Health Department

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About:

The Health Department provides Home Care, Community Health, and Patient Travel programs and services. The Home Care and Community Health programs support vary from client-to-client dependant on individual needs. Services can include advocacy during hospital stays or medical appointments, assistance with housecleaning, medical supplies, and medical transportation. The Home Care and Community Health Nurse Supervisor will work with the client and/or family to plan care around the identified needs and assign a worker based on the individuals’ needs.

Contact Info:

Kwey kwey- Hello!

My name is Norissa and I am the new Health Director for the Upper Similkameen Indian Band. I am Algonquin and Finnish with family ties to the Antoine First Nation in Ontario. My spirit name is Kiniw Kwe (Golden Eagle Woman). I have been living in British Columbia since 2012 working as a health and mental health professional.

My experience includes clinical leadership in primary care, at the community level, program development and management, consulting, counselling, and teaching. I have launched mental health and social service navigation programs in urban Indigenous communities, decolonizing and indigenizing the way we deliver health services for Indigenous people.

I have practiced trauma-informed, Indigenous-focused counselling to Indigenous communities in my private practice and for the Living Through Loss Counselling Society of BC. In addition to front line work, I have worked as a sessional instructor for the School of Social Work of the University of Waterloo and, Indigenous post-secondary institution, Nicola Valley Institute of Technology.

My family and I are thrilled to be a part of the Similkameen valley and support the USIB community to achieve its goals and needs. I look forward to meeting you all!

Meet our Home and Community Health Nurse Supervisor, Lesli Lorincz:

“After moving from Calgary to the Okanagan in 1998 I enrolled in UBCO’s Nursing program, graduating from the BSN program in 2002. I learned so many different things during my time in the program; however, I soon found my passion for Community Health and Home Care! I have been working in First Nations Communities for the past 18 years. During this time, I have also spent some time working with Provincial Public Healthcare, Private Healthcare, and for a Youth Treatment facility. I sincerely enjoy the dual role I am responsible for with USIB and am honoured that I am invited into your homes to provide medical or holistic support through advocacy, education, and referrals.

I have learned a lot during my time with the USIB community members over the past 5 years and I look forward to many more years to come.”

Meet our Community Health Assistant, Saisha Wagnitz:

“I grew up in Burnaby, BC and moved to the Similkameen at the end of 2018. Originally arriving to pursue a different career path, I was thrown into an eye-opening situation that led me to what I am doing now. Being certified with my OFA Level 3, travelling throughout BC and the Yukon for work, and living in rural communities for many years has given me a new outlook on the difficulties of rural healthcare for working families, prenatal and postnatal care, assisted living and palliative care for Elders, mental health, and so much more. As USIB’s Community Health Assistant, I want to ensure that members feel supported and heard now more than ever. My goal is to help change the way healthcare is made available to our community. “

Meet our Community Health Care Aide, Lindsay Bishop:

“I grew up in Keremeos and lived there most of my childhood and adolescent life. I then moved to Princeton and currently reside there. I took the Resident Care Aide course in 2008 and it has been an amazing 13 ½ yrs of keeping clients care needs at a paramount level. Since I was young, I always knew I wanted to work in the Healthcare field. The most rewarding thing about being a Care Aide is being able to keep the clients in their own home and help them achieve their daily goals, activities, and daily living and how to make them feel the most dignity and respect . I am not only there for them physically but also there for their mental health too and I let them know that I am there to listen and comfort them at any time always. I believe I positively impact the lives of others everyday; I give myself compassionately and empathetically so the clients can live happily and with ease. I am proud to be a Care Aide and I love what I do because I am most passionate about making a difference.”

Meet our Homemaker, June Fairweather:

“I have lived here in Hedley for about 28 years, but I am originally from Shuswap. I have been a Homemaker for USIB for approximately 4 years now and thoroughly enjoy being able to provide homemaking services to the community members and look forward to continue to provide these services for many more years.”