The Keewaytinook Okimakanak Home Care Program is committed to excellence in the delivery of a comprehensive continuum of supportive services, which enhances the independence, good health, and wellbeing for First Nation members of any age, caregivers and persons with disabilities.

Support services will respect individual differences, choices, and needs. We will strive for the development of a community, which helps individuals find ways of caring for each other, and which supports people to remain active and contributing from their own homes.

Home and Community Care Managers

Michelle Kakegamic is the Home and Community Care Nurse Supervisor for KO. She is from Muskrat Dam. Michelle started as an RPN and became an RN. She started the program back in 2016 and since then the program team has grown.

Katherine Morris-Gray is the Home and community care assistant supervisor. She is an RN from Fort Severn. Fluently speaks Cree. Katherine helps Michelle manage the HCC program as it has grown significantly in the last couple years.

 

Palliative Care Program

Palliative Care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients (adults and children) & their families who are facing problems associated with life-threatening illness. It prevents and relieves suffering through early identification, correct assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, whether physical, psychological or spiritual.

Roles as a Palliative Care Coordinator

  • Develops, coordinates, and implements in-home nursing services under the direction of the HCC Nurse Manager and in conjunction with KO community Nurse in Charge and community Health Director.
  • Work with Personal Support Workers (PSW’s) unregulated health care providers, and other health care professionals in the community, the Chief and Council and other stakeholders.
  • Maintain current skills through attendance at workshops, in-service and staff meetings.
  • Work collaboratively with the Home and Community Care team to proactively identify clients who are appropriate for palliative and end of life services and inform all referrals based on client/caregiver goals to determine the appropriate level and type of service.
  • Provide education relating to palliative/hospice care to the home and community care team and family.
  • Provides quality client focused care that enhances and promotes independence, dignity, comfort, and wellness. Provide information and teaching of palliative and end of life care to clients and their caregivers. Perform personal support and personal care as required and as a member of a multi-disciplinary home care team.

 

Foot Care Program

Our team goal is to continue to provide foot care to each community and run monthly clinics including Thunder Bay for our urban clients. We do have limited funding to continue running our clinics. If you know if someone needs foot care that is not on our program, please request for our referral form.

All our nurses are certified in Advanced Foot Care including Management. Our Indigenous Transitional Facilitator, Amelia has been a preceptor to our nurses to be certified in Advanced Foot Care. A few of our Personal Support Workers have completed basic foot care courses. Our program applied for a grant to purchase autoclave so we can clean our foot care tools. We have not set up yet as we are currently looking for a room to set up the autoclave.

 

Personal Support Workers

Our program has 13 Personal Support Workers (PSWs) on staff. Our PSWs get certification through St. Elizabeth. We currently have one PSW from Deer Lake getting certified.

Personal Support Workers:

  • Annie Aysanabee
  • April McKay
  • Barbie Suggashie
  • Clarissa Harper
  • Diane Moskotaywenene
  • Esther Aganash
  • Marella Meekis
  • Marilyn Thomas
  • Tina Simmons
Diabetes Program

Our program received a Tru North Aid grant which helped us purchase an A1C analyzer (DCA Vantage) which is portable. We provide education and information sessions on diabetes with clients and communities. We help manage diabetes to prediabetics or newly diagnosed clients. We offer screening in the communities.

This program is being implemented by our nurse Emily Foulds-Williams. She is a Registered Nurse who has joined our team to help develop the diabetes program. She completed getting her Diabetes Nurse Educator certificate in June 2023. Currently the program is still in development stage. Once the program is established Emily will be doing screening with our clients and communities for Diabetes.

HCC Supervisor – Michelle Kakegamic, RN
HCC Assistant Nurse Supervisor – Kathy Morris-Gray, RN
Palliative Care Coordinator – Shannon Mamakwa, RPN
Indigenous Transitions Facilitator/Discharge Planner – Amelia Mandamin, RPN
PSW/cEMR Lead – Erin Wouthuis
cEMR Inventory Coordinator – Brittney Hook
Diabetes Nurse Educator – Emily Foulds, RN
HCC Nurse/Public Health – Sarah Simpson, RPN
HCC Nurse/Public Health – Michele Atkinson RPN
HCC Nurse/Public Health – Connie Palmer RPN
HCC Nurse – Mercedes Edwards, RPN
HCC Nurse – Lovena Tait, RPN

PSW Lead – Stephanie McIntyre
PSW
Ester Aganash
Annie Aysanabee
Clarissa Harper
April McKay
Marella Meekis
Tina Simmons
Marilyn Thomas
Rosaline Wesley