Two area care aides have been named B.C. Care Award winners, which recognize excellence in senior care across the province.
Sarah Reiter and Shauna Appleyard will receive awards on Feb. 19 from Adrian Dix, B.C.’s minister of health at a ceremony at the Empress Hotel in Victoria.
Sarah Reiter won B.C. Care Provider of the Year (home care), and works on Salt Spring Island with Beacon Community Services, and she’s been with them for almost three years. She is the supervisor for Salt Spring and the outer Gulf Islands, which includes Saturna, Mayne, Galiano and Pender Islands.
“I feel pretty bashful about it, actually,” said Reiter. “I do my job and I do it to the best of my ability. I’m really honoured that I’ve been recognized for doing a good job but it does seem a bit above and beyond. I’m like, really? But I’m honoured. It’s humbling.”
She is the supervisor for home support staff, so co-ordinates over 20 staff across the islands, scheduling and services. She also hears from clients to ensure they get the services they need. She comes to Victoria every few weeks to keep in touch with the main office and pick up supplies. She also works with Island Health to improve service delivery.
There are two assisted living sites on Salt Spring, but most of her staff work in people’s homes.
“It’s a real treat to be invited into somebody’s home, and I think we really need to remember that we’re being invited in. It’s really wonderful to get the history. On the islands, a lot of families are really old. When people come in, they like to share their stories and they’re unique. It’s a lot of fun to learn.”
B.C. Care Provider Safety Champion Shauna Appleyard of Sidney All Care Residence usually starts her work day at 7, sometimes 6. She gets people up for breakfast, tidies their room and helps them eat. Appleyard has been a care aide for four years, and with Sidney All Care for almost two.
“A lot of my job that people know of is dealing with incontinence, right? But it’s not the only part of my job,” said Appleyard.
She often interacts with family members, who can tell her if a resident “likes mango juice or if they like one cream in their coffee or that they used to play jazz in their younger years.”
“You get quality time with people that have so much wisdom far beyond your own,” she said.
Like Reiter, Appleyard had no idea she was nominated by her workplace and said she was “absolutely stunned.”
“I spent a little bit of time feeling undeserving, and other times saying ‘well, I work really hard.’ I feel really humbled.”
Appleyard won the safety champion award and she said she has developed a passion for occupational health and safety.
“I find people come to me and now and ask ‘what are my rights with this?’ I’m so happy to be educated and to say, ‘well, you have the right to refuse that work’ or ‘hey, let’s get that fixed right away,’” she said.
Appleyard was happy her managers acted to address any concerns the staff brought forward, including keeping the staff to client ratio at one to six in order to give residents the necessary attention.
“I do what I do because I like caring for people,” said Appleyard.
“It’s kind of in my blood. I feel accomplished and happy when I leave my day.”
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