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”