Check out our video and visit our website to learn more about the transportation services we provide.

We are inviting the community to join us at our annual Memorial Service offered by Community Care Hospice Services. This Memorial Service provides a time for reflection where we can revisit memories of loved ones who have died.

The service is non-denominational and open to all members of the community. The Memorial Service will be held November 23^rd, 2022 from 7:00 – 8:00pm at Mackey Celebrations, located at 35 Lindsay St. N. in Lindsay.

If you would like to include your loved one’s name to be read aloud in the service, please RSVP by November 18th to 705-324-7323 x 553.

By: Sharon Yeo, Hospice Services Manager

Ally, Grace, Marielle and Michelle met through CCCKL’s Riverwalk program, which is a grief walk that invites participants to engage with others who have experienced a loss of a loved one. Though the Riverwalk has now wrapped up for the season, it is a success story of partnering clients from the Nordic Pole Walkers with Hospice Grief clients.

Hot meal delivery is available for only $7 per meal, which includes soup, entrée, a bun, dessert and delivery! For more information, email us at info@ccckl.ca or give us a call at 705-324-7323.

You can also order frozen Meals on Wheels soups, entrées and desserts online. You can use the handy Frozen Meals on Wheels Online Order Form to make your selections. After submitting your order, our Meals on Wheels Team will get in touch with you to confirm your order, process payment, and confirm your pick up or delivery date.

Interested in Meals on Wheels? We are offering a complimentary trial meal to individuals interested in trying out our Meals on Wheels program. Email us at HSSCoordinators@ccckl.ca to learn more about receiving a complimentary trial meal or give us a call at 705-324-7323.

Hospice Services recently held an Advanced Bereavement Training for our volunteers interested in supporting clients as they navigate the challenges around grief. For some, this training was a refresher after the long months of COVID, giving them the confidence to meet the complicated grief experienced by grievers due to the pandemic. For others, this course was a natural progression from the Hospice Core training, which serves as an introduction to becoming a Hospice volunteer.

Volunteers learned from Grief Educator and therapist Dr. Wolfelt that, “loss is a normal and unavoidable part of life, our natural human response to loss is also normal. Grief is natural and necessary…Grief is love’s conjoined twin. Without love there would be no grief. And if love is not an illness or diagnosis, then neither is grief”. p.14.When Grief is Complicated Alan Wolfelt, PH.D, C.T.

Our graduates from left back row: Joanne Hough, Charlie Bellerby, Floyd Walden, Dee Savournin. Left front row: Lynne Jarvis, Geri Graham, Elizabeth Hull, Marion Puffer.

Congratulations to all of our participants.

Pre-registration is required, and doors open at noon. Please call us at 705-324-7323 ext. 654 to reserve your spot!

Working for Community Care City of Kawartha Lakes offers an opportunity for you to make a difference in our community. Check out some of our recent job postings below, or visit our website to see the full list of current job opportunities.

I am sure all will agree that health care workers have the right to do their jobs in a safe environment, free of verbal or physical abuse, harassment or threats of violence. However, as reported in the news media and published reports, incidents of verbal abuse and/or threats against health care workers have been on the rise in recent years and I am sad to say such incidents are being experienced by some of our CCCKL health care team members.

We have been hearing and reading about serious shortages of health care workers almost every day over recent months and CCCKL has not been immune to this problem. For example we are experiencing a chronic shortage of Personal Support Workers and our Community Health Centre has had considerable turnover and shortages in our physicians, nurse practitioners and our medical receptionists. This has meant disruption for our clients, with visits re-booked sometimes more than once and changes in the assigned healthcare provider. While frustration with these changes is understandable, anger, loud outbursts and racism are never acceptable. I can assure all that everything possible is being done to ensure healthcare is still available and meets the needs of our clients.

Incidents of abuse to health care workers were reported in association with the pandemic, linked to vaccines, pandemic restrictions and wait times Escalating violence against health workers prompts calls for action – CMAJ News. However, the problem pre-dates the pandemic and has gained national attention. For example, in 2015 the Ontario government created the Workplace Violence Prevention in Health Care Leadership Table which ultimately issued 23 recommendations. In 2019, the topic was studied at the national level by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health, with nine recommendations resulting. One other study is notable because it specifically examined workplace violence in Out-Patient Physician Clinics in the U.S. (much like our CHC setting). The authors noted: “Workplace violence is recognized as a significant public health issue. Findings from this review suggest that outpatient clinic workers are at high risk for experiencing violence from patients or clinic visitors, and that they experience serious emotional consequences of depression, chronic fatigue, poor job satisfaction, and feeling ashamed. …..Workers in outpatient physician clinics provide essential primary care services to our communities and greater attention should be given to their safety and well-being while at work (p. 11).

CCCKL is indeed paying greater attention to the safety and well-being of our staff. We have recently taken new steps to reduce the potential for verbal abuse, including changes to our voicemail system. Thankfully, incidents of verbal abuse, threats or expressions of racism have not become the norm, but even one is too many. Thank you for your help in ensuring that our CCCKL health care workers have a safe and comfortable environment in which to meet the needs of our community. 

Warmly,

Barb Mildon