People of Perley - Colleen Summerton

“This is a dream job for me,” says Colleen Summerton, who has worked at Perley Health for more than 20 years. Her current role is Personal Support Worker Supervisor in the Rideau Veterans Unit. 

“Perley Health has so much to offer, such as secure employment, extremely innovative teams and opportunities to advance your career. Long-term care is rewarding on a personal level because you develop close relationships not only with individual residents, but also with their families. It's very different from hospitals and other settings, where you typically see people only for short, intense periods.” 

“One of my most memorable experiences at Perley Health dates back a number of years, when the son of a Veteran resident was getting married. The resident was a true gentleman —very dignified, a bit shy and quite frail. Due to health concerns, he needed a healthcare worker to escort him to the wedding. The family asked me to accompany him because I knew him— and his care needs — so well. So I got permission from my director, took a vacation day and enjoyed one of the most heartfelt experiences of my life. I still have the photos in my office.”

“Here, residents' families are considered essential members of the care team, alongside Personal Support Workers, Registered Practical Nurses, Registered Nurses and everyone else—food and nutrition aides, occupational therapists and physiotherapists, arts and recreation staff and housekeeping. It's very much a team approach and there's a lot of team spirit.”

“I have always enjoyed working with seniors and Veterans, maybe because I had a very close relationship with my parents, who are both deceased now. As they got older, I saw how their care needs increased, and I had a tremendous amount of empathy for them and their situation. I apply the same empathy to my work, because I have the ability to care for residents the way I'd like my loved ones to be cared for.

“In my office, I also keep the letter of thanks the care team received from the family of a resident who passed away here. The family was grateful for the end-of-life care we provided and loved how responsive we were as the resident's care needs evolved. The letter is incredibly emotional, touching, and inspirational. It will always sit with me. When I'm not having the best day in the world, I like to pull it out because it reminds me of why I'm here."

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"The relationships are not just with the residents but with their family, they're also a part of the care team. We develop a great relationship with everyone.” - Colleen Summerton, Personal Support Worker Supervisor