Personal Support Workers
Foundation of Health Care Provision
PSWs• Provide up to 80% of the direct care to older adults
living in long-term care (LTC) or in their homes
• Role is evolving as health care is also evolving
• Cuts to hospital beds, no new LTC beds, focus in Ontario on home and community care
Changing Role of PSW• Personal Support Worker Program – Began in 1997• Consolidated & replaced 5 other programs & training• Home Support II and III program, • Health Care Aide program• Attendant Care Training and; • Respite Worker Training
• 2014 – Establishment of new “program standard” educational standards• Vocational Standard, Essential Employability Skills and
General Education Requirement
Who are PSWs?• Approximately 100,000 PSWs/HCA deliver care in
Ontario
• Over 90% are women
• Large # are immigrant women
• Over 60% are 40 years of age & over
“Personal Support Workers are critical to the well being, comfort, safety and health
of the people they support.” (HPRAC report 2006 from Ontario Hospital Association)3
LTC57%
Home Care34%
Hospitals & other settings
9%
PSW by Sector
LTC Home Care Hospitals
Where is the work?
Where is the work?• Long-term care facilities• Multi-level care facilities• Assisted living care centers• Hospitals• Mental health facilities• Rehabilitation facilities• Community health settings
• Home care settings
(including supportive housing)• Hospices• Group homes• Private institutions• Adult day programs/Active
living centres• Retirement homes
Job Titles/Classifications• Often depends where the work is done, but includes:
• personal support workers• home support workers• health care aide• hospital attendant• long-term care aide• nurse aide• nursing attendant
• patient care aide, psychiatric aide, and resident care aide• resident care worker• adult day program worker• supportive housing
worker• community support
worker
PSWs – Foundation for Health Care
Trends Impacting Role & Scope of Work for PSWs• Increasing demand for PSWs/HCA
Why? An aging population…
Number of People 85 & over are increasing:• Between 2006 and 2011 – 34% increase• By 2016 – 67% increase in numbers of people And • 70% of those will be over 90 years of age
Trends Impacting Role & Scope of Work for PSWs• Increasing acuity of residents
• Expansion of Home and Community Care Sector
• Fewer informal caregivers in the home
• Cuts to hospital beds
Trends Impacting Role & Scope of Work for PSWs…
•Pilot Project – Self Directed Funding for Senior’s Home Care•Educational Standards •End of PSW Registry & What Will Replace It•Additional Certification “Restorative Care Skills Certificate”