1. ersonal Support Workers
Foundation of Health Care Provision

2. 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

3. Changing Role of PSW
• Personal SupportWorker Program – Began in 1997
• Consolidated & replaced 5 other programs & training
• Home Support II and III program,
• Health Care Aide program
• Attendant CareTraining and;
• Respite WorkerTraining
• 2014 – Establishment of new “program standard” educational
standards
• Vocational Standard, Essential Employability Skills and General Education
Requirement

4. 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

5. “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

6. LTC
57%
Home Care
34%
Hospitals & other
settings
9%
PSW by Sector
LTC
Home Care
Hospitals
Where is the work?

7. 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

8. JobTitles/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

9. PSWs – Foundation for Health Care

10. Trends Impacting Role & Scope ofWork
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

11. Trends Impacting Role & Scope ofWork
for PSWs
• Increasing acuity of residents
• Expansion of Home and Community Care Sector
• Fewer informal caregivers in the home
• Cuts to hospital beds

12. Trends Impacting Role & Scope ofWork
for PSWs…
•Pilot Project – Self Directed Funding for
Senior’s Home Care
•Educational Standards
•End of PSW Registry & WhatWill Replace It
•Additional Certification “Restorative Care Skills
Certificate”