We Are IH: Health care assistants are the heart of health care

October 13, 2022

Two health care assistants: Estelle Hovanes (left) and Denise Blackburn.

Health care assistants (HCAs) make a tremendous difference in our lives. HCAs may have many different job titles, including:

Community Health Worker
Residential Care Aide
Home Support Worker
Long-Term Care Aide
Home Health Aide
Continuing Care Assistant
Personal Care Aide

The one thing all HCAs have in common is that they provide frontline personal care and assistance services to vulnerable patients, clients and residents.

Meet two of our HCAs at Interior Health.

In this Story…

Estelle Hovanes, Health Care Assistant

Denise Blackburn (she/her/hers), Health Care Assistant

Explore Health Care Assistant Careers@IH

Estelle Hovanes, Health Care Assistant

Years of Service: 5
Worksite: McKinney Place
Community: Oliver
Ancestral Territory: Syilx Okanagan
Advice to live by: Be happy, healthy and live day-to-day.

Estelle Hovanes was born in Edmonton and raised in Terrace, B.C. She describes herself as loving and kind. This translates well to her position as a health care assistant – she loves working with the elderly, and finds her job very rewarding.

Not one to stay idle, Estelle also earned her Master's Degree in Counselling Psychology in 2010 and looks forward to using this education in her career. In fact, she was previously a Child Protection Worker Social Worker, before moving to Oliver.

A selfie light-skinned woman with medium long red-blonde hair, wearing a red and white animal print shirt.

It’s her passion for working with seniors that has kept Estelle in her role instead of pursuing another position in mental health and substance use. Estelle also volunteers as a hospice worker for Desert Valley Hospice and completed her recreation activity worker certificate.

Outside of work, Estelle is a Healing Touch Practitioner and is excited about getting certified in that program. She’s also looking forward to travel and upcoming holidays.

A unique fact about Estelle: “I have one leg shorter than the other.”

Denise Blackburn (she/her/hers), Health Care Assistant

Years of Service: 5
Worksite: F.W. Green Home
Community: Cranbrook
Ancestral Territory: Ktunaxa
Advice to live by: Do what makes you happy regardless of what others think.

Denise Blackburn, health care assistant at F.W. Green Home, was born and raised in beautiful Cranbrook. She says her role has given her the appreciation of knowing she’s made someone smile.

A smiling woman with a long braid of brown hair in a t-shirt and shorts, holding a grey backpack and wearing a large black backpack, next to a sign indicating the immigration checkpoint between Thailand and Malaysia. — Denise on a backpacking trip through Thailand and Malaysia.

“I go home from a day’s work feeling like I made a difference in someone’s life. When residents see me they light up. The residents that live at F.W Green Home make me feel special.”

Denise is looking forward to continuing her career in health care as she finishes her practical nursing diploma.

A smiling woman with long brown hair in a purple, grey and aqua winter jacket and ski goggles standing on a snowy mountain. — Denise at Panorama Ski Resort.

Outside of work, Denise is always up for an adventure. She loves skiing, hanging out with her dog, Roca, and rock climbing. She’s also solo backpacked four countries (Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Ireland).

Explore Health Care Assistant Careers@IH

Have you thought about a career as a Health Care Assistant at IH?

Explore career opportunities

The Health Career Access Program (HCAP) is a paid work and training initiative for individuals seeking an entry point to employment in health. New hires will start as a Health Care Support Worker (HCSW) providing non-direct care at a long-term care, assisted living or home health site, and receive paid training to become a Health Care Assistant (HCA) upon successful completion of the program.

Learn more

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