My name is Gaelle, originally from a country in East Africa called Burundi. I left my country at the age of 11 with my family and we landed in Holland (The Netherlands) as refugees. I lived there until I came to Canada, Ottawa in 2002. I'm married to a wonderful husband and together we have 4 beautiful kids. 2 girls who are the oldest followed by 2 amazing boys. I've always lived in Ottawa since I migrated to Canada. My faith is everything for me. I believe in Jesus Christ, I believe He is the son of God, born of the virgin Mary, was crucified and rose again on the third day and is now seated at the right hand side of God The Father. My faith is what sustains me. Me and my family attend church regularly and we serve in different ministries in our local church. I serve as a deaconess on the church board, I serve in the music ministry as a choir member and a praise and worship leader, I serve in the children's ministry as a Sunday school teacher, I serve as the Special Event Coordinator in my church and I also hold weekly prayer sessions in my home. So in other words, when I'm not working, the only other place you will find me is in church. I also enjoy spending time with friends and family, I enjoy taking long walks, I enjoy watching a good movie (Comedy, Action or Romantic) and I love shopping, it's therapeutic for me, but I try to be very frugal. I love people in general, it doesn't matter where you're from, it doesn't matter what you look like, it doesn't matter whether you share the same beliefs as myself, it doesn't matter your status or education or finances, I will love and care for you and treat you with the utmost respect. My core beliefs and values are from the bible and I try my best to live by them. These beliefs and values that I have help me with decision-making and they essentially provide the building blocks for my character, for who I am and how I live my life. One of those values I hold dear to my heart is kindness and compassion. Kindness is about treating others the way you want to be treated. kindness looks for ways to make life better for others. It takes delight in lifting others up and reminding them they’re not alone, invisible, or insignificant. I make it my mission to show kindness and compassion to others, because when I do that, I myself benefit as much as the other person does. Bottom line is, I treat everyone as I want to be treated, with thoughtfulness, patience, and respect. Another one of my strong values is integrity. Integrity is about acting and speaking in accordance with your beliefs. What I believe is made clear by what I say and do. Another one of my beliefs and values is gratitude and appreciation. I prioritize both feeling gratitude and expressing it daily, in my thoughts, in the words I speak or write, and in my attitude and actions. I have many years of experience working as a Personal Support Worker and I've worked in Home settings, group home settings, hospital, Long-term care, Retirement home care settings, and shelters. I've seen first hand how the elderly and vulnerable are sometimes neglected because of maybe a staffing shortage and it has always left me sad and frustrated at not being able or allowed to do more for the individuals that we care for. This is what has motivated me to go private and hopefully I can be able to assist people who need help and provide them with the best possible care and support on their own terms and not on the terms of the facilities. I'm looking for the opportunity to provide care that is person centered, care that will treat patients as individuals whose knowledge, values, preferences, family and social circumstances are acknowledged and important when deciding how to manage their medical care. I hope I get the opportunity to make a difference in your life and in the lives of your loved ones by caring for them.
Orderly
Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre 2020-Present
• Assists with lifting, positioning, transferring and ambulating patients.
• Responds to patient requests, including call bells.
• Assists patients in daily activities including feeding, bathing, dressing, grooming, etc.
• Records observations and reports any changes/problems in patient’s condition, such as mobility, temperature, appetite, and behavior
• Creates opportunities for clients to be involved in diversional activities e.g., Gym, organized activities in the evenings, walks, games, crafts, discussions of daily events.
• Reports pertinent, specific observations or encounters with clients to the Nurse.
• Assists in managing emergency situations by responding to emergency codes including the application of physical and mechanical restraints.
Personal Care Attendant 2016-Present
Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre
• Provided individualized personal care as outlined in the resident’s care plan including personal hygiene, dressing, eating, toileting, transferring, bathing, continence care and behavioral support while always respecting the choices of the resident.
• Assisted residents with their daily housekeeping and personal laundry routines.
• Assessed and communicated daily on the resident’s condition and how care plan interventions are working.
• Followed lifts and transfer procedures to avoid resident and self-injury.
• Utilized hospital electronic documentation system in accordance with hospital documentation policy.
Client Care Worker (CCW) - Various sites 2013- 2022
Ottawa Inner City Health in collaboration with Carefor Health & Community Services
• Special Care Unit for Men (MSCU)
SCU is a short stay program for men who would benefit from extra help with medical, mental health or addictions. Provide the client with a Salvation Army Identification card which identifies the client and the client’s bed. Discuss with client their goals for housing, and assists the client to obtain a health card and drug card. Administer medications to clients.
• Special Care Unit for Women (WSCU)
The SCU for women targets those women who are being discharged from hospital as well as those who are long term shelter users who live with severe mental illness and overwhelming addictions.
• Cornerstone Supportive Housing for Women (Booth house)
Participated within an interdisciplinary team to provide the best possible care for residents and their support systems as they deal with mental health disorders. Engaged the residents in participation and assuming control in decision making. Assisted the residents in participating in recreational and therapeutic programs.
Personal Support Worker/Orderly 2008-2013
Carefor Health & Community Services
• Performed manual and team mechanical lifts and transfers.
• Assisted in providing direct care for residents; assisted with ambulation, feeding, bathing and grooming.
• Maintained records of patient care, condition, progress, and problems in order to report and discuss observations with a supervisor or case manager.
• Directed patients in simple prescribed exercises and in the use of braces and artificial limbs.
• Non-Violence Crisis Intervention Training
• Fall Prevention & Intervention Training
• Sharp Edge Weapons Defence Training
• Diploma in Community Worker -Applied Arts
Verified: Phone number confirmed
Personal Support Worker (PSW) Certificate, First Aid Certificate, CPR Certificate, College
