Celebrating National #NursingWeek: Margot Ware on home health

Nurses have diverse and important roles in seniors healthcare

National Nursing Week (hashtag: #NursesWeek) happens May 9-15, 2022. With the dates chosen to align with Florence Nightingale’s birthday (May 12), this week’s celebrations provide an opportunity to recognize nurses and the important work they do. This year, BC Care Providers Association (BCCPA) and EngAge BC are using this opportunity to profile some of the people who bring their experience with nursing to the seniors’ care sector.

Nurses in the home health sector, as an example, have a unique role and play an essential part in ensuring that seniors can remain in their homes for as long as they choose.

Margot Ware is the President of Shylo Home Health Care, an organization based in Metro Vancouver’s North Shore community. Shylo Nursing was founded in 1980 by Betty Brown, an admired West Vancouver nurse who wanted to provide a dignified alternative for people in her community with chronic or terminal illnesses wishing to remain in their homes.

Margot initially joined the Home Health Care company as a Companion in 1986. Impressed by both Betty and Linda’s home nursing and palliative care of her terminally ill mother and later her aged grandfather, she says she stumbled into her vocation thanks to their wonderful example.

Margot started her educational journey towards a Registered Nursing degree while continuing to work as a Home Healthcare Aide at Shylo.

“I graduated with my General Nursing Diploma from BCIT in 1992, then went on to get my Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from the University of Victoria in 1998. Later I certified as a Gerontological Nurse from the Canadian Nurses Association in 2005,” says Ware.

Ten years later when Betty and Linda were ready to retire, Margot took over the company that she had grown to love.

“Although my Mom was a RN, and her Mom and Dad were a doctor and nurse, I actually did not want to be a nurse most of my young life, but once my own Mom got sick when I was 20 years old I stayed home to care for her and knew nursing was the only vocation I wished to pursue,” says Ware.

When asked what she likes most about being a nurse in the home health care sector Ware said, “I love the fact we have the time to focus on the client and can offer care at the time and speed that works best for them. We also develop close relationships with many of our clients and their family members as we care for them for many years in some cases.”

“If you love working with people and enjoy spending time with seniors, home care is the way to go,” Ware concludes.