In an effort to raise the spirits of its frontline workers and show appreciation for their hard work, Community & Home Assistance to Seniors (CHATS) has created a frontline worker relief fund.
The fund will be funnelled directly to CHATS’ frontline, client-facing staff and will go toward additional PPE supplies, relief from burnout, morale-boosting initiatives, mental health resources, financial aid, delivering food and other things the organization is not funded to provide.
"Our funds that we do receive are very restricted, so we don't have money to brighten or improve upon someone's day after they've just worked a very difficult shift or picked up an extra shift. These are funds that cover those things that we're not funded to do," said Kelly Broome, CHATS vice-president of philanthropy and communications.
CHATS has more than 200 frontline workers who support more than 8,500 clients in the community. These workers include home support workers, personal support workers and drivers.
Frontline workers have been heavily impacted by the pandemic for two years but Omicron compounded the level of strain felt by this already exhausted group of workers, stated a news release.
"This last wave hit hard, the weight of anxiety and burnout are at unprecedented levels. Worry for their health and the health of their families, staff shortages due to illness, and increased client needs, with seemingly no end in sight, are cumulating to create this environment that needs our support," Broome said.
All sectors are dealing with staffing shortages as staff stay home to isolate and CHATS is no different, said Broome, but it's a question of finding workers who are willing to work in the community during a pandemic.
"There's a shortage of personal support workers and there has been for two years now," she said."We continue to be short in that area but that's pretty common across all health-care providers."
Last year a general fund was created to support all CHATS programs, as well as frontline workers, but this year's campaign is specifically targeted to support its frontline workers.
Before the pandemic, the organization held many in-person events in celebration of its much loved staff, including a personal support worker day and a volunteer appreciation day, but with those events on hold, and after seeing the impact of Omicron, CHATS wanted to find a way to show appreciation and brighten the spirits of its workers, Broome said.
CHATS is hoping to raise $50,000 over the next six months.
CHATS is a not-for-profit organization, advocating for and delivering person-centred home and community services to older adults and caregivers living in York Region and South Simcoe. It's committed to helping older adults to live best at home in their communities.
Visit the CHATS website to make a donation.
