With a joyful laugh, Della Tin tells me she’s been a social worker longer then I’ve been alive. When I ask exactly how long it’s been, she artfully dodges the question. “let’s just say it’s been a very long time.”
 
Originally from Hong Kong, Della says she first knew she wanted to help people when she volunteered at a summer camp. “Some people just need help,” says Della. “There are gaps in our system and I like filling those gaps for people.”
 
With a master’s degree in Social Work from The University of Alabama and her Social Work Research Diploma from the University of Toronto, Della is no stranger to the difficulties people face as they age. “Sometimes people have a health problem and need transportation to a clinic every day,” says Della. “Other times, people might just be extremely lonely and need a person to listen to them.” She says stressors like the death of a spouse or children, also lead to older adults needing support in the community.
 
The Second Mile Club provides support to older adults and adults living with physical disabilities in Toronto. The Club offers drop in recreation centres, day programs and in-home support for people, some who are waiting for a space in long-term care.  Social workers at The Second Mile Club try to find services to best serve their clients to help them  cope with everyday tasks and living in the community. The services include friendly visits, home help, medical escort, security check and respite help - as well as making referrals to other agencies.The Club also provides caregiver support to friends and family.
 
When Della started working at The Second Mile Club 19 years ago, she would knock on doors to find clients. Now, she has over 90 clients through referrals and word of mouth. The majority of Della’s clients are women, and most of them exclusively speak Chinese. “It gets more difficult as you age to make connections,” says Della. “Some people tell me they wanted to go back to their home country before they met me – without support or family it’s hard to imagine growing old alone.”