All too often, the efforts of those selfless and kind-hearted individuals among us go unnoticed and unrewarded, but staff at the Heritage Life Personal Care Home in Niverville recognized these traits in one of their own and took the time to nominate her for a prestigious award.
On May 14, Dorothy Lapointe humbly accepted an award of excellence for exemplary service that goes above and beyond the call of duty.
The annual award ceremony, hosted by the Long Term and Continuing Care Association of Manitoba (LTCAM), was held at the Victoria Inn in Winnipeg. About 400 people attended, representing all sectors of long-term care in Manitoba. Staff and management of the Heritage Life were also there to support their beloved colleague.
“LTCAM is proud to recognize those who provide exemplary care and service to Manitoba seniors everyday,” LTCAM Executive Director Jan Legeros said in a press release. “Due to the fact that we received a record number of nominations from colleagues and supervisors—who shared stories of exceptional work ethic, kindness, and leadership—choosing the winners was doubly difficult. These winners demonstrate that seniors’ care is more than just a job for many, but a true calling. Their accomplishments are an inspiration to all of us who work for, support, and serve Manitoba’s seniors.”
Lapointe has spent much of her adult career working with seniors in long-term care. For years, she worked as a dietary aid at the St. Adolphe personal care home. When it closed in 2013, she transferred to Heritage Life, beginning her new role as housekeeping aid.
In Lapointe’s wing of the PCH, 20 residents experience her care and affection on a daily basis.
“Dorothy is warm and friendly, and the residents feel her love,” said ceremony host Richard Cloutier of CJOB. “This love goes a long way to providing the residents with that personal touch. As we all know, personal care homes can be very busy places. Healthcare staff often end their day thinking, ‘If I only had more time.’ Dorothy’s touch helps to combat loneliness and lack of purpose by making each resident feel special. And Dorothy really gets it. She got the theory behind relationship-centred care long before it became a formal strategy. She listens to each resident, making them feel unique and special.”
As a housekeeping aid, Lapointe’s job description includes cleaning residents’ suites and assisting them with their daily meals. Even in the most menial tasks, her coworkers say she goes above and beyond, organizing each resident’s living space in a way that will help them easily locate personal items as they face their own aging challenges.
She makes a point of knowing each resident’s likes and dislikes, making special efforts to accommodate them. She’s the staff member and friend who residents turn to when supplies are needed. Lapointe keeps a special stash of hearing aid batteries and other necessities on hand. Many times, these supplies are purchased with her own money.
Recognizing that day-to-day life for residents can become mundane, Lapointe makes an effort to bring her own decorations, personally creating a festive atmosphere in each PCH “neighbourhood” during holiday seasons. On Mother’s Day, she handcrafts corsages for all the female residents. At Christmas, each resident receives an advent calendar.
“She plays a strong role in making the neighbourhood feel like home,” Cloutier told event attendees. “She makes sure all of the ladies have their hair nicely styled for the day and the residents’ proud and smiling faces tell that story. Dorothy is a proud Indigenous woman who enjoys sharing her culture. She frequently bakes bannock and brings it in to the First Nations residents, making it a very happy day indeed. She also brings her special recipe of moose meat for those residents who’ve enjoyed this in the past.”
In her previous role as a dietary aid, Lapointe was known for making special breakfasts for the residents—the bacon, egg, and hashbrown kind of comfort food that so many seniors missed eating.
“This is not something we can ask for in a job description, but we can look to Dorothy as the role model who has set the bar high,” says Darlene Solvason, Heritage Life’s Director of Care. “I can’t think of anyone who deserves to be recognized more for their contribution to the quality of resident care than Dorothy Lapointe. She makes a difference every single day.”
Lapointe, away from work on medical leave, was not approached for comment. Staff at the PCH say, due to her humble and soft-spoken nature, she would not be inclined to provide any.
