Second award for P.E.I. resident care worker who is ‘just meant to care for others’

CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — A P.E.I. resident care employee (RCW) has been acknowledged for his person-centred strategy — the second time he is been awarded.

Kaelin Fisher, the 2022 winner of the Provincial Shelley L. Woods Excellence in Particular person-Centered Care Award, was additionally given the inaugural award again in 2016.

“There’s some folks which can be simply meant to take care of others and he is among the folks wholeheartedly,” mentioned Jennifer Pitre, who was Fisher’s nurse supervisor on the Prince Edward Dwelling till she turned director of long-term care nursing in central and japanese P.E.I. final month.

Pitre mentioned Fisher simply makes residents and workers really feel comfy whereas seeing to all of the wants the residents have. Fisher additionally takes the time to get to know the residents and their households.

“He’s in a position to have interaction in significant conversations,” mentioned Pitre when SaltWire Community spoke to her by telephone n Aug. 2. “We see that each time Kaelin is within the office. He’s very affected person and type. I actually can’t communicate extra extremely of Kaelin He’s an actual implausible RCW.”

The annual award is known as in honour of Shelley L. Woods, a retired nurse and former chief nursing officer for long‐term care with Health P.E.I.  

Winners of the award are peer-nominated, and evaluated by a committee, mentioned Pitre.

“The names are all faraway from the nominations so that they’re trying strictly on the qualities which can be described within the nomination letter for the collection of the winner,” she mentioned. “That is his second time profitable and I feel it speaks volumes to the standard of care that he provides and simply the standard that he brings to the residents’ lives each time he works.”

Pitre mentioned Fisher works with dementia and Alzheimer’s sufferers within the Blue Heron family of Prince Edward Dwelling,

“That’s an space the place it’s crucial to be in tune to folks’s non-verbals, their expressions, figuring out them very well, as a result of they will’t at all times talk,” she mentioned.

At a look

Nominees for the Provincial Shelley L. Woods Excellence in Particular person-Centered Care Award should be employed by Well being P.E.I. in a long-term care facility and have demonstrated a persistently the individual‐centered care philosophy, mentioned the provincial web site.

Nominees are evaluated anonymously on 5 standards – office practices, offering a optimistic atmosphere, care practices, management and fostering relationships with household and neighborhood.

Particular person-centered care means:

• Treating residents as people

• Working with residents to assist them make choices and handle their well being  

• Forming trusting and supportive relationships with residents

• Contemplating residents’ wants, needs, values, household dynamic, social circumstance and life

• Being compassionate and respectful

• Partaking in actions with residents

• Offering residents with info

Household background

Fisher mentioned he simply tries to deal with everybody like household.

In any case, that’s how he got interested within the area within the first place.

Fisher mentioned he was planning to turn into a chef as he approached the tip of highschool, however when his grandmother, Freda Smith, got here to reside with him and his dad and mom when he was in highschool, he modified his thoughts.

As he hung out whit her, Fisher realized there was a task for him in offering take care of older folks whereas serving to them keep their dignity.

“I like speaking to folks — I actually do get pleasure from my job,” he mentioned when SaltWire Community caught up with him at work on Aug. 8.

He mentioned that generally, “I don’t suppose I’m at work.”

Fisher graduated from the RCW program at Holland Faculty in 2014 and started to choose up shifts immediately on the Prince Edward Dwelling, gaining expertise in all 10 households earlier than “nestling in” to the dementia part.

There are 12 residents in Blue Heron wing and Fisher checks in on all of them as quickly as he will get to work, he mentioned, though some may not bear in mind who he’s from everyday.

“I have a look at all 12 like household,” mentioned Fisher who sits together with his residents for something from making use of lipstick and portray nails to taking part in crokinole. “I wish to see them look and feel their finest.”

Resident Shirley Dillon nearly at all times remembers Fisher however enjoys calling him “Al” as a result of he reminds her of somebody she used to know.

She mentioned the residents all like it when Fisher is working.

“They’re all hollerin’ at him the identical time to get them prepared for breakfast,” she mentioned, as SaltWire was visiting Fisher within the dwelling space of the Blue Heron family.

“He is one of the best.”

“There’s some folks which can be simply meant to take care of others and he is among the folks wholeheartedly.”

—  Jennifer Pitre,  director of long-term care nursing in central and japanese P.E.I.

High quality care

Fisher mentioned working with folks with dementia will be difficult.

“Day-after-day is completely different,” he mentioned, however incomes the belief of residents is rewarding.

He mentioned it was an honour to obtain the award, particularly a second time.

Workers like Fisher play a key function in long-term care, mentioned Pitre.

“RCWs are an integral a part of the care supply with out them, the residents would endure, for positive, they’d not have the standard that they do,” mentioned Pitre.

Fisher understands and offers his all each shift.

“I attempt my finest to verify everybody has day,” he mentioned.

“I’m not simply right here to get the job executed. I’m right here to get the job executed and extra.”