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Territory designates Home Support Worker Day

Ben Morgan
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, June 25, 2008

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The NWT Department of Health and Social Services is honouring the contributions of home health care providers - including the efforts of Barbara Bromley, who is credited with advocating the cause since the very beginning.

NNSL Photo/Graphic

Barb Bromley, left, a founding force behind the NWT's home health care program talks to fellow nurses at a celebration of their efforts Tuesday. - Ben Morgan/NNSL photo

The Home Support Workers program is celebrating 33 years of service to the community.

On June 24, home care workers from across the NWT held a daylong workshop to discuss chronic disease management, personal support worker training and "quality indicators" for home care.

To celebrate the day they asked Bromley to help cut the cake.

Bromley is considered one of the founding forces behind home health care in the NWT. Her efforts largely shaped how the program evolved.

But she isn't alone - a team of nurses and staffers have been following her lead for decades.

"I do admire and support the work that you do," said Sandy Lee, minister of Health and Social Services.

In the early 1970s a group of women led by Bromley got together to try to help people who were without family support networks - particularly senior citizens and those in special situations.

Bromley recalls this group organized their efforts using nurses and homemakers who would go to people's homes to clean, cook and care for them.

Eventually the program grew and moved to the hospital, where Bromley became its first co-ordinator.

"Then in 1976 we started Meals on Wheels," Bromley recalled.

"The hospital kitchen made the meals and we broke into teams to deliver them to the people. I told the hospital that it had to be seven days a week."

The program expanded to include a variety of people in need of home care.

"You're their bridge and connection to the outside world. You're the ones the people who need you can count on," Lee said of home care workers.

Nurses are now able to provide intravenous treatments, foot care and other essential services. Workers help clean homes and provide emotional support and friendship to people who depend on home care.

Bromley said she knows the work is appreciated.

"I'm glad to see this is happening. They are very important people in our community, doing their part to provide home care for people in the area. They should be commended for all their hard work," said Bromley, who knows first-hand.

While having some health difficulties of her own last fall, Bromley was at the other end of the home care support worker program. She had people in her home lending a helping hand until she was back on her feet.

She's feeling fine now.

But she said the aid and comfort of having a professional health care provider available was reassuring.