The first-ever conference in Vancouver dedicated to the health, well-being and soft-skill development of health care assistants takes place on Tuesday, Oct. 3. Health care assistants (HCAs) are the frontline caregivers in homes, residential-care facilities and hospitals who provide personal care to clients and patients with increasingly complex care needs.
According to WorkSafeBC statistics, HCAs experience the highest number of injuries of any occupation in B.C. WorkSafeBC accepted more than 16,000 time-loss claims in the last five years from members of this occupation, mainly caused by overexertion, acts of violence, and slips, trips and falls.
The one-day Vancouver conference, which sold out its 250-seat capacity within weeks of being announced, builds on the success of last year’s inaugural conference in Victoria. It also marks the expansion of Hearts & Hands to two day-long events — the other in Victoria on Oct. 26 — that will reach 410 HCAs, almost triple the number of participants in 2016. The day will focus on workplace-safety education from a psychological/social perspective, and topics will range from staying healthy in health care to navigating family dynamics to stress relief through laughter.
Conference speakers:
• Elizabeth Causton on the challenges of staying healthy in health care
• Matti Anttila and Soren Russow on using laughter to increase happiness and resilience at work
• Tara McDonnell and Jan Robson on working with families
Date: Tuesday, October 3, 2017
Time: 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. (attendees)
Media: 9 a.m. to noon
Location: Italian Cultural Centre
Address: 3075 Slocan Street, Vancouver