Victorian Order of Nurses (VON)
The Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) provides at-home and clinic nursing care, home supports and community services. This includes Adult Day Programs, which offers respite to caregivers of persons with dementia and dependant adults, and Meals-on-Wheels for seniors and persons living with disabilities and their families across Nova Scotia. Every month, they deliver over 21,000 meals, make hundreds of drives to essential appointments for their clients, and offer much-needed mental health support for those who are struggling.
So many of our clients are isolated and alone, and we’re often the only folks they see in a given week. Having this training helps our staff understand, support and refer clients when they need help… We’re able to serve our clients better, and that’s always our aim.
With their Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund grant, VON is offering Mental Health First Aid to their community support and service staff, helping better support vulnerable populations who are prone to mental health challenges. Thanks to this training, VON staff are able to recognize signs of isolation and loneliness, ask the right questions, and direct clients towards the resources that will best support them, making sure that everyone can access the mental health care they need.