Victorian Order of Nurses

Health Starts at Home

VON Week 2009 - Health Starts at Home

If you, or someone in your family, were recovering from an illness and needed home care, who would you trust? Many Canadians from coast to coast would say VON. The reason: at VON Canada (Victorian Order of Nurses) we believe in treating the whole person, not just the ailment.

Our more than 13,000 staff and volunteers, through a network of 52 sites serving thousands of communities, know the importance of creating the capacity for healing in each person. It’s how we’re building healthy communities across Canada, one person at a time.

With programs and services such as in-home nursing, caregiver support and education, volunteer visiting and transportation, foot care and Meals on Wheels, VON Canada continues worked tirelessly to ensure that Canadians continue to live longer, healthier lives.

Every year, VON sets aside one week to thank our dedicated staff and committed volunteers and to celebrate the high quality of home and community care delivered by VON. This year, VON Week is May 18 – 24, 2009 and the theme is Health Start at Home. This year’s theme was built around our newly launched vision for home and community care. The vision encompasses six key pillars that are listed below:

Strengthen the health human resource capacity of the home and community care sector and maximize the contributions of all providers, including volunteers.
Investigate, fund and develop integrated models of health and social care.
Invest in technology for the home for use by providers, clients and their caregivers.
Accelerate the implementation of comprehensive chronic disease prevention and management strategies. In particular, enhance the role of the home and community care sector in preventing and managing chronic disease.
Recognize family and friend caregivers as part of the health care team and provide access to services, training and information to support them in their role.
Significantly increase investment in home and community care and develop a national approach.

Please join us in celebrating and recognizing VON’s contribution, as we continue to play a major role in the health and well-being of all Canadians.

VON Week Poster