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VON team members in Belleville, Ontario partnered with other care providers to help a critically ill client achieve his wishes to sit outdoors in summer and spend his remaining months at home with his family.

The 78-year-old husband and father received VON services following a lengthy stay in the hospital, including time in the intensive care unit. He was diagnosed with end-stage heart failure with a poor prognosis, and doctors advised his family to prepare for the worst. 

Despite significant health and mobility issues, including chronic back pain from an injury and the removal of a hip joint, he stabilized medically and was able to return home. 

“With all odds against him, he remained positive and optimistic,” says Jessica Sharpe, RPN Team Lead, Home Support Services, who led the PSWs providing his care. “He realized he may never return to his prior level of functioning, but had a goal of being able to sit in a wheelchair and make it outdoors for the summer months.”

The client was bedbound, weak and deconditioned after many months in a hospital bed, and his skin had started to break down. VON personal support workers (PSWs) and nurses worked with an occupational therapist and a physiotherapist from a partner organization, coordinated through Ontario Health atHome, to build his health, strength and comfort.

“I am so proud to say that he was finally able to ditch the bed and relax in his wheelchair comfortably,” says Jessica. “This was possible thanks to the combined efforts of the entire team.”

The occupational therapist ordered an air mattress to reduce the risk of pressure sores. She also searched high and low for a wheelchair that would fit through his doorway and accommodate his tall frame comfortably. Ultimately, a local hospice donated a suitable wheelchair.

VON’s home care nurses took expert care of his wounds, and ensured that his skin healed free from complications. A doctor monitored his pain medication to alleviate pain caused by being immobile for long periods.

The physiotherapist created a home exercise program and worked with the client to build his strength and confidence. VON PSWs provided reinforcement and encouragement with his exercises, while also maintaining his personal hygiene and skin integrity.

The client was initially cautioned that he might not be able to sit in the wheelchair for long. “He got in that chair, and he had the biggest smile on his face,” says Jessica. “He was so happy and so comfortable. He said, I could stay up here all day.”

It is a story that will stick with Jessica forever, she says. “It truly reaffirms how proud I am to work in home care. Although it was the client himself that overcame the challenges, every single one of us plays a vital role, and when we come together with a common goal, we can improve the quality of life for our clients.”

The care provided by the team also allowed some respite for the client’s wife, his primary caregiver. “She appreciated having the assistance with the physical and mental demands of being a caregiver,” Jessica says. “When we were there, she could sit down and have her coffee, and she often praised the PSWs. They had a great rapport. The client would get laughing, and it was a highlight of his days.”

The client has since passed away, but his family is grateful for the care he received in his last months. “He didn't want to go back to hospital,” says Jessica. “He wanted to remain home with his family. So he did.”

Strategic Plan 2025-30: Innovate

The first pillar in VON’s 2025-30 strategic plan is Innovate: Grow innovative health and wellness solutions for clients and caregivers in the community.

Many VON clients use multiple services within their communities. Together, these services help them to live in their own homes safely and independently. This story is a good example of how a client can benefit from a multi-disciplinary care team, providing services that together improve wellness and comfort in the home.

Visit von.ca/strategic-plan for an interactive visual representation of the new strategic plan.