Listening, Learning, and Giving Back: November at PICN

Written By Kaily Kay

At Partners in Community Nursing (PICN), November is a month that reminds us what care really means. It’s about listening, showing kindness, and standing alongside the families we serve, not just as healthcare providers, but as neighbours, allies, and advocates.

From Treaty Recognition Week to Caregivers Day, this month gives us the chance to pause and appreciate the deeper connections we build in the community.

Communication That Builds Trust

Every visit, every shift, every check-in starts with one thing: communication.

And it’s not just talking, it’s listening. It’s reading a family’s energy when they open the door. It’s understanding a child who can’t speak with words, but tells you everything through a glance or a breath.

As PICN night-shift nurse Angela Provenzano puts it:

“Most of the kids I care for are non-verbal. You learn to read everything, the eyes, the breath, the smallest signs.”

Good communication builds trust. It’s how parents finally get to rest, knowing their nurse sees what’s happening, even when words aren’t needed.

Learning From Each Other

This month includes Treaty Recognition Week (Nov 3–9), a time to acknowledge the land we work and live on, and to reflect on the importance of ongoing learning and reconciliation.

At PICN, we acknowledge that the Region of Durham is situated on the traditional territories of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation, covered under the Williams Treaties. This land has been home to many Nations for generations, including the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee, and Huron-Wendat Peoples.

We recognize the enduring presence of Indigenous Peoples across Turtle Island and honour their continued stewardship of the land, water, and community.

As healthcare providers working in homes, schools, and communities across Durham Region, we understand that reconciliation is ongoing. It begins with awareness, respect, and a willingness to listen and learn from Indigenous families and partners every day.

We also recognize Indigenous Veterans Day (Nov 8) and Remembrance Day (Nov 11), honouring those who have served, often quietly, humbly, to protect their communities and this country.

We encourage everyone, especially our care teams, to take a moment this month to listen and learn. These stories, from families, from clients, from veterans, remind us that compassion and understanding are powerful tools for healing.

Acts of Kindness Go a Long Way

World Kindness Day (Nov 13) is more than a date on the calendar, it’s how our nurses show up every day.

Whether it’s a friendly “Honey, I’m home!” (as Sarah Winter, Visiting Nurse and Clinical Resource Lead, likes to say) or taking a few minutes to chat with a tired parent before leaving a shift, kindness changes the energy in a home.

Sarah remembers how she used to knock softly, afraid to disturb families:

“Then I learned to walk in with warmth and confidence. Families feel that. It’s part of the care.”

At PICN, kindness is built into our model of care. We don’t just support clients; we support the entire household. Because when families feel seen and heard, care becomes easier for everyone.

Giving Back to the Community

Community involvement has always been at the heart of what we do. Since 1998, PICN has brought expert community nursing to homes, schools, and community spaces across Durham Region, from Oshawa and Pickering to Whitby, Ajax, and beyond.

This month, we’re encouraging our teams and community partners to find small ways to give back:

  • Donate to local family support groups or charities helping caregivers.

  • Volunteer at community events or awareness walks.

  • Take time to check in on a family caregiver you know, sometimes a simple call can make all the difference.

*See Resource list at the bottom of this blog.

Honouring Caregivers

Finally, on November 25, National Caregivers Day, we celebrate the parents, spouses, nurses, and family members who provide care every day, often without recognition.

Our nurse manager Dillon Godfrey says it best:

“Don’t chase the grind. You’re not behind. Life doesn’t go how you plan, and that’s okay.”

It’s a reminder that caring for others also means caring for yourself. That’s why PICN builds flexibility and respect into every role, giving nurses and families the space to breathe, rest, and regroup.

Looking Ahead

As we head toward the holiday season, we want to thank every nurse, client, and family in our PICN community for the care you give and the trust you share.

This November, let’s keep listening, learning, and lifting each other up, because the best care always starts with connection.

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Resource List

Support & Donation-Friendly Charities for Caregivers

Alzheimer Society of Durham Region (Whitby/Durham Region)

Community Care Durham (Durham Region)

Lake Ridge Community Support Services (Oshawa/Durham)

  • Offers FREE tools & resources for parents & caregivers of children/youth (especially in the autism spectrum). Lake Ridge Community Support Services

  • A useful charity to support if you’re focusing on family‐care‐focused personas (e.g., parent caregivers).

Ontario Caregiver Organization (provincial, but relevant)

  • Helpline available 24/7, free, for caregivers seeking support, resources, and referrals. Ontario Caregiver

  • While not strictly local only, it’s a strong addition for families in Durham Region needing broad support.

Volunteer Opportunities & Ways to Give Back

Volunteer with Community Care Durham, see their site details how to become a volunteer (telephone reassurance, friendly visiting, respite supports) in Durham Region. communitycaredurham.on.ca+1

  • Example: “Friendly Visiting” is a service where a volunteer visits or calls someone who may be isolated. communitycaredurham.on.ca

  • Great match for supporting caregivers by offering companionship or relief.

Volunteer with the Alzheimer Society of Durham Region – they accept volunteers for community education programs, family support groups, etc. Alzheimer Society of Canada

  • You could volunteer your time, skills, or help raise awareness/fundraise for caregiver‐related programs.

Lakeridge Health (Hospitals & community facilities in Durham)

  • Their volunteer roles expand beyond clinical: non‐clinical support to patients, families, team members. Lakeridge Health+1

  • If you or your audience wants to support families in healthcare settings (including caregivers), this is a meaningful venue.

📞 Simple Ways to Reach Out to a Family Caregiver

  • Encourage a note, a call or a coffee drop‐by: sometimes just being seen matters.

  • Suggest helping with a concrete task (childcare, drop-off groceries, run an errand) so the caregiver gets a break.

  • Offer to connect them to resource above: mention “Did you know there’s a caregiver support group with the Alzheimer Society of Durham Region?”

  • Remind them that they too deserve support, sharing a resource like the Ontario Caregiver Organisation helpline can open doors.

  • Suggest regular check-ins: “I’ll call you every second Tuesday just to chat, no agenda.” Medium-length, human, real.

Kaily Kay
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Rest Easy: How Flexible Nursing Supports Families at PICN