“We shouldn’t just be kind and considerate of people right now during the pandemic, we should always be.
I never thought I would live through something like this, and it’s made me change the way I see people and how I see things. People need to be kinder and nicer, not so quick to judge, see people for who they are, see situations for what they are because people are struggling.
My parents were my inspiration in many ways. They taught me to be kind, not to judge because everyone has a different journey, walk in love towards everyone, keep smiling - that kind word or smile can make a big difference in someone’s day.
I started as a care aide back in 1980, and then I injured myself. And I’m now a food service worker. I’m also a shop steward. I’ve always believed in unions, and that you have to know your rights and stand up for them. I don’t like to see people walked on.
Because of COVID-19, there’s more sanitizing, more hand-washing, more cleaning, just making sure that everything is safe for everyone. When you go to the cottages, you have to wear face masks. We do multiple visits all day – serving meals to residents in the cottages – and it gets really hard with a face mask. I wear glasses, so they fog all the time.
The people I work with go out of their way to keep everyone safe around them, and still be able to care. I’m a hugger. But I can’t hug any of my residents, and I don’t touch their hands. I always tell them why. It’s not that I don’t want to. It’s because it’s safer for them.
Honestly, I like when people thank me. I’m a big believer in all housekeepers – everybody that works in hospitals or extended care – should be acknowledged because we’re all part of a team. And many times, it falls short of housekeeping and food services. I don’t think that’s right.
Nothing would work if everyone wasn’t a participant. Residents wouldn’t be getting fed if I didn’t go to work, the places wouldn’t be cleaned without housekeeping. And then, you have the care aides who look after them. You have the maintenance. You have all kinds of people who are doing whatever they have to do to keep things running.”
-Glenys, food service worker, part of the health care team