Personal Support Workers

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Personal Support Workers

• A Presentation by PSW Canada (2007)
• Saturday, May 2, 2009
• Sudbury, Ontario

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Personal Support WorkersMiranda Holly of PSW
Canada
Miranda Ferrier
Holly Dixon
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Personal Support WorkersThe Education of a
Personal Support Worker

• Sample of Courses taken in an Ontario College PSW
  Program
• Health Illness (I II Formerly Anatomy
  Physiology)
• Foundations of a PSW (I II)
• Developmental Psychology
• Dementia Mental Health
• Palliative Care
• Communications
• Over 100 hours of clinical experience in various
  settings (i.e. Long Term Care Home Care)

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Personal Support WorkersRange of Services
Provided by Personal Support Workers

• Home management services
• Personal care
• Family responsibilities
• Social recreational activities

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Personal Support WorkersWhat are Activities of
Daily Living (ADL)

• These are a few examples of ADLs that are
  routinely performed by PSWs
• Showering/Bathing
• Hair Care (washing, drying, etc.)
• Peri Care
• Application of non-medicated lotions and creams
• Performing or assisting with oral care, including
  denture care cleaning
• Assistance with incontinence products or to and
  from the bathroom

• Meal planning and preparation
• Assisted or full feeding
• Ensure sufficient fluid intake
  (i.e. water, juice, tea)
• Range of Motion (ROM) activities
• Accompaniment for short walks
• Provide socialization/ a friendly face to talk
  with

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Personal Support WorkersIn Long Term Care

• Here is an example of some of the duties
  performed by Personal Support Workers in Long
  Term Care facilities (in addition to ADLs)
• Perform catheter care
• Assist with transfers using equipment
• Ensure all safety equipment is operating properly
• Assist residents to the dining room and activity
  room
• Assist in rotating bedridden residents
• Ensure the privacy of all residents during
  procedures or personal care

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Personal Support WorkersIn Home Care

• When working in a Home Care environment, Personal
  Support Workers provide a service that was
  designed to enable our loved ones to remain
  living in their own home, or the home of a family
  member for a longer period of time.
• In Home Care, the Personal Support Worker assists
  with all the personal care needs which many
  family members may find uncomfortable to do.
• The PSW providing home care must pay close
  attention to the physical and mental well-being
  of the individuals under their care.

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Personal Support WorkersHealth Care Issues Today

• PSW Canada wants what is best for your loved
  ones. They have contributed to society for all
  of their lives and deserve no less than the
  highest quality of care during the time of their
  life in which they are most vulnerable.
• PSW Canada continues to fight for higher care
  standards that will make measurable differences
  in the lives of those under the care of Personal
  Support Workers.
• Since our conception, PSW Canada has been
  actively reaching out to our Health Minister and
  other politicians in an attempt to bring the
  issues facing our Health Care system to the
  forefront.
• For years now the government has been answering
  the cries relating to Health Care with promises
  of additional funding. We are asking where is
  the funding going? Who is it helping?

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PSW Canada (2007) The
Stand for Change Initiative

• PSW Canada (2007) started The Stand for Change
  initiative in January 2009. Currently this
  initiative includes a petition to the Ontario
  government to regulate the Personal Support
  Worker position within the province if Ontario.
• With The Stand for Change initiative we intend
  to make the Ontario government recognize and
  understand the need for regulation as well as the
  benefits to the current health care system that
  regulation will provide.
• We have also begun establishing a province-wide
  network of representatives which we believe will
  facilitate a stronger connection between the
  company and those we strive to assist.

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PSW Canada (2007) The Stand for
Change Initiative

• Some of our recommendations are
• That all current PSWs (or equivalent) be required
  to complete and pass a comprehensive written and
  applied (hands on) exam. Those who do not
  receive the minimum passing grade would be
  required to complete another set of courses and
  then re-take the test.
• That new students enrolled in Personal Support
  Worker programs would be required to pass the
  same examination.
• That all upgrade and comprehensive courses for
  areas such as dementia/Alzheimers become
  mandatory to ensure that PSWs maintain an
  appropriate level of knowledge pertaining to the
  various situations they may face while on the job.

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A Note of Thanks

• We would like to extend our thanks to the Family
  Council for allowing us to speak today.
• We also wish to thank everyone who has given us
  their support in the fight for regulation.
• If we all stand together how can we be ignored?
• Miranda, Holly the PSW Canada (2007) Staff