With orders to self-isolate and even quarantine some vulnerable individuals and populations, the COVID-19 pandemic is placing unprecedented demands on health care professionals, especially Health Care Assistants (HCAs), in both their professional capacity as well as in daily life. As part of our consultation on how to support our stakeholders during COVID-19, we discovered a possible need for education and support specifically for these health-care professionals.
Through a series of online “kitchen table chats” facilitated by BCCPC staff, HCAs described their experiences and explored their needs in a neutral space outside of their employing organizations (an online survey was offered for those who registered but could not attend, so they could still share their thoughts.) The chats revealed that HCAs were experiencing of fear, stress, concern for clients and families, grief and loss in both their personal and work lives, but found that the ability to share these experiences with colleagues was helpful.
Building on the success of the chats, the Summer 2020 Series: Patio Ponderings with Kath and Misha was born. A series of online gatherings themed around needs identified in the kitchen table chats, the Patio Ponderings series continues to offer HCAs with a safe supportive space to share their stories, stresses and triumphs about the current pandemic, and to build skills for more resiliency.
The series began in July and continue through August.
