Health care aide’s work tough, but rewarding: Streamway employee
Friday, September 9, 2005 -- Natalie Miller
While visiting her grandfather at the long-term care home, Susanne Olson watched the nurses dance with the elderly men during pub night.

About 15 years old at the time, she recalls thinking how “lively and energetic” the atmosphere was for a nursing home.

“Even though you’re old and limited in so many ways you can still enjoy life,” Susanne says.

Susanne Olsen

Raised in a family of nurses, Susanne always knew she would follow in their footsteps. When she was 20 she began working at Streamway Villa, the home where her grandfather had lived and her mother’s workplace of 10 years. Her plan was to work at the Cobourg long-term care home to save money to go to nursing school. Sixteen years later, Susanne still hasn’t left.

“I’ve always known this place,” she says. “It’s almost like the residents here are your grandparents,” says Susanne.

“Caring for them is an amazing feeling. It’s like a big family. How can you leave family?”

Susanne, a health care aide, says her job is full of rewards. She says residents are very appreciative, even of little things. Susanne reaps the benefits of seeing a resident laugh when something funny is said or seeing the joy they express from getting a chocolate bar. When residents are upset she consoles them and a hug is a great return, she says. “There’s so much room for personal growth and compassion. The rewards are just amazing.”

Susanne says the appreciation expressed by family members is also gratifying. She has often heard, ‘We don’t know what we’d do without you looking after mom’. “We take the burden off the family,” says Susanne. Families often send thank-you cards, donations to the home and gifts. One resident’s spouse who they supported sent a letter to the local newspaper about the “angels” who care for his wife. Susanne says his wife has since died but he still visits occasionally. She used to enjoy watching the couple fall asleep holding hands under a tree in Streamway’s garden.

“It’s very sad,” says Susanne. “It is sometimes very heart-wrenching to see them go.” She says she copes “knowing that we took really good care of them and knowing that we made them as comfortable as they can be.”

The emotional demands of Susanne’s job as well as the physical toll of being on her feet all day are tough. “It’s hard, hard work. Sometimes, too hard.” But Susanne says even after a rough day “just knowing you made a difference” in a resident’s life makes it all worth being a health care aide.