Every day, VHA caregivers create opportunities for more independence for the clients they serve. We always encourage clients to tell us about the care they receive, and each year we invite clients to nominate caregivers who have done an exceptional job for VHA’s Client Choice Awards. This year, the response was once again overwhelming with over 200 nominations, full of stories of extraordinary efforts and tremendous passion and commitment. Here are some comments from clients about our winners:

Amleset Tewelde: “Amleset eases the burden of stress for me,” says Claudette. “When Amleset enters the room, she brings joy,” adds Malcolm.

Carmen Villatoro: “Sometimes my mom doesn’t want Carmen to leave, she wants her to stay, as if she was another daughter,” says Maha.

Chandra Naipaul: “Once the door opens and Chandra comes in, Evangelia thinks the sun came up,” shares Nic.

Kaila Jonsen: “In my heart, Kaila is like a daughter. I never had somebody care for me as much as she has cared for me,” expresses Sue-Ellen.

Maria Reyes: “Maria is a God-send to us,” says Adel. “When she is around I feel that my mom is in safe hands,” he adds emotionally. “Out of one to ten she is an 11.”

Meghan Lloyd: “My grandmother has trouble with her language, so Meghan takes the time to speak with her in a really positive and dignified way that she can understand,” says Ronald.

Richie Molo: “Many of our clients are sad or depressed. Richie takes her time to listen to their stories, because behind them is the real person,” says Lily, a Registered Physiotherapist at VHA.

Regat Ogbasilasie: “Regat is just an absolute joy…She’s the most wonderful woman and we are thrilled to have her in our lives and we hope we keep her forever as a friend,” expresses Janice. She and her husband Dennis call Regat ‘the Queen of all Africa’ because of her kindness and generosity.

Roderick Que: “Roderick provided my wife and myself with the confidence that we could manage her care at home. He wasn’t just taking care of Sue, he was taking care of our family, and that made a huge difference,” shares Peter.

Uma Sud: “The moment my daughter Abigail saw Uma, my heart melted. Just the way Uma talks to Abigail, holds Abigail, walks around with Abigail… what else could I ask for,” says Charlene.

You can watch heartwarming videos of the award-winners at: http://bit.ly/2019ClientChoice