A caring caregiver

By Jeff Green

---

Northbrook CCAC staff (L to R), Krista Reitinger, Team Assistant - Monica Smith, Case Manager (RN) - Peg Goodes. Case Manager (RN)

People who find themselves in failing health or caring for people in failing health, often find themselves alone, even overwhelmed, by their burden.

For almost 20 years, in the regions of Addington Highlands, and North and Central Frontenac, Monica Smith has shared that burden.

Since 1989 she has been the face of the Community Care Access Centre (CCAC), the government agency that delivers home nursing and other supports for people in need, and she will be retiring from the CCAC at the end of the year.

Last week, an open house was held at the Northbrook office of the CCAC, and throughout the afternoon, a steady parade of people who have received care, Pine Meadow employees, nurses, and leaders from Land O’Lakes and Northern Frontenac Community Services came by to share cake, coffee, and memories with Monica Smith.

“What I’ve loved about this job is all the people that I’ve met all around the countryside. Interesting people, independent people, people who always seem to be reluctant to accept help. I say to them, you need help with bathing, you need help with sweeping the floors, and they say no, I can manage - when I know they can’t manage. I’ve learned that you have to respect people’s decisions, whether you agree or not.”

The other thing that Monica Smith enjoys is the driving she does.

She drives from her home in Tamworth to Northbrook each morning, and spends a couple of hours in the office. She then drives anywhere from Denbigh to Ompah, from Kaladar to Mountain Grove or Parham, wherever there has been a referral for service from a hospital or other agency.

Smith’s official job title is that of case manager, but to her clientele she is the human face in front of a faceless government institution.

She has seen a lot of changes in the home care service system over the years, and although she said she is leaving her job because “it is time for me to do something different” she is clearly frustrated when, as is the case currently, there are waiting lists for home care services.

“It’s really hard when someone needs help bathing, for example, for there to be a three-month waiting list. That's a long time for the person, a long time for the family.”

As far as what's next for Monica, she really doesn't know what's next, but after 24 years in rural nursing, first as a public health nurse and then as a case manager, she will take some time to decide what her next job will be.