/County caregivers Heroes in the Home 
Algonquin Highlands resident Lynda Miller centre was recently honoured by the Central East Community Care Access Centre with a Heroes in the Home Recognition Award. /Submitted

County caregivers Heroes in the Home 

Two Haliburton County residents were honoured by the province’s Central East Community Care Access Centre with Heroes in the Home Caregiver Recognition Awards at a recent ceremony.

Algonquin Highlands resident Lynda Miller has been a personal support worker for more than a decade and was nominated for the honour by clinical supervisor Jennifer Reeds.

“She goes above and beyond for her patients” Reeds said adding the centre receives many calls from patients who specifically request Miller return to their homes because of the great job she does. “She will work outside her availability to ensure patients get the care they deserve. Lynda is very friendly and uplifting to her patients. She encourages them to be independent.”

Five years ago Carol Browne of Minden retired from the family health team where she specialized in working with seniors for whom she’s been a tireless advocate.

A co-lead on an Aging in Place study that took place in the county between 2009 and 2010 Browne sits on a number of advisory committees including those dealing with stroke and Parkinson’s disease and helps seniors navigate the medical system.

She does cooking and baking for those she visits and leads exercise classes in Minden and Haliburton in addition to other volunteer activities.

“She is humble and self-effacing so even if I asked her I wouldn’t get the full story; in fact I’d likely get a little shrug and ‘Oh I just do what I can’” said fellow volunteer Fay Martin who nominated Browne.

“That is the kind of thing that makes rural communities viable and Carol is the epitome of all that is good in that.”