Deep affinity for elderly keeps aide in long term care
Wednesday, September 28, 2005 -- Craig Anderson
When asked why she switched to restorative care in 1996 after ten years as a health care aide, Judy Paquette doesn’t hesitate to answer.

“Well,” she says, laughing slightly, “It’s easier on the back.”

Judy, who is 53, felt she could no longer handle the physical demands of the health care aide job at Woodland Villa despite new lifting techniques and advances in equipment. Her love for working with seniors, however, had not abated, so the move seemed a natural one. She has always felt a deep affinity with the elderly.

“I really enjoy listening to [resident’s] stories. I find that I can carry on a better conversation – and maybe this is because I have been in the field so long – with an elderly person than I can with somebody my own age. Even in public I can talk with an elderly person – regardless of gender – easier than anyone else.”

The move to a progressive, resident-oriented philosophy is a change Judy most welcomes in the field.

“At the top of my list is how the rights of residents have changed. Even as a restorative care aide we only suggest activities and rehab exercises – it’s up to the resident if they choose to do it. It’s all in the approach.”

Every morning Judy offers residents a program called the ‘Loose Goose,’ a stretching program that is half-physiotherapy, half-social gathering. She leads 15-20 residents through a series of exercises while music plays in the background. The group will often linger after the stretch, she says, to discuss current events.

In the afternoon, Judy begins one-on-one restorative care therapy, treating residents with injuries and assisting others in maintaining their conditioning through daily walks and exercise programs. If there is a special activity planned, Judy will lend a hand when required.

“Really I am an adjuvant,” she says, “We do both the therapy and programming.”

Judy sees a special challenge in assisting with the increasing numbers of younger residents entering long term care homes with exceptional medical circumstances, addiction problems, or disabilities.

“Their needs are a little different than that of a 90 year old. In a way sometimes it’s sad because a few are so close to my age,” she says, noting the story of Gerald Forgues who had an adverse reaction to cancer treatment. “It hits home for me.”

Another resident, a woman in her early 50’s, has MS. Staff have to be empathetic rather than sympathetic, she says, and still balance the needs of the younger residents with their primary elderly clientele.

“It’s got to be hard for the younger residents sometimes,” she says, referring to dealing with shouting by a resident with dementia. The same applies to staff.

“Each of us deals with these dilemmas differently, you’re only human, and you can usually tell when it’s time to take a break. Distraction is one supportive measures method that works. There are little cues that you can pick up. Sometimes you just have to count to ten,” says Judy.