For over 14 years, Lucia Rocha has been a pillar of support at Kensington Gardens
Location: Kensington Health, Toronto, ON
The Gardens, Kensington Health’s long-term care home, is filled with new and familiar faces. Among them is arguably one of the most recognizable faces of them all – Lucia Rocha, Chair of the Family Council and a member of the Kensington community for more than 14 years.
Many consider Lucia an unofficial part of the team, but her journey at the Gardens began long before her current role. Her deep connection with the home started when she was searching for a long-term care home for her mother.
“I applied to have my mother become a resident in the South Building, but she moved into the North Building on 1-East. She was the second resident ever to move in and she lived there for 14 years.”
It wasn’t an easy transition to move her mom into long-term care, but it came to a point Lucia knew that would be the best place for her. From that day, Lucia dedicated herself to her mother’s care, and this dedication soon extended to other residents as well.
“When mom moved in, I was fully involved with her care. Now, I try to help all families and residents with the same transition,” Lucia explains. “That’s when everything started.”
Lucia has fond memories of team members who showed kindness and care toward her mother.
“From the very first day, her care was fantastic, and she was treated with dignity and respect. Monica, a housekeeper, and Ingrid, a Personal Care Attendant, were lifesavers for my mom.
When her mother died, Lucia planned to leave Kensington and continue on with the rest of her life. That was until she was approached by the leadership at the time about staying on the Family Council.
“Kensington is your home,” they said. These words, along with the compassion from both staff and leadership, have kept Lucia involved with Kensington for 14 years.
Lucia Rocha and leaders from the Ontario Long-Term Care Association (OLTCA) visiting a Gardens resident in their room.
Lucia initially joined the Family Council as a family member, to provide input on her mother’s care. She thought there was an opportunity to make it a more effective way for loved ones to participate in making the Gardens a better place to live and receive care. The Family Council consists of family members, caregivers, management, and the residents themselves – all working together to enhance the home, address issues or concerns and implement positive changes for everyone.
Later, she was asked to become the Chair, but she was hesitant.
“I was approached to become the Chair. At first, I said no, but then a friend encouraged me, and we both took on the roles of Chair and Vice-Chair.” As Chair, Lucia connects with family members, caregivers and residents to discuss priorities at the home. She encourages all Council members to be open-minded, aware of their surroundings and be comfortable with sharing.
Lucia’s leadership, kindness and advocacy have helped many families and residents, and she’s always around for those who need her.
“My phone is on 24 hours a day,” she says. “I have residents and family members calling me about their concerns. At the end of the day, it’s the resident who counts, and I’ll make sure they have what they need.”
“I am so grateful to work with Lucia as the Family Council Chair,” says Andrea Thompson, Vice-President of Community, Hospice and Long-Term Care. “Her deep commitment, passion and the respect she has earned from residents and families is a real asset to us understanding how we can improve the home for the 350 people who live here. We speak regularly and often I seek her advice on opportunities for improvement before we implement them. She is always transparent, and we work as a team. We are fortunate to have her!”
For Lucia, the Gardens is more than a long-term care home; it’s her second home. A place where she experienced exceptional compassion and support from staff, gained the respect of residents and their loved ones, and takes pride in her work being a voice for those who need the extra support.
Thank you, Lucia, for dedicating so much time and energy to helping the Gardens improve and be the best home it can be!
Read the original blog post on Kensington Health’s blog.