Independent Living & Seniors

#EqualityCare

Personal Support Workers deserve more than our thanks

Personal Support Workers (PSWs) are essential front-line workers. They care for some of the most vulnerable people in our community and keep them safe at home. Yet, PSWs in homecare get paid almost 25% less than those who do equal work in hospitals and long-term care homes. Because of this, #EqualityCare was formed.

A campaign to promote fairness for PSWs in homecare, the #EqualityCare campaign started at a grassroots level with PSWs driving the agenda, generating the messages and advocating on behalf of their thousands of peers. Connie Ndlovu, PSW and president of CUPE Local 7797, was one of the first to speak out.

"Homecare workers make some of the lowest wages in government-funded jobs. Most PSWs in homecare are women of colour who live in poverty. The pandemic has exposed this broken healthcare system."

With the backing of CUPE and The Neighbourhood Group, the message on the campaign’s website, petition and letters to the Provincial Government was heard far and wide. Media outlets like the CBC, Globe and Mail and Toronto Star gave prominent coverage to the plight of these deserving PSWs, not only for the wage disparity, but also for the lack of benefits and the precarious nature of their homecare work.

To date, the Province has not adjusted the system. But the more everyone speaks out, the closer we get to effecting change for these essential workers.

Pui Hong Chinese Senior Program

Shining brightly

Between work and family, Mrs. Quan Wing Yee was always busy. But retirement left a void in her life.

"I felt I had nothing to do all day long. My home was close to the Pui Hong Chinese Seniors program, so I started to attend and it’s changed my life."

Celebrating its 30th Anniversary in December 2020, Pui Hong helps seniors improve their mental and physical health right from the start. Whether it’s assistance with applications and referrals, Chinese and Canadian holiday celebrations, exercise like Tai Chi and line dancing, or simply the opportunity to socialize and connect with others, Pui Hong offers something for everyone. For Mrs. Quan Wing Yee, the fun activities and wonderful people were the only motivation she needed.

"I don't sing Cantonese opera or Chinese period songs like some of the other seniors but I really enjoy seeing them perform. I do the morning exercises and play games, and my favourite is the day trips. One of the staff encouraged me to volunteer in the kitchen preparing lunch for the other members. I enjoy cooking a delicious Chinese lunch for non-Chinese seniors. They really look forward to this. I never imagined I would learn more about cooking from the other volunteers. Volunteering gives me a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction."

"Pui Hong has become another home for me and the staff are like family. I am very happy I can contribute to this family so that my life can still shine brightly."

Mrs. Quan Wing Yee

Food Bank Hampers

Food security with a smile

“The Neighbourhood Group is the best for helping seniors and for me because I can’t pay much for services. Staff have done so much for me. They helped me with taxes and getting Meals on Wheels. They found someone to do my cleaning and got my machine for breathing for free. When my husband was sick, my support worker stayed with him so I could go to the grocery store. She found a walker and a hospital bed for him.

"The pandemic is hard for seniors. But staff are very friendly. When they come in with a smile, it makes me happy because somebody remembers me. This is important for seniors. This may sound like a little thing, but it is a big thing for us. And during the pandemic, they’ve been giving wonderful food hampers every week.”

The Food Hamper program improves food security among vulnerable seniors, and accommodates special dietary or religious needs. The program also distributes hygiene hampers, and special hampers during holidays. The benefit of each $40 hamper goes beyond the food within: Letters from community members are tucked inside to help reduce recipients’ isolation during COVID-19.

"I like the hamper because I have the yogurt, cheese and bread for my breakfast. Every time I eat, I remember everything the staff have done for me, and think 'Thank you God for sending me these angels.'"

High Intensity Support in the Home

Alone no more

For most people, getting older means a loss of independence. For those with physical and mental health issues, even the simplest tasks become next to impossible. The High Intensity Support in the Home program (HISH) is changing that.

The goal of the program is simple: to provide extra support for people who want to remain in their own home. HISH helps people who are waiting to enter a long-term care home and patients who can only leave a hospital if they have extra support at home. The benefit to the health care system is also simple: It saves money by reducing the number of hospital emergency room visits and stays. During COVID-19, this increased capacity is critical to admit people struggling with the virus.

For seniors like Bentham, the additional help at home is essential.

"I suffer from depression and it felt like nobody wanted to come into my apartment and talk to me. I was lonely. After I was discharged from the hospital, I was referred to the High Intensity (Support) Program. Because I have diabetes and trouble walking, staff come in every day to give me my insulin, clean my home, and help with laundry and other things that I can’t do anymore. But they spend time talking with me and I know they truly care.

Life is much better now with the Personal Support Workers. I don’t feel lonely any more."

Meals on Wheels

Part of the family

Mobility is one of the most significant issues for seniors when it comes to healthy eating. Whether it’s going to the grocery store or preparing dinner, that loss of independence compounds the struggles seniors face. Just ask Claire.

"I’m close to 80 years old and due to my hip and other health issues, I can’t manage on my own. For the past three years, I’ve been getting Meals on Wheels and I completely depend on it. After coming back from dialysis, I’m very tired and not able to cook. I have peace of mind knowing that fresh, healthy food will be there for me.

I wasn’t sure if the service would continue during COVID-19. To my pleasant surprise, there hasn’t been any interruption. The volunteers are so careful and wear masks and gloves. I’ve been so fortunate to continue to have food delivered to my home by these warm volunteers. It isn’t like pizza delivery where they hand over the food after getting their money. The volunteers are kind and care for seniors like us. I don’t have any family or friends here and the volunteers are like my family.”

Mobile COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic

Vaccinations at your front door.

With the rush to get COVID-19 vaccines, finding a place to get the shot is tough. For seniors who don’t have internet access, or even their own transportation, getting vaccinated becomes a major problem. The solution? Bring the clinic to them.

At our Cecilia Murphy supportive housing apartments, we did just that. Working with East Toronto Health Partners, we held our first mobile vaccination clinic in March 2021, helping seniors and people with physical disabilities get their first shot. Together with doctors and nurses, our staff helped administer doses to nearly 100% of residents. To make it easier, some of the team even went door-to-door.

In late June, we held our second clinic at Cecilia Murphy with similar success. While anyone who missed out in March could get their first dose, most of the residents there were happy to get their second. Just ask Tootsie and Sieudah.

"We want to protect ourselves – we get the flu shot every year and we really miss seeing our children and grandchildren. So we were confident we'd be ok with the second. And we were!"

Even beyond the health benefits, the clinic gave residents a chance to get out and chat with other people, a rare occurrence during the pandemic. With the success of the clinics, social outings for residents will soon be back to stay.

Personal Support Workers

Patience, compassion & talent

"My Dad recently passed away and was bedridden for the last five years of his life. Luckily, my Mom was able to care for him at home thanks to the dedicated assistance that she received from Dad's Personal Support Workers. They came twice a day, every day, and worked so hard, doing very physically demanding and intimate work that most people would not be able to handle. They cared for Dad with such tenderness and the visits were so uplifting for both my parents, who were largely stuck at home.

"I’ve often thought, ‘No matter how much the PSWs are getting paid, it's not enough.’ Dad's PSWs were so dedicated, travelling across the city to get to their clients' homes. And the people skills they need to work with folks who are often disabled or in pain? The workers have patience, compassion, and talent!

"Especially now, when so many people are terrified to leave their homes for fear of contracting COVID-19, these brave souls are still out there, going from house to house, doing what needs to be done because they know their clients need them. They are in a position of trust, and they take that seriously.

"We will be forever grateful for the kind and compassionate care that Dad received. Thank you all, for taking care of David."

Supportive Housing

Going the extra mile

For seniors, the danger of COVID-19 can not be overstated. The physical harm caused by the disease is devastating as has been the impact on services and isolation. At The Neighbourhood Group’s six supportive housing residences, finding ways to increase services beyond onsite personal care has been crucial.

Increased outreach and check-ins were the starting point to reduce residents’ loneliness. Additional visits to drop off homemade meals and flowers, virtual chats, casework and workshops, and balcony concerts and games were just a few of the other efforts made to help residents cope with mental and social hazards caused by the pandemic.

“I am so grateful for the PSW services. They are so kind and helpful. The pandemic has been lonely for me but the PSWs always brighten my day.”

Joan

“I’ve been living in this housing for 13 years and am very happy with the services, especially during COVID. The staff treats me well”

John