Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Volunteer Experience
Languages
Affiliations
Animals, children, the elderly
Interests
Work Preference
Work Availability
Websites
Timeline
Volunteer

Valerie Bruce

Canada

Summary

38 years of caregiving/companion experience to all ages from children (two and half years) to seniors (up to 92 years old). Considerable experience with seniors with dementia/Alzheimer's, mobility issues, seniors with Parkinson's and Muscular Dystrophy. Years of experience with people of all ages with mental health challenges. Over 30 years in a public school board system caregiving for special needs children. Special skills include exemplary patience, reliable, compassionate, honest, and always a joy in life to those who need it.

Overview

40
40
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Caregiver and Companion

Vytality at Home/Manor Village at Fish Creek Park Seniors Residence
07.2023 - 11.2024
  • Caregiver and companion to a seniors woman with dementia/Alzheimer's at Manor Village at Fish Creek Park Seniors Residence, initially in assisted living, then the Dementia floor
  • Assisted with compassionate companionship, feeding, daily activities (in and out of the residence with own car), mobility, transportation, constant moments of joy (singing, dancing, crafts, arts, bingo), interaction with other residences, personal hygiene, morning and evening care, doctors appointments (ie, blood work, hearing tests, cortisone injections)
  • Accompany to special events
  • Helped the patient through hip fracture/surgery and one month stay at South Health Campus/Calgary assisting with physio and daily care along with nursing staff
  • Up to 50 hours a week
  • Assisted with feeding and monitored intake to help patients achieve nutritional objectives.
  • Transported individuals to events and activities, medical appointments, and shopping trips.
  • Built strong relationships with clients to deliver emotional support and companionship.
  • Supported clients with mental support and physical activities to accomplish quality of life and sustain needs.
  • Provided safe mobility support to help patients move around personal and public spaces.
  • Engaged patients in meaningful conversation, socialization, and activity while providing personal care assistance.
  • Assisted clients with daily living needs to maintain self-esteem and general wellness.
  • Assisted patients with bathing, grooming, dressing, and oral hygiene care both in private residences and facilities.
  • Guided patients to restroom to support bladder and bowel relief requirements.
  • Built and maintained rapport with clients and family members to facilitate trusting caregiver relationship.
  • Provided compassionate and patient-focused care to cultivate well-being.

Care-giver/Companion

Vytality At Home Agency
02.2023 - 11.2024
  • Caregiver/Companion to numerous elderly clients through Vytality at Home Agency, most with dementia/Alzheimer's, and one patient with Parkinson's
  • Daily assistance with feeding, bathing, mobility/transferring, medication assistance, physio and OT, shopping, house-cleaning, cooking/meal prep, activities (outdoor walking, food shopping, chores), laundry
  • Both In-home and in-facility (Glenmore AgeCare)
  • Assisted elderly clients in daily activities, physical transfers and care for incontinence.
  • Assisted with daily living activities, running errands, and household chores.
  • Supported clients with mental support and physical activities to accomplish quality of life and sustain needs.

Live-in Caregiver/Companion

Independent
07.2022 - 01.2023
  • Live-in caregiver and companion to 86 year old woman with Dementia/Alzheimer's
  • .Cooking, medicine administration, house-cleaning, hygiene/bathing, activities in and out of the home (gardening, walking, eating out, listening to music and dancing), morning and evening prep, shopping and laundry

Early Childhood Development Assistant

Step By Step Academy of Learning
03.2022 - 07.2022
  • Assisted a child with Cerebral Palsy, companion/caregiving, medication administration, lifting, feeding, toilet training
  • Assisted in classroom setting (Early Intervention Program - starting 2.5 years up to 5 years of age) with special needs children (autism, cerebral palsy, and Down syndrome)
  • Physio, OT, Speech Therapy

Special Needs Educational Assistant

Fort McMurrary Catholic School
05.1985 - 02.2020
  • Working with the Fort McMurray Catholic School system, with special needs children and teenagers, including those with autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, epilepsy, alcohol fetal syndrome, spinal bifida, and those with mental health challenges
  • Full-time, in a group environment
  • 35 years

Personal Support Worker

Salvation Army Fort McMurray
01.2001 - 05.2020
  • Supported individuals and residences in Fort McMurrary Salvation Group Homes (ages 19 - 65, men and women)
  • Cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping, budgeting, bill-paying, teaching public transportation skills, chaperone to doctors appointments, physio for cerebral palsy individuals (physio training onsite with Salvation Army), feeding/personal care, bathing, and transportation, medication administration.

Hospital Volunteer

Fort McMurray Regional Hospital
02.1990 - 01.2010
  • Hospital volunteer at Fort McMurray Regional Hospital in the long-term care seniors unit; helped feed patients, hair and makeup care, activities, room care
  • Provided support and companionship to patients in need of assistance.
  • Reported patient requests, concerns, and other observations to staff.
  • Observed patients under care conditions to help identify symptoms, responses to treatments and progress with goals.
  • Provided care to patients throughout lifespan with consideration of aging processes, human development stages and culture.

Volunteer

Fort McMurray Special Olympics
01.2004 - 08.2016
  • Volunteer at Fort McMurray Special Olympics, organizing the floor hockey and bowling teams (all ages), preparing and supervising activities
  • Planning for Kinsman/Shriner's Circus excursions to Edmonton with our special Olympics Alberta contingent/athletes.
  • Used strong interpersonal communication skills to convey information to others.
  • Supported engaging, fun, and smooth-running events by helping with organization and planning.
  • Represented organization positively and professionally while providing community with much-needed services.

Volunteer

Central United Church Calgary
07.2022 - Current
  • Church Volunteer, initially in food/meal prep for Street outreach programs; Preparing and distributing food hampers to Calgary individual and families in need, year round
  • Outreach to Calgary homeless distributing water, food, clothing, medical supplies, companionship and care
  • Organizing winter packages, blankets, warm clothing for the distribution to Calgary homeless
  • Volunteer group work for recovery programs.
  • Assisted with special events and programs.

Education

Nine Month Program - Childhood Special Needs

Keyano College
Fort McMurray, AB
02-1985

High School Diploma -

St. Francis Xavier High School
Long Harbour, NL
06-1982

Skills

  • Exemplary patience
  • Reliable
  • Compassionate
  • Honest
  • Joyful
  • Problem Solving
  • Alzheimers/Dementia Care
  • Developmental Disabilities Experience
  • Caregiving
  • Seniors Care
  • Childcare
  • Autism Experience
  • Special Needs Care
  • Homecare

Certification

Early Childhood Development Certificate, Keyano College, Not Provided

Volunteer Experience

  • Volunteer, Fort McMurray Regional Hospital, Not Provided, Fort McMurray, AB, T9H, Hospital volunteer in the long-term care seniors unit; helped feed patients, hair and makeup care, activities, room care.
  • Volunteer, Fort McMurray Special Olympics, Not Provided, Fort McMurray, AB, T9H, Organizing the floor hockey and bowling teams (all ages), preparing and supervising activities. Planning for Kinsman/Shriners Circus excursions to Edmonton with our special Olympics Alberta contingent/athletes.
  • Volunteer, Central United Church Calgary, Not Provided, Calgary, AB, T2P, Initially in food/meal prep for Street outreach programs; Preparing and distributing food hampers to Calgary individuals and families in need, year round. Outreach to Calgary homeless distributing water, food, clothing, medical supplies, companionship and care. Organizing winter packages, blankets, warm clothing for the distribution to Calgary homeless. Volunteer group work for recovery programs.

Languages

English
Native or Bilingual

Affiliations

  • Salvation Army, Central United Church Calgary

Animals, children, the elderly

I love all animals (and my kittens) and serving people of all ages, bringing joy to any challenges.

Interests

People, making people happy, caring for people Volunteering

Work Preference

Work Type

Full Time

Work Location

On-Site

Work Availability

monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Timeline

Caregiver and Companion

Vytality at Home/Manor Village at Fish Creek Park Seniors Residence
07.2023 - 11.2024

Care-giver/Companion

Vytality At Home Agency
02.2023 - 11.2024

Live-in Caregiver/Companion

Independent
07.2022 - 01.2023

Volunteer

Central United Church Calgary
07.2022 - Current

Early Childhood Development Assistant

Step By Step Academy of Learning
03.2022 - 07.2022

Volunteer

Fort McMurray Special Olympics
01.2004 - 08.2016

Personal Support Worker

Salvation Army Fort McMurray
01.2001 - 05.2020

Hospital Volunteer

Fort McMurray Regional Hospital
02.1990 - 01.2010

Special Needs Educational Assistant

Fort McMurrary Catholic School
05.1985 - 02.2020

Nine Month Program - Childhood Special Needs

Keyano College

High School Diploma -

St. Francis Xavier High School

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Valerie Bruce