My grandma had more of a social life in her eighties than I have ever had: meeting with her bridge group multiple times a week, getting involved with different charities, going out with her boyfriend. She was so full of life, and so sharp all the way till the end, too. She inspired me, and showed me just how important staying active and connected really is.
As an activity aid at Royal Jubilee Hospital on floor 4 North, everybody is always happy to see me coming. I get to spoil people all day, walking around with my trolley of coffee, cookies, instruments and activities to see how I can best love and support people: Music bingo, manicures, art projects, whatever will bring joy. It’s the best job ever. There are only two of us who hold this special job in the hospital, and I feel so grateful to hold this title.
“I get to spoil people all day”
The patients I work with have had long health journeys, and while they wait to enter long-term care or return home, I get to support their health through activity, be present with them, and bring some humanity into their lives. I’ve been in the hospital before in a very vulnerable time, and I know what a difference a simple act of kindness can make when you are in that space.
Through such vulnerable moments, I have learned that the better I take care of myself, the better I can serve others. If I haven’t eaten breakfast, I will not be able to offer my best care. Beyond self-care, I’ve also been inspired to pursue my hobbies, because when I invest in them I am able to bring the joy from my life and passions to work and share it with others.
Let’s Panic: That’s my band. I absolutely love to sing, so getting to do it with a group of people who I also just love to be around is the best. We’ve been writing some of our own songs, and started to perform live. Sometimes my patients get private concerts; I’ll bring all of my instruments with me and we sing together. I try and tailor it to my patients’ generation and play songs from their coming of age. At Christmas, we’ll have a carol sing. Even when people are struggling with cognitive decline, they remember Christmas carols.
I’ve been trying to prioritize my fitness lately too. Jumping and dancing around with my band is great exercise, but I also joined the Vancouver Island Race Series this year with my sister Chelsea. We go every two weeks and it’s been a great challenge. I’ve run before, but I never knew I could run 10 kilometres! I love being able to do it with my sister, because it’s one of those activities that is so much better with other people. I lead mobility classes with our patients for the same reason. It makes it easier and more fun to keep everyone moving.
Here in our hospitals, I think you get to see what it means to be human so vividly. You encounter people in all walks of life. People being born. People in their last days. People going through the ups and downs with the ones they love. It’s a vulnerable thing to be a human being in this vast world; but how beautiful and needed it is to do it all with others around you. Just like my grandma showed me, connection is key.
“Here in our hospitals, I think you get to see what it means to be human so vividly.”
They are humans first, who put other humans first.
More than 8,900 caregivers and staff work around the clock in our Victoria Hospitals
#HumansFirst is dedicated to sharing the stories from behind our hospitals’ frontlines. These stories remind us that those who provide care and keep the lights on in our hospitals also have lives outside of them. They have family and friends, they enjoy hobbies and interests, and they have all lived through their own personal triumphs and heartbreaks. Like all of us, they are human, and they have a story to tell.
