Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services
Friday, March 16, 2007

FORT SIMPSON - There are only 12 of them and they're scattered across the region, but home support workers in the Deh Cho now have a better sense of being part of a team after a training session.

Home support workers from Fort Liard, Fort Providence, Wrigley, Fort Simpson, Trout Lake and the Hay River Reserve spent three days in Fort Simpson Feb. 26-28 reviewing information on diabetes, foot care and vital signs and listening to a presentation about traditional medicine.

Because many of the women work in isolation from each other it's important to bring them all together so they know they're supported by a team, said Connie McNab, the home care co-ordinator for Deh Cho Health and Social Services.

"Having the whole team together is a big thing," McNab said.

Gathering as a group also helps raise awareness of the role of home support workers. The home support workers do a lot of the behind-the-scenes work so they aren't as well recognized as a nurse, said McNab.

Home support workers do a variety of tasks mostly centred around caring for elders and people recovering from illnesses in their homes. Workers deliver medicine and meals-on-wheels, help with tasks like groceries and laundry and provide post hospital, chronic, respite and palliative care.

Being a home support worker can be a rewarding job.

Linda Duntra from Fort Liard has been a home support worker for almost a year. She enjoys visiting with elders and listening to their stories.

"You can see their face glowing because they are happy to see you," said Duntra.

A year into her job in Fort Providence, Evelyn Constant said she also enjoys the work.

The training session was beneficial and it was good to see the home support workers from other communities, said Constant.