Updates and Information for VHA’s Valued Clients and Families
Issue 76, Summer 2025
Celebrating a Century of Spectacular Care with Client Partner Mike Vince
For over 100 years, VHA Home HealthCare (VHA) has been at the heart of our communities, offering excellent care and unwavering support to individuals of all ages. A lot has changed since our modest beginnings in 1925, with just 15 homemakers providing support to new mothers. Today, as one of the largest not-for-profit providers of publicly-funded care in Ontario, our team of over 3,000 dedicated home care specialists deliver personal support, nursing, rehab and community support services to vulnerable populations in need.
As we celebrate this monumental 100 year milestone, we reflect on the visionary leaders, staff and home care specialists who have shaped our legacy.
Mike Vince, client partner and member of the Client and Carer Advisory Council, is one of those individuals whose lived experiences and guidance have helped us to listen, learn and innovate together.
Finding peace, one step at a time: Trisha’s journey towards overcoming hoarding
After living with the challenges of hoarding for more than 30 years, VHA Client Trisha knew that she wanted to make a change and reduce her hoard but needed help. Upon completing an OCD treatment program, her therapist helped her take the next step by connecting her with the Safer Spaces: Hoarding Support program at VHA.
“At first, I was extremely anxious, embarrassed and stressed about what to expect,” Trisha admitted. But from the initial contact with the program supervisor to the ongoing in-home visits with a dedicated volunteer, her fears gradually eased. Through the program, she discovered a safe and respectful space where she could begin taking the steps she needed reclaiming her home.
Her volunteer provided steady, compassionate support through the often-emotional process of decluttering.
The Future is Bright: Stories from VHA Fathers
At VHA and Champlain Rehab Solutions, caregiving and community guide everything we do. We’re proud to support not only our outstanding staff and service providers, but also their families. For Father's Day this year, we celebrated the incredible dads across our organization who are guiding, nurturing and cheering on the next generation.
In this story, we hear from three fathers whose children are recipients of VHA’s Head Start Scholarship, awarded for academic achievement and community involvement. These proud dads reflect on what fatherhood means to them, the values they hope to pass along and the dreams they hold for their children. Their stories are a testament to the love, perseverance and purpose they bring both to their families and their roles at VHA.
Deepening VHA’s Commitment to Indigenous Cultural Safety in Healthcare
June marked National Indigenous History Month, a time to honour the histories, cultures and contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples across Canada. It is also a time to reflect on the ongoing impacts of colonization—including residential schools, systemic discrimination and forced assimilation—which continue to have devastating effects on the health and well-being of Indigenous communities today. Throughout the month, cultural events, educational initiatives and calls to amplify Indigenous voices, all reinforce the importance of respecting Indigenous sovereignty and advancing equity in every sector, including healthcare.
At VHA, we are committed to ending anti-Indigenous racism across our health system. As part of our 2025-2030 Strategic Plan, we are responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)’s 94 Calls to Action, by investing in training for our leadership, staff and service providers and by building meaningful partnerships with Indigenous-led organizations.
Interprofessional Collaboration in Action from Hospital to Home
When VHA Client Zoe experienced a traumatic fall that led to her to the hospital emergency department, her loved ones worried when she would be able to safely return home. Support from a unique hospital partnership with interprofessional care led by a team of PSWs, nurses, and rehabilitative team members has led to remarkable outcomes in Zoe’s recovery and healing — where she is most comfortable, surrounded by her family.
Imagine a world where managing your care is as simple as a few clicks. With the myVHA Client Portal, this convenience is now a reality
Co-designed with Client Partners, myVHA is a secure and easy-to-use website that allows you to access your care information anytime, anywhere. Features include access to your real-time schedules, the ability to cancel visits directly from the myVHA portal as well as the option to message your coordination team and much more!
Registering for myVHA is straightforward and quick. 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 website.
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.
Caring for a Loved One with Osteoarthritis
When someone you care about is living with chronic pain due to a condition like osteoarthritis, it can be very difficult to manage. You may notice changes in how they move, how they feel or how they handle everyday tasks. You want to help, but it’s not always clear where to start.
As symptoms progress, daily routines may become more challenging, and your role as caregiver may evolve in unexpected ways. Understanding what osteoarthritis is, and how it can change over time, can help you provide support that’s both compassionate and practical.
