Updates and Information for VHA’s Valued Clients and Families
Issue 78, September 2025
Announcing VHA Home HealthCare's 2025 Client Choice Awardees
At VHA, care isn’t just a service, it’s a calling. Our team is made up of people who lead with purpose, build meaningful connections, and pour their hearts into delivering exceptional care to the communities we serve.
Every year, VHA's Client Choice Awards give clients and families the chance to shine a spotlight on those who have truly made a difference in their lives. This year, the response was overwhelming with nearly 900 nominations. From these heartfelt stories, our selection committee faced the tough task of choosing just ten winners.
We also celebrate our Honourable Mentions; care providers who received multiple nominations, some year after year, a testament to their lasting impact. We're thrilled to share these inspiring Client Choice stories with you through heartfelt videos featuring VHA clients and families.
VHA Home HealthCare achieves redesignation as a Best Practice Spotlight Organization
VHA is proud to be recognized as a Best Practice Spotlight Organization (BPSO) by the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO). Since 2015, we have achieved redesignation of our status through the implementation of Best Practice Guidelines set by the RNAO.
Find out how our continuous adoption of Best Practice Guidelines is helping ensure that we deliver the best possible care to our clients.
Kew Beach Unit Celebrates Five Years of Collaborative Care
What started out as a temporary transitional care program created in response to the urgent challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic has become an integral part of providing care to the residents of East Toronto.
Earlier this year, the Kew Beach unit — a partnership between Michael Garron Hospital and VHA Home HealthCare — turned five years old.
This innovative approach to transitional care stands as a testament to how health care organizations and providers can work together to meet the health needs of a community.
Creating a Dementia-Friendly Home: Tips for Caregivers
Caring for a loved one with dementia is a challenging journey. Changes in behaviour require changes in environment to make sure that they're physical needs are met. This often requires updates and adaptations to the place they live to ensure safe and reassuring care can be provided at home.
In this article, we share our tips and advice on how to create a living space more aligned with the needs of people managing dementia.
Right place at the right time: The caring act of a VHA PSW
Irene was on her way to visit her client when she came across a woman experiencing an epileptic seizure in an elevator. Thankfully, her medical training and knowledge allowed her to provide care in a difficult situation.
Thanks to Irene being in the right place at the right time, a person in distress received the aid she needed when she needed it most. From all of us at VHA, Kudos to Irene for your compassion and quick thinking.
Are you registered for our myVHA Client Portal?
Have you joined myVHA yet? Designed with our client's needs in mind, the myVHA Client Portal is secure and simple to use. Anytime, from anywhere, find your schedule in real time, cancel visits, message your coordination team and more!
Registering for myVHA is easy. If you’re a VHA client receiving personal support services, shift nursing services, or visiting one of VHA’s nursing clinics, you’re eligible to use the portal. All you will need is your date of birth and health card number to validate your identify on the registration at https://myvha.vha.ca/auth/register. Once successfully validated, you will have full access to the service.
To learn more about the portal, please visit www.vha.ca/myvha. If you encounter any issues feel free to email a member of our myVHA Support Team at myvha@vha.ca.
Supporting Your Kids as They Parent: Tips for Today’s Grandparents
Grandparenting today looks different than it did a generation ago. In Canada, there are more grandparents than ever before, and many play a hands-on role, whether through school pickups, caring for little ones when they’re sick or simply being a steady source of love and fun. At the same time, more families are sharing homes across generations, often for practical reasons like rising housing costs, childcare or caregiving needs.
In this article, we give an insightful list of tips for today's grandparents to use with navigating how to support their children who are now parents themselves.
Palliative Care Resources from Health Canada
Palliative care is holistic care offered in any setting for people of any age living with serious illness. It involves a range of care providers and includes the person's unpaid caregivers.
Palliative care focuses on quality of life and supports for people living with serious illness, their caregivers and those closest to them. It can:
- Improve quality of life
- Manage symptomsHelp clients and families understand illness and make decisions
- Help with grief support
- Offer client and caregiver support through emotional, psychological, social and spiritual needs
With National Children’s Hospice Palliative Care Day (October 9) and World Hospice and Palliative Care Day (October 11) approaching, we are sharing a selection of palliative care resources from Health Canada that encourage open, informed conversations and promote a better understanding of palliative care.
Meet Satwinder! One of our amazing care providers as featured on our social media channels
VHA is home to over 3,000 staff and care providers. Each one plays an essential role in ensuring our clients get the care they need, when they need it.
One of our incredible team members is Satwinder, a PSW Care Team Coach. Her passion for supporting her community while empowering PSWs to enhance the care they provide makes a positive difference every day.
Find out why VHA is such a great career fit for care providers like Satwinder.
Follow VHA to learn get the latest news and learn more about our amazing team of care providers on LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram.
