, ALS etc., Hoyer transfers, wound care and client transport
Maintain accurate progress reports, medication logs and inter departmental communications
Implement preventative care plans designed for clients’ needs and their abilities
Provide 24-hour supported care for terminally ill patients as Hospice support staff
Perform live-in client evaluations to assess their living needs and address areas of support to enable client to continue to live independently as the preferred mandate
Make informed recommendations for additional supported care when independence is not maintainable after exhausting all other options
Work well under pressure with clients, independently and in team environments
My listening and communication skills are patient, attending, empathetic and encouraging
Follow through is a quality I value in myself when serving for or advocating on behalf of my clients
I reassess my perceptions, skills and knowledge against new experiences, points of view and my peers
I am current on all health clearances, vaccinations and Level “C” Basic Life Saving Certificate
Additional Experiences/Qualifications:
I was trained in hospitals, facilities and in private homes under the teaching direction, supervision and assessment of practicing Physicians, Nurses and Therapists over 3 years to earn my certifications. I am fully accredited As Home Support Worker 1&2, Hospice Care, Long-term Care Aide.
However, Industry Training, even those taken at a hospital or other medical facility under professional guidance, is not currently acknowledged as equivalent to the completion of a certified 6 month course from a credited college, to be eligible to register on the Health Care Registry. Though being registered is not a legal requirement of employment and indication of skill, it is a desirable one.
I do support the registry, it is needed. There are questionable skills and work experience being passed off as educational training. There is no replacement for professional training.
But for those of us who were professionally trained before 2014, without a path to challenge my educational credentials and learning experience, as equivalent to or superior to, those courses currently offered by colleges and universities, I had to make a choice between spending my money and time on a Degree in Social Work or a new Certificate in Health Care.
I have chosen to put my resources towards the degree and focus on mental health and special education for my long term employment goals
If you have any concerns about my knowledge or qualifications, I am happy to meet with you and review your concerns and you may test my knowledge to your satisfaction.