VHA Home HealthCare

08/31/2024

Lethal overdoses can be caused by all types of prescription and illegal opioids, including oxycodone, codeine, morphine, fentanyl and he**in. In Canada, opioid use has reached a crisis level. Since 2016, there have been over 44,000 opioid-related deaths and 174,000 emergency room visits. An opioid overdose is always a medical emergency and even as a bystander, learning how to recognize the signs and act quickly can save lives. This awareness is also important if a loved one or a person in your care is taking an opioid for pain management.

This International Overdose Awareness Day, take a moment to learn more about opioids, why they can be so dangerous and how to respond to a suspected overdose: https://buff.ly/3MtTHT7

08/02/2024

For children and families living with chronic health conditions, or developmental, intellectual or physical disabilities, frequent emergency room visits, repeated acute care admissions and restricted participation in school and family life are just some of the challenges they often face.

To better support this vulnerable population, the Extensive Needs Service (ENS) Program was launched in 2023. Through the innovative ENS Program, families have access to a multi-disciplinary team of professionals, including physicians, social workers, occupational therapists, behavioural support workers and other care providers.

“The first-of-its-kind in Canada, this new model places children, youth and their families at the centre of their care, so that medical, developmental and social services can be wrapped around them,” said Samantha Jani, Manager of Operations, Responsive Community Care at VHA. “This partnership is a natural fit for VHA because of our extensive experience delivering specialized care to children and youth with complex needs in their homes. This is an opportunity to expand our services to support even more families in need,” Samantha added.

Read more about our ENS work in partnership with Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital: https://www.vha.ca/news/vhas-new-partnership-with-holland-bloorview-provides-much-needed-relief-for-families-of-children-with-extensive-health-needs/

07/10/2024

The Pride Toronto Festival Weekend is an opportunity to celebrate the diversity, beauty and progress of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. As the biggest pride event in North America, Pride Toronto is also a chance to acknowledge the ongoing challenges faced by 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals and to serve as a reminder of the work ahead.

At the heart of Pride celebrations is the idea of inclusivity and accessibility, but any celebration of this scale can pose significant barriers for people living with disabilities. VHA is proud to have partnered with Pride Toronto to make the event more accessible. Thank you to the VHA Personal Support Workers and volunteers who contributed their time!

Read more about their work at Pride 2024 at

The Pride Toronto Festival Weekend is an opportunity to celebrate the diversity, beauty and progress of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. As the biggest pride event in North America, Pride Toronto is also a chance to acknowledge the ongoing challenges faced by 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals and to serve as a remind...

07/05/2024

Smartphones are critical to keeping our teams connected while they work in the community providing care to clients. Staff use these devices for electronic patient records, emails, scheduling software, and programs tracking expenses. In Canadian Healthcare Technology, read about how our work with Valet has helped VHA get devices out into the field, making the process easier and more cost effective along the way: https://buff.ly/4cMwuXc

07/03/2024

If you are caring for an aging or ill loved one, the idea of a camping trip, cottage vacation or journey abroad can feel impossible with so much responsibility at home. While caregiving can be very meaningful and rewarding, many caregivers also experience high levels of stress, depression and burnout. Prioritizing time to rest and recharge, including taking vacations when possible, will make sure your needs are met and improve the quality of care you’re able to provide. Read on for some tips to help you plan this summer: https://buff.ly/3XPrZqU

06/27/2024

Workplace violence and harassment are commonplace for healthcare workers and most incidents are unreported. Normalization of these experiences, lack of confidence in reporting systems, and fear of the consequences of reporting contribute to the invisibility of these experiences. Challenges are exacerbated in homecare settings and for precarious workforces including Personal Support Workers. Learn more about how researchers at VHA created, piloted, and evaluated an intervention to enhance safety culture and encourage reporting of workplace violence and harassment in this paper recently published by Sage Publications: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/21650799241232148

06/20/2024

Check out Courtney Bean's Alumni Spotlight with University of Toronto, Department of Physical Therapy. Courtney is a leader and champion of the profession in so many ways, especially in his roles as VHA's Vice President of Strategic Solutions and Partnerships and President of the Ontario Physiotherapy Association (OPA). Read his advice for students and new grads entering the profession at https://www.physicaltherapy.utoronto.ca/news/alumni-spotlight-courtney-bean-leading-way

Throughout his career as a physiotherapist, Courtney Bean (BScPT '96) has taken on several leadership roles, acting as a champion for the profession. We caught up with Courtney to ask him about his advice for physiotherapy students and how he sees the profession evolving.

06/10/2024

It's and we're incredibly proud to recognize this important moment alongside 2SLGBTQIA+ community members, clients, families and team members. To kick off the celebrations this month, our teams gathered at various VHA locations across the province and many attended an education series centred around trans inclusion. We're looking forward to once again march in the Parade later this month. Happy Pride Month from all of us at VHA! 🌈🧡💛💚💜🤎

06/07/2024

VHA is pleased to confirm that our Toronto area team members are able to travel through our communities and provide care to our clients as usual now that a TTC public transit strike has been avoided. We thank our clients and families for your support and collaboration as we prepared for a possible transit strike.

05/24/2024

Did you know that May is National Physiotherapy Month? Each May, we recognize and celebrate the immense impact physiotherapists (PTs) and physiotherapy assistants (PTAs) have on the health of Canadians. Physiotherapy plays a vital role in the healthcare system and uses specialized, hands-on skills to diagnose and treat illness, injury and chronic disease.

To help recognize and thank our PTs and PTAs, we spoke to five clinicians from across our service areas to hear more about why physiotherapy is so important and what they enjoy about their role in the community. Read more at https://www.vha.ca/news/celebrating-national-physiotherapy-month-at-vha-and-champlain-rehab-solutions/

05/17/2024

VHA's Lauren Black LLB, LLM, CIPP/C will be sharing her expertise at a series of events with Governance Professionals of Canada (GPC) next month! 'Elevating Governance through integrated Healthcare Reform' will take place June 4, 11 & 18. Over the three sessions, health and community care leaders will gain essential background knowledge in healthcare governance along with practical guidance regarding governance for OHTs, including tools and strategies to effectively engage and work within this new model of healthcare delivery.

Learn more and register at https://gpcanada.org/Public/Fundraising/iCore-GPC/Event_display.aspx?EventKey=04062024PD&WebsiteKey=070d9a2f-5a42-42e2-a1e7-41e11bde8e47

05/15/2024

There are just over 2 weeks left for clients and families to nominate their VHA care provider for a 2024 Client Choice Award. The nomination recognizes outstanding team members for the positive impact their care has had on the those they support. Learn more at www.vha.ca/client-choice and help us spread the word!

05/14/2024

For VHA President & CEO Dr. Kathryn Nichol, a fun past time unexpectedly became central to her health and wellness, and even her professional success. Read Kathryn's latest Longwoods piece “Focus Lock” on the Ice: A Healthcare Leader’s Secret to Wellness:
https://www.longwoods.com/content/27335/insights/-focus-lock-on-the-ice-a-healthcare-leader-s-secret-to-wellness

05/09/2024

It's and we are so excited to recognize the extraordinary role that nurses play in home care today - and everyday! No one knows better than nurses how they are , so we wanted to share some comments from our team members at VHA.

To learn more about Nursing Week and hear from even more nurses at VHA, visit our website: www.vha.ca/news

05/06/2024

Happy to the many nurses at VHA and across the country! Held every May around the birthday of nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale, National Nursing Week falls on May 6-12 in 2024. This recognition week is an important opportunity to celebrate and acknowledge the countless contributions of registered nurses (RNs), registered practical nurses (RPNs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) across the country.

The 2024 theme, Changing Lives and Shaping Tomorrow, reflects on the profound impact nurses have on individuals, communities and the future of health care. Their compassion and expertise make a difference in the lives of their clients and caregivers, their advocacy ensures the best possible care, and as educators, they are influencing the next generation of healthcare professionals.

To help us celebrate Nursing Week, we connected with a few dedicated VHA nurses to learn more about why they work in home care and the most rewarding part of their jobs. Meet Dean, Adrian, Priscilla and Vilma. Read more at https://www.vha.ca/news/celebrating-vha-nurses-changing-lives-and-shaping-tomorrow/

05/03/2024

We're excited to meet you during !

Celebrate Nursing Week 2024 with us!

Explore the many roles of VHA nurses in keeping clients healthy at home and in the community. Discover new perspectives on home care nursing and gain a better understanding of the vital work they do.

• Debunk myths about home and community nursing
• Meet internationally educated nurses in the sector
• Learn about VHA's nursing programs
• Receive support for clinical skill and training development
• Get hands-on experience with clinical training equipment

Reserve your spot today!

care4nurses.org/event/opening-the-door-to-care/

VHA Home HealthCare

04/23/2024

We're so excited to be part of , taking place in Toronto April 23-24. This morning, President & CEO Dr. Kathryn Nichol introduced Dr. Leigh Chapman, Canada's Chief Nursing Officer, for an opening keynote session about improving the working lives of nurses across the country. Members of our team will be presenting lots of interesting insights throughout the conference, and at our info booth in the exhibition hall where we look forward to connecting with attendees over the next 2 days.

To see a full list of conference presentations, visit: https://virtual.oxfordabstracts.com/ #/event/5107/program

Community Health Nurses of Canada

04/18/2024

📣 Nominations are now open for VHA's 2024 Client Choice Awards until May 31!

⭐ Spread the word and let the nominations begin! Each year VHA invites clients to nominate their VHA care providers who have gone above and beyond to provide spectacular care for VHA’s Barbara Blackstock-Cody Client Choice Awards.

There are three ways for clients to nominate their VHA care providers:

➡ Visit www.vha.ca/client-choice and fill out the nomination form

☎ Call 416-489-2500 ext. 7007 or toll-free at 1-888-314-6622 ext. 7007 and leave a detailed message

💌Write a letter and send it to: DAN UZELAC, VHA Home HealthCare, CLIENT CHOICE AWARDS, 30 Soudan Avenue, Suite 600, Toronto, ON, M4S 1V6

Please feel free to share this exciting news. Visit vha.ca/client-choice for more info.

04/15/2024

Every year during National Volunteer Week, organizations across Canada unite to recognize the over 24 million volunteers who offer their time, energy and experiences to make a positive difference in their communities. For the 2024 Recognition Week this April 14-20, the theme Every Moment Matters highlights the importance of each volunteer and every contribution they make—at a time when their support is needed more than ever.

To celebrate National Volunteer Week, we connected with individuals involved in volunteer programs across VHA. Read more at: https://www.vha.ca/news/every-moment-matters-celebrating-the-volunteers-of-vha-home-healthcare/

04/02/2024

The role of caregivers is absolutely essential to the health system. Caregivers across the country go above and beyond to make sure their loved ones are safe, happy and healthy. They also are also essential members of the circle of care, partnering with care providers like VHA and using their expertise to make the care experience better for everyone.

Thank you to the many caregivers in our VHA community and across Canada for all that you do. Happy National Caregiver Day!

03/14/2024

At VHA, our client partners consistently offer valuable insights that foster exceptional client care, prioritizing the needs and preferences of our clients above all else. Their generosity significantly improves the quality of care we provide, making a meaningful difference in the lives of our clients and their families. We are delighted to present our 2023 Client Voice report to acknowledge and celebrate these invaluable contributions!

You can explore the 2023 Client Voice Report at:https://www.vha.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/VHA-Client-Voice-Report-2023-r5-Final.pdf

03/08/2024

Every year on March 8th, International Women’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, girls, Two Spirit, trans and non-binary people. This global movement is a reminder of the progress we’ve made and the work that still needs to be done to accelerate equality.

This year’s theme, ‘Inspire Inclusion’, is centered around uplifting and amplifying the voices of women. This challenges everyone to question norms and confront biases in order to be the change we want to see in the world. When difference is valued and celebrated, we can work towards a more inclusive, diverse and equitable future for all.

At VHA, we’re so proud of our diverse workforce of nurses, personal support workers, rehab therapists, office staff, supervisors, managers and executives, who are predominately women. In fact, 90% of our staff and service providers identify as women and 72% of managers and supervisors are women leaders.

To help us recognize International Women’s Day, staff, care providers and volunteers in different roles across the organization reflected on why this day is important and what it means to them. They are all striking the ‘Inspire Inclusion’ pose to show that when we truly value difference, inclusion comes from the heart. You can read the full story at: https://www.vha.ca/news/inspiring-inclusion-celebrating-international-womens-day-at-vha-home-healthcare/

03/07/2024

March is Social Work Month...and this week we're celebrating Social Work Week in Ontario! This year’s theme , reflects on how social workers use their unique expertise to find new and empowering pathways and solutions for the people that they support.

We're so grateful for our social workers who provide vital care and create connections for our clients—at home, work and in schools. Every day our social workers open doors to help our clients preserve or regain their independence. Let’s recognize and learn more about the positive contributions of the profession and celebrate all of the social workers across the province, and at VHA.

Learn more at https://www.vha.ca/news/celebrating-the-social-workers-of-vha/

03/01/2024

We're pleased to share our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Report for 2023! DEI has become a foundational part of the work we do at VHA. 2023 was a year of resilience and expansion for our DEI program as we work toward being leaders in making DEI a priority in homecare, and across the province.

We have not been working alone. As the host of a DEI Community of Practice for health and community care organizations, VHA is becoming a hub for meaningful examination of areas where gaps exist and identification of thoughtful ways forward to improve equity in our communities. We aim to address the needs of our workforce, while also working to solve prominent concerns across the sector, ultimately striving to enable diverse populations access to equitable healthcare. Read the report: https://www.vha.ca/about-us/annual-reports/

02/06/2024

VHA is a Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario Best Practice Spotlight Organization? Implementing has been proven to improve outcomes for clients, families and care providers across the province.

At a panel discussion in Toronto, VHA leads shared some preliminary outcomes from their most recent guideline implementations, which focused on su***de prevention and workplace harassment.

Read about this work in the Registered Nurse Journal: https://rnj.rnao.ca/feature/data-provides-direct-link-between-bpgs-and-improved-outcomes

Fall 2023 The collection and analysis of data through NQuIRE tells the story of why evidence-based practice is truly making a difference. During a keynote panel discussion in September, Montfort Hospital RN Ann Roberts (below) was one of seven panelists sharing their real-world outcomes as a result....

02/01/2024

This February, we join our community in celebrating Black History Month. VHA has made it a priority to meet the goal of retaining, developing and promoting Black employees into positions of leadership, and we're very proud of this program's success! Read more about this important work: https://www.vha.ca/news/increasing-black-representation-in-leadership-a-key-priority-for-vhas-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-team/

01/29/2024

The results are in from VHA's 2023 Client Experience Survey!

We're deeply committed to staying connected with clients and families about the service we provide, collecting their feedback to gather insights and to help focus quality improvement efforts where they are needed most.

Well done to each and every team member on achieving such great results. 🌟

Read more about VHA's 2023 Client Experience Survey at https://www.vha.ca/news/2023-client-experience-survey-results/

01/26/2024

International Holocaust Remembrance Day is observed annually in Canada on January 27th. The day serves as a global memorial to honour the victims of the Holocaust. It is estimated that there are between 13,000 and 15,000 Holocaust survivors living in Canada and Toronto has the largest Survivor community in the country. Holocaust Survivors include anyone displaced from their homes—either into concentration or labour camps, hiding, or as a refugee—due to N**i persecution during the Second World War.

Through the Holocaust Survivor Services Program at Circle of Care , elderly Survivors in the Greater Toronto Area are able to access a range of supports. VHA is proud to provide care through this important program.

“This partnership and program are very much aligned with our mission, who we are and the populations we support,” said Desmond Kiu, Director of Integrated and Enterprise Health Solutions at VHA. “These services are delivered in addition to government-funded care and this dramatically improves the quality of life for Survivors who have already endured so much.”

Read more about our work with Circle of Care:

It is estimated that there are between 13,000 and 15,000 Holocaust survivors living in Canada and Toronto has the largest Survivor community in the country.

01/16/2024

In case you missed it, a recent VHA research study in collaboration with Ontario Community Support Association is out now and it's Longwoods's MOST READ Healthcare Policy Article of 2023!

Check out Economic Evidence for Home and Community Care Investment: The Case for Ontario Personal Support Workers’ Wage Parity: https://www.longwoods.com/content/27161/healthcare-policy/economic-evidence-for-home-and-community-care-investment-the-case-for-ontario-personal-support-work

01/10/2024

The stress and exhaustion caused by staffing shortages across the health sector is a critical issue that must be addressed with evidence-backed solutions. In a recent piece by The Globe and Mail, VHA Senior Research Associate – Quantitative Research Lead Katherine Zagrodney, PhD lends her expertise.

"The problem is a worrisome cycle, she explained. “Staffing shortages, we know, contribute to higher stress for those that remain and continue to work, and then that higher stress at work leads to even more health workers leaving their jobs, which then increases the pressure on the remaining workers and so on.”

The survey, which included registered practical nurses and PSWs, found that 69 per cent of those polled felt their hospitals didn’t have enough staff to deliver high-quality patient care