Senior Living CaRES champions the people who care

The Senior Living CaRES Fund is making a meaningful difference for frontline employees across Canada’s senior living sector, providing emergency financial assistance and its “Champions of Senior Living” education bursaries to those who dedicate their careers to caring for others.

In 2025, peopleCare became a donor partner, joining organizations from across the sector in supporting this important work. Established in 2020, the Fund recognizes the extraordinary efforts, compassion and resilience of frontline employees working in long-term care and retirement homes across Canada. Since then, it has distributed more than $3.2 million in financial assistance and bursaries to hundreds of frontline team members working in clinical, dietary, housekeeping, recreation and other essential roles.

In addition to financial support, bursary recipients are paired with mentors and connected to a network of peers and leaders from across the senior living sector.

The impact continues to grow. In 2025 alone, Senior Living CaRES received a record 443 bursary applications from frontline employees representing a wide range of roles, backgrounds and career aspirations. Because of that overwhelming response, the organization is increasing the number of education bursaries by 25 per cent in 2026, from 20 recipients to 25.

“The response to this program has been incredible and the results speak for themselves,” said Rebecca Scott Rawn, Executive Director of the Senior Living CaRES Fund. “When we invest in frontline team members, we strengthen the future of seniors’ care. Seeing 100% of last year’s recipients remain in the sector and hearing how this support influenced their decision to stay is exactly why this program matters. We are proud to expand the program this year and continue championing the people who are the heart of senior living.”

“Our sector is all about people caring for people,” said Sheena Campbell, Vice President, Communications and Engagement. “The Senior Living CaRES Fund is making a real difference by supporting frontline team members  across the country, when they need it most and helping them continue to grow in their careers. We’re pleased to play a small part in supporting that work through our strategic priority to Impact Beyond Ourselves.”

One of the Champions of Senior Living bursary recipients is Sharon Khan, Director of Resident Care at peopleCare Hilltop Manor LTC. A peopleCare Values Award winner for Growth, Sharon has never stopped learning. Since joining Hilltop Manor as a student in 1993 and being hired as a Healthcare Aide in 1995, she has continually pursued new education and leadership opportunities while balancing a full-time career and raising a family.

Over the years, Sharon became an RPN, helped lead Hilltop Manor’s Behavioural Supports Ontario (BSO) team, mentored colleagues and delivered dementia care education. She stepped into the Director of Resident Care role in 2024 and continues to build on that leadership today as she pursues her Masters in Nursing.

The Senior Living CaRES education bursary helped Sharon pursue certification in the Nurse Specialized in Wound, Ostomy, and Continence (NSWOC) program, another step in her lifelong commitment to learning, leadership and exceptional resident care. Congratulations, Sharon, and thank you to the Senior Living CaRES Fund for supporting the incredible people who are shaping the future of seniors care while making such a meaningful difference in the lives of seniors every day.