Home Support Workers help Elders and seniors live longer in their own homes. They are a welcome guest when they come to visit.
In Dawson City, Sonja sometimes travels with her e-bike. She brings supplies in her backpack.
Her work helps people live longer in their own homes in safety and comfort.
Let’s meet Sonja and learn more about this role with the Government of Yukon.
How long have you worked as a Home Support Worker (HSW)?
Many years now! I grew up in Switzerland and learned home support as a trade at school. I worked five years in Switzerland and have been with Dawson City Home Care for 18 years. I started on-call, then part-time, and now I'm a full-time home support worker.
What do you do in a typical visit with a client?
It all depends on the client’s care plan. Its all individualized. First, I ask the client for permission and see if they're ready to receive their care. I might be there to provide personal care which might be a shower or a bath. I could be there to give a break to a primary caregiver to do what we call respite. Or, I can be there for a palliative care client to help out with the end of life at home which is a really special part of the person’s life.
Sometimes I help the client with cleaning, take them shopping or help them with cooking. So, it could vary. It depends on the needs and the care plan for the client.
You have a backpack you bring with you as you travel. What’s in your kit?
I have personal protective things like gloves, gowns, hand sanitizer and masks. I have a phone with me, too. I might have a note book or a nail clipper if I need to cut somebody's fingernails. It’s just a small kit.
You're able to sometimes use a bicycle or to walk places. Could you tell us about that?
Oh, I love to use the bicycle. It's so fun! It’s too bad I cannot take my clients on my bike. If the client is nearby in Dawson City I walk to their home or I go with the bicycle to their home. It’s an easy way to get around in Dawson City. We also have a car to use as we sometimes transport clients or if the client lives out of town.
Why do you think it's a good idea for the Yukon to have a home care program?
I would say that it’s very much needed for the elders and seniors to stay at home as long as possible. It makes me very happy to help them stay at home and age at home as long as possible.
It makes me very happy to see them in their own home staying as independent as long as they can. I'm there to assist with certain tasks they can no longer do or can be very difficult for them to do safely without help.
What advice would you have for someone considering this line of work?
I think that's the best job ever you could get. It's all so much fun. There is so much variety throughout the day. You could go from shopping to personal care to palliative care to medication to cooking to cleaning. You get it all in one day.
You go home after work and feel so happy that you were able to assist people with staying at home and in their community.
Is there anything else that you would want to add?
I would say Dawson is awesome!