Caregivers under the gun

I have been a health-care aide since I graduated from a NAIT-funded course in 2000.

Each day, I get to visit new clients. I get to learn about Canada’s rich history from the people who lived it, not from a book. I get first-hand advice how to raise children to become great members of society. I get to serve the community where I grew up.

The company that I work for understands my passion and is always there to lend a hand. My boss lives in my community and feels the same way I do about it.

Being a health-care aide means the world to me. But cutbacks have changed the way I have to do my job. In many cases, I can only spend one-quarter of the time with clients that I once did.

I was taught to take time to talk with clients and not to rush them. Allow them to have their dignity and always double-check procedures.

Now, we are only given 15 minutes to do some procedures, which increases the risk of a mistake being made.

Health-care aides take care of people who can’t care for themselves — seniors or people who are sick or injured. These people helped make us who we are today. I cannot imagine why we would ever imagine reducing their care. Robin Michael- Gagne, Sherwood Park