A typical day for Facilities Coordinator Scott Phinney rarely looks the same twice.

At Providence Care’s hospice, AB Smith Homestead House, he might spend the morning checking supplies, sanitizing rooms, tending to the grounds or helping staff wherever an extra set of hands is needed.

“I’ve been on the family side of hospice care before, so I know what those small acts of kindness mean,” says Scott. “At the end, when families tell us they’ve had a wonderful experience, that’s the goal. We want them to feel cared for during a really difficult time.”

Across Providence Care, Environmental Services and Housekeeping staff work behind the scenes to keep care environments clean, safe and welcoming.

At Providence Care Hospital and Providence Transitional Care Centre, Environmental Services teams sanitize patient areas, clean rooms and bathrooms, maintain floors and help prevent the spread of infection.

At Providence Care’s long-term care home, Providence Manor, Housekeeping staff provide many of the same services while also managing laundry for the home’s 243 residents — ensuring clothing is clean, organized, and returned to the right person.

While responsibilities may differ from site to site, every role contributes to the comfort, dignity and care experience of the people Providence Care serves.

“It doesn’t feel like work most days,” laughs Scott. “Everyone here works together to make sure patients and families feel supported. If I can help make someone’s day a little easier, that’s a good day for me.”

Scott has been part of the Providence Care hospice team at AB Smith Homestead House since before it even opened.

After being laid off from a facilities-related role he held for more than 20 years, Scott came across the job posting and saw an opportunity. Years earlier, his uncle had received hospice care in Coburg. It was an experience that left a lasting impression on him and his family.

“It felt like home,” recalls Scott of his family’s hospice experience. “When I heard Providence Care was opening a hospice, I knew I wanted to be part of it.”

When he joined the team in February 2025, construction paper lined the floors and the walls were bare. Since then, he’s watched the hospice open and transform into a home away from home for patients and care partners.

“Knowing I’m helping other families through a difficult time is what keeps me coming back. When you walk in now, it feels warm and welcoming. It’s a beautiful place.”

That sense of pride extends beyond the building itself.

Scott is known for stepping in wherever he’s needed. While personal support workers help patients with bathing, he’ll often strip and remake beds so rooms are ready when they return. He bakes muffins and cookies for families, knowing some family members spend long hours at the hospice house and may need something to eat before taking medication or starting their day.

He clears and washes dishes, tidies rooms, and always looks for ways to make patients and care partners a little more comfortable.

“Everyone works together here,” says Scott. “If I can take something off somebody else’s plate so they can spend more time with patients and families, that’s important to me.”

The same thoughtfulness extends to his co-workers.

Scott has brought in a slushie machine to help staff cool off on hot summer days, helped coordinate the purchase of a picnic table where the team can gather outside, and organizes barbecues and pizza lunches.

“Everyone here is amazing,” he says. “We’re like a family. If I can do something that puts a smile on their face, that’s worth it.”

Ask Scott about his job, and he’ll tell you about the building, its floors, filters, supplies, and maintenance.

Ask the people who work alongside him, and they’ll tell you something else.

They’ll tell you about his kind heart and generous spirit.

Scott is just one of many Environmental Services and Housekeeping professionals helping create safe, welcoming and comfortable spaces across Providence Care. Their work supports patient, client, and resident care every day, often through the countless details that happen quietly in the background. From clean rooms and safe environments to freshly laundered clothing and well-maintained spaces, their contributions help create the comfort, dignity and sense of care people experience throughout Providence Care.