Every year, the BC Care Awards celebrate care providers who go above and beyond delivering care to our seniors.
In this nominee profile, we feature Dale Carlisle from Menno Place in Abbotsford for his work enriching the lives of residents.
Why did you decide to work in seniors’ care?
I’ve always been physically active, so the field of physiotherapy appeals to me, but a big part of working with seniors has to do with my wife who has been a Health Care Assistant for nearly 25 years. I have a lot of respect for the empathy expressed by she and her co workers and I wondered if I would have the strength to do the same type of work. When it came time for a career change at 47 I returned to school and haven’t looked back. Along the way I have had some good mentors who impressed me with the value of caring for others.
What’s been the most rewarding experience of your career?
When a resident comes out of their shell and begins to blossom in care. There are those occasions when you see people go from passively participating, to being actively engaged and it’s really rewarding to be a part of that.My goal is to try to get residents to take as much ownership of their well-being as they can and I see myself more as a facilitator or partner in helping them to do so.
What do you wish people knew about working with seniors?
That they are really just people like us, who are a little older but still enjoy the same sort of social interactions. Some people might feel that it is hard to relate to a senior, but most residents really appreciate humour, are interested in the world around them, and can tell some great stories if we spend a little time asking and listening. Being able to break the “awkward” barrier and talk person to person is a wonderful thing.
BC Care Award winners will be announced in early January. The awards ceremony will take place on February 19th, 2017 at the Fairmont Empress Victoria. Registration is now open for BCCPA members and invited guests.
