HURON-PERTH – Each year, the VON Canada Award of Distinction is bestowed on someone who has given outstanding service at the local or regional level of the organization and who deserves special recognition for their contribution to furthering the work and goals of VON Canada.
This year, Tammy Stevenson, a long-time Program Coordinator with VON Perth-Huron received this prestigious award which was presented recently at VON Canada’s Annual General Meeting in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Tammy has been an influential member of the VON’s Adult Day Programs in Perth County for many years. In her roles as first Recreationist and currently Program Coordinator, Tammy has shared her creativity, adaptability, kindness and compassion with program participants and their families. Along with her team, they provide a welcoming, safe space for older adults to benefit from individual and group programming, social connections, brain-stimulating cognitive and physical activities, fun and laughter. Adult Day Programs also support family caregivers, by providing respite opportunities and a short break from caregiving responsibilities.
Tammy willingly shares her philosophy with her colleagues that every day at the VON Adult Day Program should be the participant’s best day. Tammy encourages client attendance at the Adult Day Program by doing her best to remove any barriers to make participation in the Program as easy as possible and she pays attention to the “little” things that make each participant unique. Tammy has initiated opportunities to meet client needs through the creation of programs such as community bathing and ADP Dinner Break, most recently as the result of a growing wait list due to pandemic restrictions and limited capacity.
As October is Community Support Services Month in Ontario, it is an honour to recognize the many contributions of staff, like Tammy, that have devoted their careers to supporting older adults in the community through programs such as Adult Day Programs, accessible transportation services, Meals on Wheels, Volunteer Friendly Visiting, Wellness Programs including free exercise classes for older adults, caregiver support, and hospice and palliative care.
To access community support services in Perth-Huron, individuals are encouraged to call the Huron-Perth Community Support Services Central Intake at 1-844-482-7800 to complete an intake and receive valuable information and direction about all of the amazing support services available to help older adults living in the community.
For more information about VON Perth-Huron specifically and the available Community Support Services offered, individuals may call directly to 519-271-7991 in Stratford, and 519-291-5898 in Listowel.
