Heather Latter
Due to an aging population and the increase in assisted living spaces locally, the need for personal support workers is on the rise here.
As such, Confederation College is ready to train anyone interested in that line of work.
Local campus director Anne Renaud said she’s received calls recently from long-term care facilities looking for graduates of the Personal Support Worker (PSW) program.
“They are not finding enough people with the qualifications,” she explained.
Personal support workers are unregulated health-care providers who assist people with the tasks of daily living, such as home management, personal care, family responsibilities, and social and recreational activities.
“It is one of those positions that we are always in search of,” said Kayla Caul-Chartier, director of resident care at Rainycrest here.
She noted with workers retiring or relocating, and summer students returning to school, the need for personal support workers is high.
“There is a definite need,” echoed Brenda Wood, manager of Community Support Services for Rainy River District Home Support.
She said 12 assisted living units are set to open next month at Rose Manor and Green Manor here, with the anticipation of more becoming available in Emo next year.
“We see it expanding,” Wood said. “We hire personal support workers because the government wants the seniors to be able to stay in their homes longer and seniors want to stay in their homes longer, so you need to bring the care to them.
“And personal support workers are in demand,” she stressed. “In fact, we find we have a shortage when we put ads out.
“We don’t get a lot that already have the course.”
That’s why Renaud is hoping more people will take advantage of the PSW program that is offered at the local campus each year, with the next course set to start Sept. 8.
“It’s not too late if people want to take it this fall,” Renaud said, noting the program is eight months long so they would be graduating in May.
“It would really help alleviate the shortage in the community,” she added.
It’s a two-semester college certificate program.
“The admission requirements to get into the program are your high school diploma at college levels or equivalent, so if they have a GED [General Educational Development],” Renaud explained.
If you don’t, you can take a mature student assessment to possibly get in, she said.
“Certainly we don’t want that to be a barrier to anyone coming to talk to us about it,” Renaud stressed.
She noted the PSW program includes a placement both in the community and in long-term care.
“They have some labs where they actually get to learn the skills hands-on and then there are theory classes, as well,” Renaud said.
She added anyone thinking about the program should talk to someone at the college as soon as possible to get things set up.
The program also is available via distance education.
“So if we have people in Atikokan or Rainy River, or some of the farther communities, they have to come in to do the labs and clinicals, but they can take the theory by distance at a Contact North site,” Renaud explained.
Renaud reiterated there’s a need everywhere for personal support workers, not just in Fort Frances, due to the aging population.
“There is more and more demand for personal support workers,” she stressed, noting there are a variety of opportunities that come with completing the PSW program.
“If they are more interested in going into people’s homes and helping them out there, that’s certainly one of the options,” Renaud remarked.
“Then the long-term care facilities and assisted living facilities, [which] are becoming more and more popular, are also where they could find employment.”
Caul-Chartier said the position also is a great starting point for some people.
“They’ll maybe take the PSW course and decide they are interested in the nursing program, so they will continue on with their education,” she noted.
She added being a personal support worker also is a very rewarding job.
“If you like working with the elderly, it’s a great position,” Caul-Chartier said. “You get to spend a lot of time with them and help them with their activities of daily living and help them throughout the day.
“You get a chance to admire what they’ve accomplished in their lives,” she added.
“It’s one of those positions that they become like family.”
Caul-Chartier said the nursing staff at Rainycrest really relies on personal support workers because they get to know them so well.
“They are the ones who are providing their care on a daily basis, and know what’s normal and abnormal,” she remarked, noting they get to work with the families and always have that follow-up.
Caul-Chartier said the positions at Rainycrest usually begin as casual and on-call, and those interested do need to be available days, evenings, and weekends.
“But in the busier months, you get a schedule,” she added.
“There are lots of opportunities because the demand is so great.”
For more information about the PSW program, call the local college campus at 274-5395.
