VHA Home HealthCare

02/20/2026

For people experiencing clutter or hoarding tendencies, homes can become unsafe and pose serious health risks. Through the Safer Spaces: Hoarding Support program at VHA, volunteers like Sherelle work with clients to declutter and help make the space a safer, healthier place to be.

“Volunteering at VHA is deeply meaningful to me because I’ve always been passionate about giving back to the community and making a tangible difference in people’s lives,” explains Sherelle. “Through this program, I provide compassionate, non-judgmental support to those who are ready to make a meaningful change in their environment and personal well-being.”

For those thinking about volunteering at VHA, Sherelle says to “go for it!” For her, it’s an incredibly rewarding experience where she continues to learn while making a true difference in people’s lives.

Learn more about exciting and impactful volunteer opportunities at VHA: https://www.vha.ca/volunteer/

02/19/2026

Rischelle is more than a PSW to her client, Thomas. They see each other as family and share the kind of bond that grows from genuine care and connection. It’s easy to see why Thomas’s sons nominated her for a VHA Client Choice Award.

Each year, ten winners are chosen from hundreds of nominations submitted by clients and their families. We’re proud to recognize and celebrate the incredible work of home care specialists like Rischelle.

Watch the videos celebrating this year’s winners:
https://www.vha.ca/news/celebrating-vhas-2025-client-choice-awards/

02/18/2026

Caregiving often comes with mixed emotions. Alongside love and commitment, many caregivers experience guilt and self-doubt as they try to balance their own needs with those of a loved one.

In this blog, VHA Home HealthCare explores why these feelings are so common and shares practical strategies to help caregivers show themselves compassion, set realistic expectations, and focus on what they can control.

If you are caring for someone and questioning whether you are doing enough, you are not alone. Support and understanding can make a difference.

Read the article: https://www.vha.ca/blog/navigating-caregiver-guilt-and-self-doubt/

02/17/2026

We are proud to announce the 2026 recipients of the BlackNorth Initiative and VHA Home HealthCare Future Leaders Scholarship.

Congratulations to:
- Adesope Ajayi
- Alice Okpere
- Joyce Ojugbeli
- Thélia Badoana

This scholarship is more than financial support. It is an investment in Black brilliance, leadership, and the long-term success of communities across Canada. By helping remove barriers to post-secondary education, we are supporting students as they build the skills, confidence, and networks that will shape the future of our workplaces, institutions, and society.

Read more about this exciting announcement here:
https://www.vha.ca/news/blacknorth-initiative-and-vha-home-healthcare-announce-2026-future-leaders-scholarship-recipients/

02/16/2026

To our staff and care providers, clients and families across Ontario. Have a wonderful Family Day filled with fun and special memories.

If you’re looking for a few family-friendly tips on how to spend your day, here are a few tips for those living in the GTA:

👉 Go skating as a family. Outdoor rinks are available around Toronto, including Nathan Phillips Square or Harbourfront Ce
👉 Check out the Royal Ontario Museum or the Art Gallery of Ontario. Both are fascinating and fun for all ages
👉 A trip to the Hockey Hall of Fame is great fun for any sports fan!

Just remember that popular spots can get busy fast so book tickets ahead of time online when you can. For our family and friends living in other regions, you can find similar activities close to home.

To our staff and care providers, who are ensuring our clients still receive the care they need, thank you for your dedication and commitment.

02/13/2026

Andonia, one of our Occupational Therapists, has been part of the VHA team for 17 years after starting as a student and growing her career in the community she loves. Inspired by her dad, a physician, she discovered occupational therapy while shadowing him at a rehab hospital and knew it was the right fit. She was drawn to the practical, creative work of helping people live more safely and independently.

Today, Andonia works primarily with palliative clients, supporting individuals and families during some of their most vulnerable moments. She helps clients manage daily activities at home, recommends safety and mobility equipment, and connects them to services that support comfort, dignity and quality of life. She finds meaning in being there as needs change, helping people remain at home for as long as they wish.

What Andonia loves most about her role is the connection. From creative problem solving to the flexibility of community work, she finds deep satisfaction in hearing how a simple recommendation made a real difference.

Her advice for new OTs? Explore different settings, stay flexible, keep learning and do not be afraid to ask questions. Every experience helps shape your path.

Interested in a career where you can truly make a difference? Explore Occupational Therapist opportunities on the VHA careers page:
https://www.vha.ca/careers/

02/12/2026

As a Homecare specialist, Samantha gets to provide care, delivered with heart, to her clients in the place they want to be – their own homes.

loves the personal relationships she gets to form with her clients. The connections she creates helps her deliver the best, personalized care possible, delivered with heart.

Watch to see what sets homecare specialists, like Samantha apart in this video from Registered Practical Nurses Association of Ontario:
https://youtu.be/DE185RBkDoI?si=VE1MBhbbmTwEmxHp

Samantha tells us how working in Home and Community Care gave her the flexibility to build her own schedule and provide clients with personalized care in the...

02/11/2026

Today is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science – designated by the United Nations to celebrate the incredible contributions and advancements women make in science every day.

At VHA, we’re dedicated to providing the best possible care for our clients, delivered with heart and led by science. One example of our commitment to evidence-informed decision-making and research is our annual Champions of Change Fellowship Program.

This year’s fellows Registered Nurse Claudia Cheng, PSW Maria Maila Casido and PSW Coach Tanan Karro are working alongside VHA’s Research and Innovation team to help design and lead a quality improvement project to support PSWs in peer-to-peer information sharing to improve communication, provider experience and client care.

We’re proud of the important work being done by these women to advance research and innovation at VHA, in alignment with our commitment to never stop improving the care we provide to our clients.

To learn more about our Champions of Change program and this year’s fellows, visit here:
https://www.vha.ca/news/meet-our-2026-champions-of-change-fellowship-recipients-claudia-maria-and-tanan/

02/10/2026

This Black History Month, we are proud to spotlight Godwin, a physiotherapist at VHA Home HealthCare, and how he brings the spirit of inclusion and cultural sensitivity into his work every day.

For Godwin, Black History Month is a time to reflect on the experiences and contributions of Black communities and the importance of equitable care. Through his work, he has seen firsthand how respecting each client’s cultural background and lived experience can improve outcomes and strengthen trust.

In one instance, Godwin collaborated with a client who faced barriers to care due to language and cultural differences. By working closely with the client and care team, he helped ensure the care plan reflected the client’s needs, values and goals. The result was a more inclusive, culturally responsive approach that empowered the client to take an active role in their recovery.

“Black History Month reminds us to honor our legacy, recognize health disparities, and reinforce the importance of equitable care for all,” says Godwin. “By listening, learning and embracing diverse perspectives, we can create a culture of empathy, respect and inclusion for both staff and clients.”

Thank you, Godwin, for helping build a more inclusive care experience at VHA. To read more about how Black members of the VHA team are making a difference, read our full article here: https://www.vha.ca/blog/celebrating-black-leaders-at-vha-during-black-history-month/

02/09/2026

What is the cost of staff turnover in home healthcare? VHA’s new paper, “The cost of turnover in home healthcare: A conceptual model” is a collaboration between VHA’s Research and Human Resources teams which sets out to answer this essential question.

Using this model to estimate costs of homecare turnover will allow policymakers to understand the full economic impact of homecare provider turnover and allow for comparison of costs against the investment required for data-driven retention decisions.

By better understanding how to reduce turnover across the homecare sector, VHA is working to create a more effective and efficient healthcare system for all Ontarians.

Read the full paper here: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/08404704251412842

This paper was authored by: Katherine Zagrodney PhD, Sandra McKay PhD, Rachael Jaffe, Kelley Myers, Ernesto Sequera, Dan Uzelac, Emily King PhD

02/06/2026

February is Black History Month, or for some, Black/African Heritage Month. At VHA, recognizing the background and cultural uniqueness of our care providers, clients and their families play a huge role in who we are as a team and an organization.

As part of our recognition of this impactful month, we spoke with a few long-standing Black members of the VHA team about what the month means to them and how they bring diversity and inclusion into home healthcare.

Hear what they had to say along with what VHA is doing to reflect and act on our commitments to DEI in our latest article: https://www.vha.ca/blog/celebrating-black-leaders-at-vha-during-black-history-month/

02/05/2026

Meet Bob. He’s been a nurse at VHA since 2022, providing specialized wound and ostomy care in long-term care homes. For Bob, it’s important to care for the whole person, not just the wound or stoma.

“My favourite part is truly listening to my clients and helping improve their quality of life,” says Bob. “Closing chronic wounds that have persisted for months or even years and ensuring proper wound and ostomy care is incredibly rewarding. Supporting comfort, dignity and healing is what motivates me every day.”

Bob’s experiences have led him to care for a wide variety of patients, but one thing always stays the same: knowing that his clients have received excellent care and receiving sincere thanks from them always warms his heart and reminds him why his work truly matters.

Bob chooses to work at VHA because of the warm, supportive and collaborative environment. “It’s a place where you can grow professionally and make a meaningful difference in people’s lives every day.”

To learn more about why talented nurses like Bob choose VHA, visit the careers section of our website: https://www.vha.ca/careers/