-
font size
decrease font size
increase font size
Health Care Aide bids farewell to long-term care after 38 years Featured
Janette Wheeler is having a hard time leaving a job she loves.
Working for the past 38 years as a Health Care Aide at Carveth Care Centre, a long-term care home in Gananoque, Janette retired last month due to health reasons. She was hoping to work for a few more years.
“It’s been a really good experience,” says the 67-year-old woman. “This type of work is extremely rewarding. Taking care of people has been my life. It’s hard to step down. I’ll miss the residents and their stories.”
Wearing a heart necklace and a warm smile, Janette is known for her care and compassion towards others. For years in the summer, she shared vegetables from her garden with residents and staff.
“They loved it,” she remembers fondly.
When the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020, she even ran errands for the residents in her spare time. “The pandemic really put a damper on things,” she explains. “It’s nice to see life returning to normal, now.”
It is clear to see Janette will miss her job and the people at the home, but she knows life goes on. “You can’t live for yesterday,” she says wisely. “I just wish there were more people with the passion to help provide health care.”
Looking back, she says she will miss the teamwork at the home. “When COVID hit, everyone really stepped up as a team,” she says nostalgically. “I really can’t say anything bad about the job or the home. Your job is what you make of it. You have to invest your heart, feelings and compassion into what you do.”
Looking ahead, Janette plans to spend time with family and friends such as her best friend Cathy Webster, another retired Carveth employee. “Cathy is like a sister to me,” says Janette who talks about their trips to Las Vegas and Florida. “We’ve been through a lot: good times and bad.”
“I like to garden and boat,” she continues happily, thinking about her home in Lyndhurst. “My boyfriend and I also enjoy day trips. We even bought a couple of bikes to use on the Thousand Islands Parkway this year.”
Looking around the home in late March as she prepares to leave, Janette says her only professional regret is not pursuing her nursing registration. “I did consider getting my Registered Practical Nursing papers,” she explains, “but I decided I would prefer to continue to work as a Health Care Aide because it allows more time to visit with the residents.”
“It’s a privilege and honour to provide assisted daily living to people,” she continues. “There’s something about this job… it doesn’t want to leave you. The residents will always be in my heart.”
“In her years, Janette has poured her heart and soul into looking after many residents, generations of families, in fact,” says the home’s Director of Care, Shelley Bender. “For 38 years, her caring nature and commitment to our residents have never wavered. Her dedication to them and her contributions to the home will be sincerely missed. On behalf of the Gibson family, thank you for your time and talent, Janette. We wish you all the best in your next phase of life, and hope you enjoy all the exciting adventures ahead of you.”
Administrator Brett Gibson echoes those sentiments. “Over the past few years, we have lost some great people due to retirement and Janette is another. Janette is a wonderful person and was so caring in her approach to working with the residents. Our family wishes her all the happiness in retirement.”
Carveth Care Centre is grateful for 38 years of service by Janette Wheeler who officially retired on March 11, 2024. Residents and staff plan to celebrate her good work with a retirement party on Friday, April 12. To learn more about living or working in our home, please call 613-382-4752.