Recent News at VHA
2026
Blog Post
The Mental Impact of Living with a Chronic Illness
January 20, 2026
Living with chronic illness affects more than physical health. Day-to-day life can revolve so heavily around appointments, treatments and symptom management that it can feel like there’s no time or energy left to live your life. The impact of chronic illness can also influence mood and affect work, relationships and...
2026
News
Research and Innovation
Meet our 2026 Champions of Change Fellowship Recipients: Claudia, Maria, and Tanan!
January 16, 2026
These fellows are working with VHA’s Research and Innovation Team to help design and lead a quality improvement project to support PSWs in peer-to-peer information sharing to improve client care. Fellows will work to understand current peer-to-peer communication strategies and develop ways to promote better communication. To learn more about...
2026
Blog Post
Nutrition Tips for Winter Wellness
January 12, 2026
With colder weather, more time indoors, the circulation of new viral infections like the cold and flu, and added stress, winter creates conditions that can challenge your immune system. In addition to strategies like handwashing, staying up-to-date with vaccinations, regular physical activity, and stress management, good nutrition is another powerful...
2026
Blog Post
Providing Support to Others
Self-Care
A New Year Reset for Family Caregivers
January 6, 2026
The start of a New Year often brings a sense of reflection and possibility. For family caregivers, the season isn’t about making sweeping resolutions or setting unrealistic expectations. Caregiving is already demanding and traditional New Year’s resolutions can add unnecessary pressure. Instead, the new year can serve as a gentle...
2025
News
VHA Home HealthCare expands partnership with BlackNorth Initiative to empower the next generation of leaders through new Future Leaders Scholarship program
December 18, 2025
TORONTO, December 18, 2025 – VHA Home HealthCare (VHA) is proud to build upon its ongoing partnership with BlackNorth Initiative (BNI) to launch the BNI-VHA Future Leaders Scholarship, a new bursary program in support of Black youth. VHA is one of Ontario’s largest not-for-profit providers of publicly-funded home care. Founded 100 years ago...
2025
Blog Post
Emergency Preparedness Tips: Plan Ahead to Stay Safe
December 15, 2025
Emergencies can happen at any time and often without warning. From winter storms and floods to wildfires or power outages, being ready can make all the difference. Understanding the risks in your area, creating a household emergency plan and building an emergency kit will help you stay safe when it...
2025
Blog Post
Navigating Caregiver Guilt and Self-Doubt
December 12, 2025
Caring for a loved one can be one of the most meaningful and rewarding experiences of your life, but it can also bring frustration and moments of self-doubt. You may feel stretched between caregiving responsibilities, work and family life and feel guilty for wanting a break. It’s common to question...
2025
News
We asked you to share your feedback and the results are in: VHA’s 2024-25 Client Experience Feedback Report
December 11, 2025
Delivering care that is high quality, reliable, and client and family-centered is always at the heart of everything we do at VHA. Our commitment to providing excellent care delivered with heart and led by science, is made possible by measuring our performance through the data collected when we ask how...
2025
News
Reflecting on 2025: A Year End Message for VHA’s President and CEO
December 10, 2025
2025 has been a landmark year for VHA Home HealthCare (VHA) as we recognized our 100th year of service and trusted partnership with clients and families. This milestone has presented many opportunities for gratitude, celebration and reflection. Over the decades, our services have continually evolved to meet changing needs, guided by...
2025
Blog Post
Staying Active Indoors: Winter Exercise Ideas for Older Adults
December 8, 2025
As winter settles in, staying active can become more challenging for older adults. Cold temperatures, icy sidewalks and shorter days can make outdoor activity unsafe and lower motivation to keep moving. However, staying active is essential at any age. It helps preserve strength, mobility, and independence while reducing the risk...
2025
Blog Post
Providing Support to Others
Recognizing Early Warning Signs of Health Decline in Aging Loved Ones
December 1, 2025
As a loved one ages, changes in their health, behaviour and daily routines may begin to appear. These shifts are not always a normal part of aging and sometimes they can signal that everyday tasks have become difficult or that new medical, cognitive or emotional challenges are emerging. Older adults...
2025
News
VHA Announces Trevor Heer as VP, Integrated Client & Community Care and Chief Operating Officer
December 1, 2025
VHA Home HealthCare (VHA) is delighted to announce that, effective December 1st 2025, Trevor Heer has been appointed Vice President, Integrated Client & Community Care (IC&CC) and Chief Operating Officer in a permanent capacity. Trevor took on this position on an interim basis in September 2025 and has been instrumental...
2025
News
Personal Care
Bella’s journey to recovery – Sunnybrook-to-Home program
November 27, 2025
When patients are discharged from hospital, there can be a lot of emotions. On one hand, returning home can be a huge relief, but on the other hand, it can raise feelings of apprehension and nervousness. They might worry that they won’t be able to do all the things they...
2025
Blog Post
Managing Medications to Prevent Falls
November 21, 2025
Most older adults aged 65 or older take multiple prescription medications to manage their health, and about two-thirds take five or more different drugs each year. In long-term care settings, the numbers are even higher, since many residents live with several chronic conditions that require ongoing treatment. While medications play...
2025
News
Personal Care
Leading the Future of Health & Independence at Home: Spotlight on Hana Asfaw
November 13, 2025
Each year, the VHA Leadership Awards take place as an annual recognition program to further build and strengthen VHA’s culture of leadership excellence by recognizing individuals at all levels who demonstrate impactful leadership. This year’s winner of the Leading the Future of Health & Independence at Home category is Hana...
2025
News
Thought Leadership
Leading with Purpose: Featuring Leadership Award Winner Banu Sundaralingam
November 13, 2025
Leadership is a vital part of our workplace culture at VHA. Each year, we celebrate four incredible recipients of our Leadership Awards in four unique categories: Leading with Purpose Empowered Everyday Building Bonds that Matter Leading the Future of Health and Independence at Home This year, Banu Sundaralingam, Project Manager,...
2025
News
Building Bonds that Matter with Leadership Award Winner Dorothy Muiruri
November 11, 2025
Each year, the VHA Leadership Awards celebrate individuals who exemplify VHA’s commitment to leadership excellence. These awards recognize those who inspire others, lead with integrity, and strengthen the culture of compassion that defines our organization. The Building Bonds that Matter Award honours leaders who create authentic and meaningful connections, who listen...
2025
News
Nursing
Personal Care
Taylor-Massey residents receive the care they need at home through Integrated Neighbourhood Home Care Program
November 10, 2025
Bruce is a senior living in the Taylor-Massey neighbourhood in East Toronto. He is battling stage four cancer, and like many in his situation, eating regular, healthy meals is a challenge. Constant nausea and sickness has meant he no longer even enjoys thinking about his favourite foods and has lost...
2025
News
Personal Care
When Farbiola decided to take a job as a Personal Support Worker, she was looking for employment. She also found an opportunity to impact and extend a man’s life.
November 10, 2025
The day before her birthday in 2020, Personal Support Worker (PSW) Farbiola met her first home care client, Raphael, an 81-year old man who was dying from cancer and couldn’t eat or walk on his own. Five years later, Raphael, now 86, is still with us, and he says, it’s...
2025
News
Empowered Everyday: Up Close with Leadership Award Winner Darryl Pineda
November 7, 2025
The Empowered Everyday Award recognizes leaders who approach challenges with positivity and perseverance, helping others overcome obstacles along the way. Through a coaching style of leadership, they share their knowledge generously, encourage growth, and push others to become the best version of themselves. They understand that true success is collective,...
2025
News
Personal Care
Community Support Month: Celebrating VHA’s Homemakers and Nurses Services (HMNS) Program
October 29, 2025
October is Community Support Month in Ontario, a time to celebrate the essential programs that help more than one million Ontarians live safely and independently at home. From personal care and homemaking to caregiver support and community connections, these services are vital to the well-being of individuals and families across...
2025
Blog Post
Preparing for Influenza and Respiratory Virus Season
October 28, 2025
From early September through late March or early April, illnesses like influenza, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are especially common. As the days get cooler and we spend more time indoors, these viruses find more opportunities to spread. Close contact and shared spaces make it easier for germs to...
2025
News
Occupational Therapy
Meet VHA Occupational Therapist Deborah Spivak: Small Moments, Big Impact
October 22, 2025
When you ask VHA’s Deborah Spivak what she loves most about being an occupational therapist, her answer is simple: “I love making a difference.” For nearly three decades, Deborah has been doing just that, helping people regain independence, adapt to challenges and continue doing the things that make life meaningful....
2025
Connected Families Parenting Support
News
Celebrating Our Child and Family Support Workers for Community Support Month
October 20, 2025
In the photo above our Child and Family Support Workers pose together in a team meeting in July 2025. October is Community Support Month in Ontario. Community Support programs and services throughout the province help over one million Ontarians live well at home and in their communities through services like...
2025
News
Helping students achieve academic success through VHA’s Head Start Scholarship program
October 14, 2025
It’s no secret that the cost of attending college or university can be a huge barrier for families. VHA’s Head Start Scholarship program was developed to help empower the children of our VHA team members to follow their dreams by pursuing academic excellence at college or university -and support the...
Newsletters

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