Proactively planning for your own care or identifying care needs for a loved one can be overwhelming even at the best of times.
That’s why Sullivan Law Ptbo has responded to a need identified by their clients and established new personal care coordination services that help individuals or their powers of attorney navigate the practical, legal, and logistical aspects of care — especially during periods of vulnerability or transition.
“The values of our office are rooted in kindness and respect to our clients, our colleagues, and our community,” says Sullivan Law Ptbo founder and lawyer Martha Sullivan. “That approach to the practice of law resonates with our clients, and they wanted us to take on new ways to support them because the reality is there aren’t a lot of solutions out there for personal care coordination.”
Sullivan Law Ptbo’s new Personal Care Coordinator Melissa Kenny brings 17 years of hands-on local professional nursing experience to her role. With degrees in psychology and nursing from Trent University, Melissa worked at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre in many areas of healthcare including surgery, labour and delivery, palliative care, and hospice care.
Melissa also worked in other local hospices before joining Sullivan Law Ptbo, where she now continues to follow her passion for connecting with people and serving them in any way she can.
“Because she is a registered nurse and has a varied background of professional accomplishments, she speaks that vocabulary and knows all the resources that are available,” says Sullivan. “Melissa also has such an authentic kindness that she uses to really help people help themselves.”
Martha, who herself has experienced the struggles of being a power of attorney for personal care for a loved one, adds that she wishes she could have met with Melissa for guidance and support during that period of her life.
Personal care coordination services can include taking instructions from an individual’s power of attorney, providing advice to an individual directly, providing regular wellness checks of an individual on behalf of family members who live at a distance, and connecting clients with local resources they may not be aware of.
After an initial meeting with the client or their power of attorney, Melissa and the lawyers at Sullivan Law Ptbo create an integrated and holistic client-centred plan that can adapt to an individual’s changing needs as well as respond to crisis situations.
“A lot of times, people can get lost in the system and then need somebody to speak up for them and be their advocate,” Melissa says. “We can support people struggling with all health conditions and the things that limit or overwhelm them. We can help those people navigate the system and coordinate their care and, of course, be there if they need us.”
Though she does not provide hands-on medical care, Melissa can support clients by attending medical appointments and taking notes and advocating for a client, checking in on a client to ensure that all is well, and identifying gaps in care and additional supports to improve a client’s quality of life or safety — everything from arranging for foot care or homecare services in a client’s home to arranging for and securing a residential placement that meets an individual’s care needs.
Melissa says she considers it “a huge win” when Sullivan Law Ptbo clients are receiving high quality and reliable care, adding that she cherishes the longevity of her professional but personable relationship with clients.
“We are here when they need us, and for however long they need us,” Melissa says.
To learn more about personal care coordination services at Sullivan Law Ptbo, visit sullivanlawptbo.ca/personal-care-coordinator or email Melissa at melissa@sullivanlawptbo.ca.
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