'Honour Your Caregiver' this holiday season

This holiday season, in lieu of gifts and food, Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC), Providence Care and the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation (UHKF) are asking patients, residents, clients, and families to consider thanking a caregiver or care team instead with a gift in their honour.

The Honour Your Caregiver (HYC) program allows patients and families an opportunity to send a personal note to the individual staff member or team, and also make a donation in their honour. According to recipients, an HYC gift makes KHSC and Providence Care staff feel appreciated, while also providing much-needed funding for equipment, education, research and facilities.

“We’re approaching the three-year mark of the pandemic and it has been a tough slog for us in critical care,” says Dr. Gordon Boyd, an ICU physician who was recently recognized through the HYC program. “The note from the family really melted my heart as they expressed thanks that I had held the hand of a dying family member. In fact, it highlighted the kindness and compassion displayed by the entire critical care team during the darkest moments. It was a lovely reminder that even in these challenging times, the smallest gestures of kindness are appreciated.”

“We do what we do without expecting any gratification at all,” says Patti Harvey, Director of Rehabilitative Care at Providence Care. “But when patients and donors provide funding to help purchase much-needed rehab equipment and access to new technologies as thanks for the care we provided, it means the world to us.”

So far this year, more than $200,000 has been donated through the program and more than 216 individual staff and departments have been recognized.

“Once again, I would like to thank you very much for all of your efforts, time, kindness and understanding,” said one donor message. Another said, “in appreciation of the skill, efforts, dedication, professionalism, care and compassion of everyone at Kingston General Hospital and Hotel Dieu, and in particular the urology department.”

This year, donations have helped purchase equipment such as a patient monitors, bladder scanners, and patient care items such as musical instruments, and craft supplies. Staff have also received additional training in areas such as nursing and MRI safety. Research was able to take place in areas such as respirology and cardiovascular health, thanks to our generous community.

“This giving season, please consider honouring a health-care worker or department through the HYC program,” says Lori Faggiani, Director, Healthcare Engagement and Sustainability, at UHKF. “Our health-care teams have been working hard to keep our community safe. Help spread holiday magic and recognize their hard work and commitment with a gift in their honour.”

For more information about the HYC program, visit www.uhkf.ca/hyc.