Some members of the ECU staff remained even past when the last resident moved. From left are Victoria Beck, Jamila Al Nuaimi, Jennifer Comi, Melissa Dea, Kerry Abbot, Sherri Jackson, Annabelle Banda-Ay and Michelle Mino.
When Victoria Beck thought about how she would finish her career as a personal support worker (PSW), she pictured working in the Welland Hospital’s Extended Care Unit (ECU).
Instead, as the long-term care home’s final residents prepared to leave, she was getting ready to say goodbye to a place that felt like home.
The change in her plans came with a mix of emotions.
“It’s not a happy ending but there are fond memories that will never go away and will be forever carried in my soul,” Beck said through tears.
Niagara Health announced in February it was closing the long-term care home, built in 1972, because the building no longer met fire, accessibility and infection prevention and control standards, which have evolved significantly since the building opened.
About 150 staff worked at the ECU at the time of the announcement. Many continued caring for residents through the transition, said Kerry Abbott, ECU Administrator. Others took jobs at different long-term care homes, within Niagara Health or retired.
As the final residents prepared to leave ahead of the Sept. 8 closure, the staff complement was set to shrink further. Beck began a new chapter of her career in respirology at Marotta Family Hospital while a small number of staff will remain until the facility's formal closure in November.
The ECU team held a farewell barbecue and potluck that included residents. Together, they shared memories and comforted one another.
“When you think you’re done with tears, they still come,” Abbott said. “It’s probably the most difficult thing in my career in 24 years in long-term care. I underestimated the emotional toll on the residents but especially the staff. You get to know everyone so well. It’s the staff and residents who make a home. This was home.”
For PSW Jennifer Cami, the ECU offered a second career that the former hairdresser wished she had found sooner. Growing up and then cutting hair in Welland, she knew many of the residents when she started as a PSW four and a half years earlier.
“It was an absolute pleasure to take care of them,” Cami said. “When they go to a new home, you’re excited for them but you’re sad because you’re going to miss them. Some of the best friends I’ve had, I made here (with staff). This is what it’s like to go to your job and be happy.”
At first, news of the closure felt surreal, she and Beck noted. As residents started to find homes elsewhere, there were still enough requiring care to keep staff busy with their usual routines. With only three residents left by the first week of September, both Cami and Beck appreciated the opportunity to spend more time with them while continuing to support their coworkers.
“We get so much more time with them now,” Cami said.
“Supporting each other has been wonderful,” Beck added.
The ECU was a vibrant place at the height of its operations, Beck recalled. Christmas, in particular, was one of her favourite times at work.
“Everyone was laughing and happy. The residents were always included. It was a wonderful vibe,” she said. “I’m so grateful to have experienced what I’ve experienced here. I’m truly passionate about what I do, so this is tough for me. As hard as it is, I’m still excited to come work.”
That joy was part of the reason Beck continued working as a PSW despite recently completing the bridging program to become a registered practical nurse. The connections she made were also why she visited some of the ECU residents after they moved into their new homes.
When Beck transferred to respirology, Cami moved to the Wolcott Wing, which provides complex care at Welland Hospital. Her time working in the ECU had prepared her for what came next, she explained.
“It’s going to be a challenge, but I’m up for it,” Cami said. “This was my first job as a PSW and it taught me a lot and to be compassionate. I’m grateful for that – that I had this first before walking into another role.”
Abbott, who had been with Niagara Health for five years, hoped to stay with the organization.
“We have fun. You have to through this, for sure,” she said. “We hope the relationships with staff will continue after the closure. We’ll always be sad about this but we’re in the acceptance stage now.”
