On Wednesday, January 22, the Victoria Chapter of Dying With Dignity Canada explored what frailty is, how it can develop, and how to understand its potential long-term impacts. Community health and social service organizations shared what services they offer to Vancouver Island seniors who are experiencing frailty, but want to take action to ensure they can remain in their own homes as long as possible.

Speakers

• Amber Finneron, RN, BSN
  Lead, Practice Support
  Located in the Comox valley, Amber has worked with Island Health for almost 18 years, including in acute care and more recently Community Health Services (CHS). She currently leads Practice Support for the Community Resource Team, providing orientation, education and practice support to all CHS Home Care staff across Vancouver Island. Her team’s goal is to ensure staff have all the tools and capabilities they need to deliver safe, high-quality care to clients and their families.
• Gwen Gaddes, BScN
  Board Chair, Seniors Serving Seniors
  Gwen retired from nursing a year ago, after having spent 20 years in acute care nursing and teaching and 30 years providing community-based health care. In addition to other philanthropic work, she volunteers with Seniors Serving Seniors, which supports south Island seniors with access to resources and to ‘Return to Health’ volunteers. As a first-hand witness to dying and death for many individuals in a variety of settings, she is determined to support better end-of-life care.
• Emma Payton, BSW, MSW, MA
  Manager, Quality & Innovation, Seniors Health & Community Virtual Care
  Emma Payton is a Social Worker by background and works for Island Health as the Manager of Quality and Innovation for Seniors Health & Community Virtual Care.
• Dr. W. David Robertson, M.A., M.B., FRCPC
  Medical Director, Island Health MAID program
  After completing his medical degree in the UK, Dr. Robertson came to Canada and completed a residency in anesthesiology. He worked in that field in both Nova Scotia and on Vancouver Island for over 30 years. As the Executive Medical Director for Island Health, he took on leadership of the Island Health MAID program in 2015.