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At 101 years old, Sylvia continues to live independently in her home, with assistance from her daughter, Betty, and VON’s SMILE (Seniors Managing Independent Living Easily) program. Her story is a powerful example of how the program helps seniors maintain their independence, supports family caregivers and enhances quality of life.

Colin Murphy, a Case Coordinator with the VON SMILE program in Hastings, Northumberland, Prince Edward (HNPE), said Sylvia has been with the program for 15 years. When she first joined, she was experiencing challenges managing household tasks, and her daughter and primary caregiver, Betty, was facing significant stress. Sylvia’s goals were simple yet profound: “to remain at home as long as possible” and “to not become too dependent on support.”

For Sylvia, home is her special place in the country, far from the noise of the city. “We both have our breakfast out at the table on the patio and listen to the birds and watch the flowers and bugs,” said Betty. “There's a little creek that runs by the house, so it's really peaceful.”

SMILE helps clients to find and navigate services that address their individual needs. For Sylvia, this includes weekly homemaking support, a falls alert device, Meals on Wheels delivery, and at-home foot care, all designed to address daily challenges that can otherwise put independence at risk. More than services alone, the program’s strength lies in its client-centred approach.

“To me, what makes the VON SMILE program stand out is our strong dedication to client involvement,” says Colin. “As a program, we have a commitment to include clients and family members in creating their care plans, selecting their service providers. The way the SMILE program is today can be attributed to the involvement of seniors in its early planning stages.”

Over the years, Sylvia has not only maintained her independence but flourished. “I think what stands out the most to me is her positivity,” said Colin. “Every time I have visited her she is smiling, she is committed to being as active as she can be and to spending quality time with her loved ones. I like to think that her VON supports have given her and her family back time and independence while hopefully removing some burdens, thus allowing her to live life the way she enjoys it, at home.”

“SMILE is great. We’ve had the same person basically from the beginning, and she’s like family,” said Betty. “She does a lot of mental support for both of us, actually. She'll be talking to mom, and I can hear them laughing, and it raises mom's spirits and my spirits to have someone different come in and talk.”

As she reached the milestone of her 101st birthday, Sylvia warmly remarked, “Yes, I am 101. I can hardly believe it, it seems like just yesterday I turned 100!” Her enduring spirit and the comprehensive care from VON’s SMILE program illustrate how aging at home is not only possible but can be a fulfilling and joyful experience.

“We’re so grateful for SMILE. We really are. It makes a whole world of a difference. I can’t really put it all into words,” Betty said.

More about SMILE

SMILE provides access to services for frail and elderly seniors who, because of functional or cognitive impairment, need help with activities essential to daily living and are at risk of being admitted to a long-term care home or hospital.

Clients of the SMILE program can choose who provides their services and when. Services are coordinated by VON but delivered by local agencies, businesses and individuals. For those who qualify, the program covers the cost of a range of services, which may include meals, transportation, housekeeping, shopping, foot care, bloodwork, laundry, respite and seasonal outdoor chores. For clients who do not qualify for funding, VON offers service navigation to assist with maintaining independence. 

To support life-enhancing services like SMILE, please visit https://von.ca/en/donate-von. Your support helps seniors like Sylvia continue living independently and happily in their own homes.