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I am the face of home care, their daily contact with the world, their source of comfort and communication.

Local 113-WRHA Community Support

For many Manitoba seniors, Dee Michael is the face of the medical system. Since 1995, she’s worked as a Home Care Attendant, visiting and caring for patients in their own homes.

It’s a busy job, travelling from residence to residence on her own assist her clients in their “activities of daily living,” which includes the providing of meals, assisting with personal care, companionship and helping with daily house management.

She believes that the service she and other certified home care aides provide to Manitobans is vital to our health care system because it keeps costs down, reduces strain on hospitals, and provides clients with the comforts of being at home.

For home care workers, it means so much to provide care for people in a familiar environment where they feel safest - their own homes. At the same time, they help provide clients with the independence they need to stay in their community and feel a part of it.

Dee has been active in her union for her entire 21-year career, starting just before the MGEU 1996 Home Care Strike which saved the service from complete privatization. She is proud to have watched and participated in Local 113 as the job evolved to a professional, certified service of highly dedicated and trained employees with the support of the MGEU.