Are you a compassionate person who enjoys helping others?
Have you ever thought about becoming a healthcare provider working with seniors?
Meet Shelley DesRoches and Bim Pitre, who have both been Care Providers for over 10 years at the Tignish Senior Home Care Cooperative.
They love what they do, and they love making a difference in the lives of the home’s residents each day.
Recently, people all over the country became more aware of essential workers and their value to our society.
Healthcare services must continue in a pandemic. Both Shelley and Bim are nervous of the threat COVID-19 poses to seniors in the home, so they have adopted, along with the whole profession, a more rigid routine to ensure residents and staff remain safe and healthy.
“Since I started working here, it has never once crossed my mind to change careers,” says Bim. “I love it here and I couldn’t think of any better place to work.”
“During the past 13 years, I have cared for more than 200 residents and have gotten very attached,” says Shelley. “I know the residents are equally attached to us.”
As with any career, the job comes with many challenges and rewards. “We do the best we can to help the seniors have a great day and feel good about themselves,” says Shelley.
“This is so very rewarding,” says Bim. “It is all about the little things, like spending that extra five minutes listening to a resident or helping them do their hair. We have become like one huge family under one roof.”
The facility offers daily assistance and meals in a home like environment.
Job duties:
- Provide one-on-one assistance to seniors with personal hygiene and day-to-day activities
- Assist with meals
- Distribute medications
- Test blood pressure, blood sugars and insulin
- Take time to listen and provide information to residents
- Spend quality time and make residents feel special
- Shift work includes days, evenings, and weekends
Qualifications:
- Compassionate
- Physically active and able to stand for long periods of time
- Good listener
- Dedicated
- Ability to work under pressure and problem solve
- Organized
Challenges
“One of the biggest challenges in our line of work is having enough casuals to cover days off,” says Bim. As in many industries, it can be difficult to fill openings and have a pool of casual workers to draw from.
Bim says they often have excellent students for job placements who leave to continue their studies or to find a permanent position in healthcare. “I encourage youth to give this job a try. Shadow for a day, or even better, apply as a casual or work during school holidays.”
“One of the hardest parts of the job is losing a resident,” says Shelley. “At present, we do not have a family doctor available to make regular visits to the home. We work very closely with other health care professionals to ensure the well being of our residents.”
The Tignish Senior Home, which opened its doors in 2002, has more than 50 rooms. Staff includes an Administrator, Office Manager, Floor Supervisor, Housekeepers, Care Providers, Kitchen Staff, a Maintenance worker and Activity Director.
Door personnel have recently been hired, due to the vast changes in how the organization operates under COVID-19 health restrictions and regulations. “We always accept resumés for all positions.”
Resumés can be dropped off to the Administrator, LoriAnne Keough, in person at 116 Macleod Lane, Tignish. She will set up a time to speak to each applicant in person.
For more information 902-882-4663.
Visit www.peicommunitycare.ca/facilities/tignish-seniors-home-care-co-operative-ltd/