My name is Helene and I am very proud to say I am a Personal Support Worker (PSW). It’s my second career and my first “calling,” and I didn’t embark on this new path until after I had turned (insert cough) 50.

In 2013 my mother-in-law was residing in a long-term care home. I was extremely impressed with the care she received from the attending PSW, whose compassion, empathy and genuine concern for my mother-in-law’s health and comfort was beyond beautiful. It was inspiring, so much so that after my mother-in-law passed away, I enrolled in classes and became a PSW. I had found my calling, and I have been rewarded and very much fulfilled ever since.

Upon graduation I began working in a hospice providing end-of-life care. This was followed by a couple of years working in the community, after which I became one of the very first PSWs hired to work at the newly constructed Rotary Hospice Stratford Perth. I am proud to say I very much appreciate the opportunity to help care for our residents and their families, making the end-of-life process as comfortable and as easy as possible for everyone involved. Rotary Hospice Stratford Perth provides a beautiful, “home-like” setting for our residents and is full of dedicated care teams, volunteers and (I have to say) really good soup.

The arrival of COVID-19 presented unique challenges for the care teams, as well as for the families of our residents. I do try to stay positive, and although it is sometimes not easy in the current situation, I do my best and try to infect my coworkers with a hopeful optimism. Thankfully, we are now almost at the end of it.

As I write this, I am happy to report that I have just made an appointment to get vaccinated. The last year has been a learning experience, but I’m looking forward to getting back to normal.