At Caring Support, we want to ensure that caregivers are well taken care of because it is a direct reflection of our society’s well-being. Throughout this article, we share a few habits a caregiver can maintain, in order to create a healthy lifestyle and stay fit while not obstructing their work.

Related: Best Self-Care Recommendations For Nurses

Create An Exercise Plan

It is common knowledge that exercise is not the only way to lead a healthy and fit lifestyle, and it relies heavily on food intake as well. However, this does not necessarily mean that exercising does not play a significant role within the process of staying fit.

With that being said, before you dive into exercising, consider your current lifestyle. How will your new routine affect your schedule, your work situation, what type of exercise would you prefer and will it generate a level of happiness along with becoming fit. These items might seem cliché but are the ultimate determinant of how far you can go.

Another aspect to keep in mind is considering your exercise personality. Caregivers often work interchangeable schedules, switching from nights-to-day-shifts. Depending on your schedule, think of the following questions:

Do you have more energy in the morning, at night, or during the day?

What will keep you motivated to continue?

Do you prefer group classes? (this can be an option through home-workouts and online classes)

And lastly, what is your current fitness level?

These are important questions to consider before beginning because it allows you to then aim for realistic goals and work within your own boundaries. More often than not, caregivers find themselves working more shifts or longer hours than expected. Don’t hold yourself accountable for meeting the standards of those around you, simply focus on your goals.

Lastly, discuss your exercise plan with your physician before you begin any new exercise program. This is because; depending on your overall health, some types of exercise might do you more damage than good if not done properly. Once you’ve considered all of the above factors, you can proceed to create your plan. Here are some suggestions:

Maintain Good Health Habits

Healthcare workers spend a lifetime taking care and ensuring that their patients are healthy and safe. However, caregivers often forget that, like their patients, they are also in need of that same attention and care.

More often than not, caregivers delay giving attention to their health. How many times have you heard a fellow caregiver put-off getting their yearly exam? Or even visiting the doctor to ensure that their health is up to par?

Invest in your own health and yourself in general by taking time to ensure that you're well taken care of as well. Commonly, caregivers work in fast-paced environments and are often short on time, which can lead to relying on fast-food as a form of nutrition. However, it is important to look for ways to incorporate more proteins, vegetables, and fresh fruit into your diet. This obviously can be done through planning and packing yourself a healthy lunch and snack for work to improve and maintain your overall nutritional status.

Meal Prep!

As mentioned previously, maintaining healthy and good habits such as consuming foods that are high in protein, and incorporating fresh fruit and vegetables into your diet requires planning. That is where meal prepping comes in handy.

We understand that meal prepping can be a difficult task, but it has proven to work wonders. In order to make life a tad bit easier, it is recommended to prep the same meals for your work. We all understand that it can become repetitive to eat the same lunch for 3-5 days in a row, but meal prepping the same dish can really save you time, and if you are able to find a recipe you enjoy, then it makes it totally worth it. If you are someone that likes a lunch with a variety, find meals that have ingredients that overlap in order to make the prep part easier and quicker. Some great meal ideas are found on Fit Foodie Finds.

If you are someone that enjoys connecting with others and inquiring about what healthy habits have worked for them, you can always join social groups on Facebook – we have a great suggestion here: Caregivers Connect by Caring Support.

Healthy living and staying fit is a process. It can be challenging but the reward is far bigger than the fight. At Caring Support, we understand that caregivers are the true backbone of our society, and ensuring that they’re healthy and safe is our goal. We offers caregivers all the tools necessary to ensure their success, from providing a platform to match with potential employers and healthcare organizations, to delivering helpful tips and information through blog posts, news feeds, and groups.

Make sure to sign up to our platform if you are a new caregiver, and follow our social platforms to stay up to date with new and enhanced features.

Source: https://www.caringsupport.com/blog/how-to-stay-fit-and-healthy-as-a-caregiver

Related: Learn All About The PSW Job And Its Prospects

General PSW Requirements

In Ontario, the first requirement to become a PSW is to complete a PSW program in an accredited public, private, or community college and obtain a diploma. The Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities is the only institution in the province that can provide accreditations to academic organizations, and it also sets the standard for the curriculum.

To graduate from a PSW course, there are several classes all PSW students need to pass, which will provide them with the practical and theoretical knowledge to offer patients and clients the highest standard of general care. Additionally, PSWs in training will learn how to care for patients with specific needs like physical disabilities, mental health difficulties, and cognitive impairments. Classes aren’t necessarily named the same across all accredited institutions in the province, but they do follow the same guidelines that are part of the academic standard for all PSW programs.

The current educational standard for Personal Support Worker programs was published in 2014 by the Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities. The document was developed in conjunction with the Ministries of Health and Long-Term Care and Education of Ontario.

Once someone has completed a PSW Course and obtained a diploma, they are supposed to have all the basic skills necessary to land an entry-level job and start the second part of their training, which is gaining actual professional experience. This is what will set them apart from other caregivers.

PSW Course Requirements

To get admitted into a PSW course, candidates need to comply with some academic requirements, such as having an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), which is the main one. Candidates coming from outside the province need a Grade 12 Diploma (or a Secondary V diploma, for people from Quebec), and also the average grades required by the institution they are applying to.

If a candidate doesn’t have an OSSD or equivalent diploma, they might still be accepted in a PSW course as a mature student. This is an option for students over 19 years of age, and it allows them to pursue a PSW career by taking certain prerequisite classes and then resuming the admissions process using these grades.

For international candidates who would like to become PSWs in Canada, requirements are a bit more complex. They need to provide an equivalent secondary school diploma from their country of origin, including a course-by-course breakdown, as well as a certification from a credential assessment service (ICAS) like World Education Services (WES), indicating that their academic documents have been properly evaluated. These documents are necessary for institutions to determine if their secondary diploma is an appropriate equivalent to an OSSD.

Additionally, international students from non-English speaking countries have to provide translations of all their documentation, which should be done by a certified translator in Canada. They also need to meet an English Language Proficiency Requirement (ELPR), which is usually done by taking one of the available standardized tests like the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

It should be noted that these are just basic admission requirements that are commonly indicated by academic institutions in Ontario offering PSW courses. However, meeting these minimum requirements doesn’t guarantee entrance to a program, since some of them also require additional prerequisites, such as aptitude tests, essays, etc.

PSW Job Requirements

When looking for a job in the caregiving field, candidates need to know that most PSW job requirements are related to education, but also experience, even for entry-level positions. So, apart from having completed a PSW course or program, employers usually ask for experience working with certain types of patients, like seniors, in community settings or health service organizations.

Hiring managers looking for full-time or part-time caregivers also ask for certifications such as Basic Cardiac Life Support and First Aid, as well as a recent criminal record check or a clear police vulnerable sector check, and professional references. Plus, most of them ask for strong written and oral communication and basic computer skills.

Furthermore, some healthcare organizations where PSWs are needed have additional requirements like recent health testing, depending on the type of patients or clients workers will be in contact with. Testing can include tuberculosis and chest x rays.

Other common PSW job requirements are a valid G or G2 driver’s license, auto insurance, and reliable private vehicle; the flexibility to work different shifts like evening and weekend, or to be on-call; or availability to work added shifts without much advance notice and to attend to training, shifts, and meetings.

What do you think of these common requirements as by organizations where PSWs are needed? Are you up to the task? Let of know your thoughts!

Source: https://www.caringsupport.com/blog/these-are-the-main-psw-job-requirements

Find A PSW On Your Own Or Through An Agency

The very first question you need to answer is if you are looking to hire a PSW job privately or through a home care agency. This decision will determine the entire process, as they require different steps, and they both come with certain advantages and disadvantages, depending on your perspective.

Related: All About PSW Job?

One of the main benefits of hiring a PSW privately is having direct contact with the caregiver that will provide support to your family and not having to include a third party (an agency) in your relationship. This is also true for the hiring process, which you can conduct yourself, setting your own wages and work conditions. Plus, the cost of hiring an independent caregiver is usually less than hiring an agency.

Additionally, by hiring an independent PSW you have the certainty that your loved one will be cared for by only one person, and that they will develop a relationship of trust and empathy over time. This doesn’t always happen with caregiving agencies because they sometimes assign more than one PSW to your home.

The benefits of hiring a PSW through an agency are the experience and training these PSWs have, in addition to the fact that all of them go through a careful recruitment process where they check for criminal background, education, and file all the necessary paperwork, so you don’t have to.

On the other hand, home care agencies have multiple caregivers they can send to your home, in case the one assigned to your case calls in sick, has a personal emergency one day, or you simply don’t like the service that he or she is providing to your loved one. Also, agencies are able to offer particular services such as bilingual caregivers or home attendants that perform specific duties like physical therapy and are usually available to provide 24-hour customer service in case something out of the ordinary happens.

Hiring A PSW For Your Home Privately

First things first, if you decide to go the private way to hire a psw , you need to find a PSW that is right for your family, with the right qualifications to provide the type of home care you need. To find these caregivers you can post ads on job boards, social media, or advertising websites. You can also ask around in your community for referrals, and once you have a list of possible candidates, start making the calls to schedule interviews.

It should be noted that hiring a PSW that is known and recommended by other people in your community will give you more peace of mind, however, there are many excellent caregivers out there looking for work opportunities that you shouldn’t reject, but you do need to take a set of extra steps to make sure the person is right for the job and to protect your family.

These are the general steps you need to take to hire an independent PSW:

1- Get a personal background check of your candidate, both locally and federally. This is an important state that will give you peace of mind. You can do this through your local police or through an online service like screeningcanada.ca.

2- Verify his or her education certificates directly with the academic institution they went to or through a specific service that does this. Also, ask him or her about any current courses they are taking or their plans to continue with their education.

3- Check their skills and qualifications. Depending on what you need, you have to make sure the qualifications of any potential PSW are a good match for your loved one. For instance, does he or she need to administer medication? Assist with hygiene activities? Feed your loved one?

4- Beware of PSWs asking to be paid cash or “under the table”, as this is illegal and it puts your loved one in potential danger because most times these types of PSWs have no malpractice insurance or may not even be legally entitled to work in the country.

One last thing and this is a big one. When hiring an independent PSW to work privately for you, you are the employer. This means you need to file all the paperwork (employment contract, tax forms, etc.), register as an employer to get workplace insurance, make sure your caregiver works the right amount of time, and pay for overtime when needed (holiday pay and vacation pay too). It sounds like a lot, but all of these processes are legally required of employers for their sake and the sake of their employees.

Hiring A PSW For Your Home Through An Agency

If you don’t want to deal with all the paperwork and processes of hiring a PSW on your own, and would also like to avoid all the risks that come with it; the best alternative is to hire a caregiver through a reputable home care organization.

Home care agencies have multiple personal support workers who have been selectively recruited due to their qualifications and skills to provide support to people in their own homes. These PSWs usually have lots of experience in the field, have had their criminal record and references checked, are protected by the company’s liability coverage, and are required by their agency to stick to a certain quality level when providing care.

In addition, personal support workers coming from an agency are always qualified to meet your particular requirements because they are constantly trained and prepared to deal with a wide array of situations when caring for an elderly or ill person. Also, home care agencies usually perform an in-home assessment to determine what your needs are and who could be the PSW that better matches them. These visits also offer a lot of clarity about the type of services you will be receiving, schedules, care plan, questions, and concerns, etc.

A very important point in these cases is to choose the right agency for you. One starting point could be looking for one that is accredited through Accreditation Canada or registered with the International Standards Association (ISO), for instance. This is how you know you will be paying for the services of a trustworthy organization that is well known in the caregiving sector, so take your time in this process, and contact different agencies, read their reviews, compare the services they offer, and check their accreditations, before making a decision.

One final thing to consider is that many agencies are government-funded, which means that if your family qualifies for a personal support worker, the costs of hiring one may be covered by government subsidies, depending on the province where you live.

We hope these recommendations help you figure out the best way for you to hire a PSW. Feel free to leave us any questions or comments about this interesting topic. Good luck with your search!

Source: https://www.caringsupport.com/blog/how-to-hire-a-psw-for-your-home

Self-isolation, along with living in fear and a constant state of anxiousness causes a strong emotion and may even result in the worsening of caregivers’ mental health and overall fatigue. In order to protect the body, mind, and general well-being, caregiver mental health must be taken care of and made a priority.

Related: Useful Self-Care Recommendations For Nurses

We want caregivers to overcome this pandemic in a manner that does not impede on their own mental and overall well-being. That is why we share the next 5 tips as coping mechanisms to protect caregivers’ mental health during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

1. Take Small Breaks Throughout The Day

Caregivers rarely ever work the regular 8-hour shift that we are all familiar with, and more often than not, they are working long hours, while taking care of multiple patients at a time. With that being said, as much as you deserve a long break, allowing yourself to indulge in small breaks throughout the day can and will improve your emotional and physical health. These small breaks allow you to recharge your body and take time to reflect on your own needs.

Small breaks have proven to relieve stress, allowing your mind and body to stay focused on important tasks, and help you think more clearly throughout the day.

However, it is significant to find an environment that is different from that of your workplace. This place can be your bedroom, your car, or even the front porch. While this sounds like a simple task, it’s important to keep in mind the reason for your little breaks is to allow your mind and body to focus on yourself.

2. Create And Maintain A Routine That Works For You

This pandemic has challenged everyone’s previous routine, from working in an office to working from home, and from working long shifts to working longer ones. In these times of uncertainty, having a set daily schedule allows your mind to find comforting structure and certainty.

Along with that, it is significant to maintain a healthy lifestyle by exercising, eating well, and getting some fresh air every once in a while. Most caregivers already have a daily routine as they care for older adults who need their own routine. However, if you’ve lost track of your old routine and have recently found yourself in a funk, try going back to your routine for a week or two to see if it still works to improve your mental health and well-being.

For example, this can be as simple as going to sleep and waking up at a scheduled time every day, or putting yourself together for the day as you did before the pandemic.

These acts may seem little, but it allows your mind to keep track of your body’s state, allowing it creates a little bit of a norm out of these unprecedented times.

3. Improve Your Sleep Schedule

Generally speaking, caregivers often find sleep to be in short supply and is not that of the best quality. More recently, and with the COVID-19 pandemic challenges such as self-isolation and the constant worry of catching the virus, combined with the reduced amount of support can create tougher environments to be able to get a goodnight's sleep.

Nevertheless, physical rest such as a goodnight's sleep has proven to be one of the most successful ways to improve caregivers’ mental health and overall well-being. For example, allowing your body to get the 8-hour of sleep can boost caregivers; such as PSW’s, the ability to be more easy-going with their older patients and be able to adjust to constant change such as the one we are currently undergoing.

4. Take Care Of Your Body

We often hear people say to take care of ourselves. But, what does that really mean? As mentioned above, one of the best ways to improve caregiver's mental health is to make time to get a goodnight's sleep. However, there are other ways one can improve their mental well-being.

Take deep breaths. This is crucial when you find yourself in difficult situations. Caregivers deal with some of the most stressful jobs, and it can become challenging to control emotions. Remember to take deep breaths, this allows the mind to take a moment to think before anything is said or done.

Exercise. This can be as simple as walking the dog or going to the store to pick up a snack. These types of actions can seem small but have the ability to change your mood and ultimately your day very easily.

Eat right. Try to eat relatively well-balanced meals, and highly limit alcohol and drugs. This will help boost your immunity and ultimately your mental health.

Related: How To Stay Fit And Healthy As A Caregiver?

5. Always Remember That You Are NOT Alone

During these times, it has never been more important to connect with other people, especially those who are going through the same struggles and understand the caregiver’s daily challenges. However, with that being said, staying connected with friends and family is very important. While everyone’s lives may be different, remember that we’re all going through this pandemic together. In order, to connect with other caregivers who are in circumstances similar to yours, join an online caregiver support group where you can get support 24/7.

Reach out to supportive family and friends and spend some time talking on the phone, or even enjoy a nice cup of tea together over a video call.

If you are new to the healthcare sector, recently graduated or someone looking for a change in positions/environment, make sure to sign up to Caring Support. It is a platform that aims to make the job searching process easier for healthcare workers within Ontario, providing a platform to connect with potential employers in new and innovative ways.

Source: https://bit.ly/2WNIM0r

Our goal at Caring Support is to make the process of finding employment after graduating as a caregiver of any path, easier, quicker, and much more comprehensive than the traditional way. The Caring Support team has put in countless long hours to building this platform to be much bigger than a healthcare employment matching site. That is why on Caring Support’s website, you will find access to social media groups where current and future caregivers can ask questions and discuss important topics, and blog posts, where we share vital information on coping with mental health or staying healthy during this pandemic.

However, that’s not all. Our team works tirelessly every day to ensuring that this platform reaches the right people, at the right time, to help them make the right decision. With that being said, an important aspect that our team wants to ensure is that the burden of searching for a new job is not placed on healthcare workers, but instead by allowing them the opportunity to let their Caring Support profiles do all the heavy lifting. For that reason, we have spent time working with post-secondary institutions in order to begin this new generation of caregivers out on the right foot into the real world.

Benefits Of Post-Secondary Institutions Working With Caring Support

As mentioned previously, part of our initiative at Caring Support is to start graduating students on the right path to success. The reason behind this is that most caregivers within our hospitals, long-term care homes, and all other healthcare facilities are slowly, if not already, becoming burned-out. The process of transferring from one position to another should not be another heavy burden added onto their already hefty schedules.

The benefits that post-secondary institutions reap is providing their already stressed students with the right answers following their graduation, creating a long lasting channel of communication between the graduates and the institutions. These long lasting relationships will create future partnerships, further courses, and a positive reputation within the caregivers’ circle. These are important in the long run as they create an image within the community that this institution truly cares for their students, even after graduating.

The post-secondary benefits are as follows;

Ease of Use: easily search and access healthcare organizations regarding students’ practicum placements.

Increased Opportunity: higher placement ratios

Data Collection: access data on where candidates end up in the market of study

Cost Free: no fees for student or institution users of the platform

All healthcare organizations/businesses are thoroughly examined and confirmed legitimate before accessing platform information

Access to criminal background checks, quicker and more cost-friendly

Benefits For Students On The Caring Support Platform

The student benefits are as follows;

Time-Saving: no need for updating the resume and cover letters for each application, instead have them ready right on the platform

Video Resume: showcase your personality easily through a video resume and allow future employers to meet your great personality

Criminal Background Checks: complete your criminal background checks right on the platform and receive it back within 4-6 hours

Instant Messaging: built-in direct communication to healthcare organizations

Recommended Jobs: access recommended jobs based on the information on your profile

Multi-Device Compatible Application: always be ready for your next opportunity through our ready to use application

Westervelt College Visit

In recent efforts to begin the process of helping out Post-Secondary Institutions and allowing them to become a part of the Caring Support Platform, the Caring Support team visited and met with Westervelt College students and faculty members.

In this visit, Caring Support partnered with Westervelt! With that being said, the Caring Support platform is now accessible to both the post-secondary institution and current and future caregiver students. During our visit, we presented the staff and students with SaniGO sanitizer wristbands that will help keep their hands germ, virus, and bacteria-free throughout their busy days.

We are extremely grateful to be able to meet with such incredible individuals and be able to extend a helping hand. This is all thanks to Don Thibert, president, and CEO Westervelt College, who spent the time to perfectly arrange this partnership.

"I'm very encouraged to see how graduates will be able to launch their new careers in Healthcare using the Caring Support platform, considering that our mission At Westervelt College is to empower our students to achieve their career goals. I think the platform really resonates with us in terms of community involvement and innovation, so I am certain it will help them find their path in this field," said Mr. Thibert.

As president of Westervelt College, one of the oldest colleges in Canada, founded in 1885; he added that the Caring Support platform is a resourceful tool for graduates from the 11 career-focused programs they offer in the health care field since it allows them to learn more about the job market in London and Southwestern Ontario, as well as connect with their peers, and showcase their academic qualifications to potential employers.

If you have a group of healthcare workers that you would like to thank for their hard work, let us know and we are happy to arrange a day to pay them a visit and thank them personally.

If you are a healthcare organization or post-secondary institution wanting to learn more about our platform, please visit our site or contact us. We are more than happy to assist you with the process, and answer your questions!

If you are a caregiver looking to find employment, or just become a part of this revolutionary way of connecting with potential employers, create your FREE account today!

Source: https://bit.ly/3h5C0db

Personal Support Workers (PSWs) Hard Skills

These are the PSW skills that all personal support workers learn during their training and then get to perfect overtime on the job.

Medical Knowledge

PSWs need to know how the human body works and understand the function of each of the body systems. This knowledge will allow them to identify health problems, as well as properly alleviate aches and pains their patients may feel.

Common Health Conditions of the Elderly

A great percentage of PSWs work with the elderly population, and to do this they need to understand the most common health conditions that affect senior citizens and predict possible complications. These conditions include arthritis, health disease, diabetes, etc.

Mental Health and Cognitive Problems

PSW workers need to have at least broad knowledge about common cognitive problems and mental health issues that their clients could suffer from, such as depression, anxiety, dementia, but also brain tumors. Knowing about these conditions will help them identify and treat their symptoms better.

Support and Assistance

PSWs' main duty is to provide support and assistance to those who need it with daily tasks like personal hygiene. Therefore, they need to know how to properly bathe, groom, and dress their patients, among other activities.

Documentation

One of the tasks personal support workers need to do is documenting their patient’s progress to keep their physicians informed about their health condition, responses to new medication, and any changes that may occur in their physical or mental state.

Nutrition Knowledge

PSWs are usually in charge of feeding their patients and making sure they are well hydrated. They can also be in charge of meal preparation and grocery shopping. This is the reason why they need to learn about nutrition since it is one of the most important ways they can keep their patients healthy.

Medication Administration

Sometimes PSWs are required to administer medication to their patients under the supervision of their physicians. To be able to do this, caregivers need to understand how common medications work, dosages, and techniques to properly administer them.

Mobility and Machinery Operation

PSWs usually have to assist patients with limited or no mobility. To do this, they need to know proper lifting and pivoting techniques and how to operate mobility assistive machinery like sit-to-stand lifts and Hoyer lifts.

Personal Support Workers (PSWs) Soft Skills

PSW Soft skills are equally important as hard skills, as they facilitate their daily work activities by helping them better communicate with their patients, focus, control their emotions, interact with their coworkers and clients, and much more. Some of these psw skills come naturally to certain people, while others need to be acquired through training, experience, and intentional development.

Communication Skills

PSWs need to be able to communicate effectively with everyone around them, but communication skills are more than that; they also involve non-verbal communication and the ability to listen and comprehend what others are saying and what they really mean. This type of skill is so important that it is essential to all career paths, not just healthcare.

Interpersonal Skills

These are the skills that allow people to interact with others effectively. Interpersonal skills include being a good team player, knowing how to collaborate, and having conflict management and resolution skills.

Empathy

Developing this particular skill is crucial for providing caring support to patients. Empathy allows PSWs to understand what their patients are feeling and to attend to them with patience, respect and kindness.

Compassion

Similar to empathy, compassion helps PSWs engage with their patients and treat them with the tenderness and calmness they need, especially when it comes to mentally impaired patients, who are often scared, confused, or completely unaware of their surroundings.

Problem-Solving Skills

Personal support workers should be able to solve any situation that comes their way quickly and efficiently, always putting the wellbeing of their patients first. An excellent PSW knows how to anticipate challenges, find creative solutions and avoid getting caught up on challenges too long.

Flexibility

A good PSW is flexible and adaptable, considering that working with people can be unpredictable and every day is different than the day before. Flexibility is a great tool because it allows PSWs to quickly change their mindset and adjust their approach to any given situation when things don’t go as planned.

Motivation

PSWs should be self-motivated, but also able to motivate others. They must be aware of how much their attitude influences their patients and how their words can motivate them to work as a team to achieve their common goals. If a PSW is a good motivator, they can encourage patients to be more active, optimistic, and independent.

Professionalism

PSWs usually work with people they don’t necessarily like, and that is okay. Sometimes their patients’ family members, coworkers, or supervisors can be hard to talk to or likely to make unrealistic demands, but PSWs should conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times, and this will help them succeed in this challenging career as well as teach others to treat them with respect and professionalism.

Time Management

PSWs find that time management skills and the ability to organize their tasks are very helpful in their careers. Most of them work with multiple patients at a time and they need to manage their workload in order to care for everyone and attend to their individual needs, which is why these skills are crucial.

All of these skills, hard and soft, are abilities that help PSWs perform their daily activities with ease and provide the best service to their patients. For instance, hard skills help them perform personal hygiene or housekeeping activities, but soft skills help them talk to their patients and make them feel safe and confident. Also, listening to patients with empathy and compassion helps PSWs identify their needs, understand their behavior, and predict possible changes. Finally, communication skills help them provide support to their patients’ families and reassure them that their loved one is in good hands.

Source: https://www.caringsupport.com/blog/personal-support-worker-skills

In this article, we will list some of the most common PSW roles and responsibilities, and we will also mention others that are not as common but certainly prove that PSWs are among the most versatile caregiving professionals in the healthcare sector.

PSW Roles And Responsibilities

The roles and responsibilities PSWs perform while caring for patients and clients usually depend on the plan of care that healthcare providers create for each person, considering their health and the type of setting where they are being cared for, the type of services they or their families want to receive, among other factors. PSWs (personal support workers) are not directly responsible for creating these plans, but they are the ones who execute them.

Generally speaking, PSW’s main roles and responsibilities are:

Following patient’s pre-established plan of care under the supervision of a Registered Healthcare Professional such as a Registered Nurse (RN) or a Registered Practical Nurse (RPN).

Performing all tasks delegated to them and their training allows them to. These tasks usually involve providing personal care such as bathing, oral hygiene, and toileting; helping them with dressing, grooming, and eating; and assisting with ambulation, positioning, and transferring (using devices like a Hoyer lift).

Observing patient’s behavior, cognitive state, and physical condition in order to report any changes or unsafe conditions in their environment to the healthcare professional in charge of their plan of care (RN, RPN, or manager) or a family member.

Completing computer or paper records of patient’s activities, communication books, and progress notes, and keeping them up to date.

Additional PSW Roles And Responsibilities

According to the Ontario PSW Association, besides the above-listed roles and responsibilities, a PSW (personal support worker) can have, the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA) sets out guidelines that allow unregulated health professionals to perform certain controlled acts such as insertion of a digit or instrument into a body cavity, care or procedure under the dermis, and any task or skill needing a physician’s prescription.

Additionally, PSWs can also carry out these duties:

Assisting with medication and medication reminders.

In hospitals and long-term care homes, assisting nursing staff by answering call bells.

Performing patient watch for confused patients with dementia or delirium in clinical care settings. Providing orientation to date, time, and place when necessary.

Assisting nurses and physical therapy staff with the personal care of patients and physical therapy goals.

Ensuring patient’s room is clutter-free, changing bed linens as needed, and making sure patient’s bed is in their preferred position, call bells are within their reach, and bed alarms are working.

In home-care settings, performing light housekeeping duties like sweeping and mopping floors, vacuuming, washing dishes, and laundry.

Helping with grocery shopping, meal planning and preparation, and even walking the family dog or attending to their pets, when necessary.

Assisting the client with any activity they would do if able to live independently.

What did you think of this wide array of PSW roles and responsibilities? Do you know any other that we could add to the list? Leave us a comment below.

Source: https://www.caringsupport.com/blog/psws-roles-and-responsibilities

What Does It Mean To Work As A Private PSW?

Private personal support workers are caregiving professionals that work for privately owned healthcare organizations, such as private home care agencies, nursing homes, and long-term care centers. In Ontario, where home care is publicly funded, these private companies provide much-needed relief to families that don’t qualify for publicly funded care or families that do but want to add extra hours or services to their current care plan.

Privately owned healthcare organizations are constantly hiring personal support workers to work with the elderly, children, people with disabilities, or even expecting mothers, helping them become more independent. These services are usually paid for by patients and clients through financial support, private insurance, employee benefit plans, or out-of-pocket.

Private PSWs can also work on their own as independent caregivers, without the representation of a home care agency. Those who work under this format usually advertise their services online or get recommended to families in need through word of mouth in a community.

Advantages Of Working As A Private PSW

One of the first decisions a recent PSW graduate needs to make is working in either the public or the private sector. Or course, they both have their benefits and their challenges. These are some of the pros of private PSW job:

Flexibility

‍As a private PSW, you usually get to choose your hours, the services you can provide, and the number of families you want to work with at a time. Independent PSWs get even more flexibility because they get to negotiate the terms of their services on their own and set a schedule that suits them best. Having this freedom is something that part-time or occasional caregivers appreciate the most about working in the private sector because it allows them to keep other jobs and attend to other responsibilities they might have.

Work Experience

Private PSWs get to accumulate more work experience faster because they get to enter the workforce right away once they complete their training, which lasts for less than a year. This allows them to develop their nursing and social skills in a variety of settings and with many different types of clients, something that will benefit them as they move forward in their careers.

Job Opportunities

‍Since privately owned healthcare organizations are constantly looking for new staff members, there are plenty of job opportunities in the private sector for PSWs and in multiple settings, not just home care agencies.

Career Advancement‍

Thanks to the diverse work experience that working as a private PSWs provides, caregivers have the opportunity to easily transition into other careers in healthcare and become nurses or pharmacy assistants, for instance.

Professional Satisfaction

‍Personal support workers have the opportunity to do meaningful work for their communities, making a positive difference in the lives of those who they care for. They get to spend quality time with their patients and clients in their own homes, easing their pains, helping them in their daily activities, and providing them with company and conversation that contributes to their mental and emotional health. This is one perk that other careers in healthcare don’t have.

Disadvantages Of A Private PSW Job

Workload

‍Personal support workers in the private sector are usually work for home care agencies or are directly hired by families to care for their loved ones in their own homes, instead of going through public health care or hospital services. In this type of setting, their work tends to be more intensive because they work longer hours and provide many additional services like grocery shopping, cooking, companionship, administering medications, or support to the entire family.

Multiple Patients

‍The personal support workers that work in a home care agency, private hospices, long-term care facilities, or nursing homes usually provide services to multiple patients or families at a time, which multiplies their workload and leaves little time for a healthy work-life balance.

Private PSWs Shift Work and Inconsistent Pay

‍Oftentimes, private nursing homes and similar facilities offer rotating shifts to their PSWs or keep them in an on-call status, without giving them the option of working regular hours. As a result, their pay changes from one week to another and they usually have a hard time scheduling other activities since they never know when they will have to work.

In conclusion, the demand for a personal support worker in Ontario keeps increasing and this caregiving career remains among the most attractive for people looking for a new professional path or for recent high school graduates looking to work in the healthcare sector without investing the amount of time and resources necessary to get an education in most of the other occupations. Working as a private PSW is just one of the ways people can start their career in this field, and like any other type of job, people should consider every pro and con before making a final decision about it.

So, did we answer all your questions about this topic? If you have any other doubts or comments, let us know in the comment section below.

Source: https://www.caringsupport.com/blog/is-working-as-a-private-psw-right-for-you

Job interviews can be conducted through a phone call, in-person, and through video. This last format has become more and more popular these days due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but in healthcare, some employers may still choose to meet their candidates in person, with a pre-screening phone interview beforehand. Regardless of the format, when invited to a PSW job interview what we generally recommend is that you start by doing some research about the employer, then anticipating their interview questions, practice your answers, and finally coordinating all additional details that will determine if you succeed and make it to the next round, or not. More on this in the following section.

Related: All about PSW job

Best Tips For A PSW Job Interview

Research the Employer

This means doing actual research, not just looking them up on social media. It is important that you visit the company's website, read about their story, their corporate values, and business model. Also, try to find their latest news, so you know what the company has been up to in recent months.

Anticipate the PSW Interview Questions

It is a good idea to anticipate what kind of questions you will be asked during the PSW interview. Make a list of questions and try to come up with good answers that showcase your skills and qualifications. According to personalsupporworkerhq.com, most questions asked during a personal support worker job interview are scenario-based, so you will have to describe how you would approach different caregiving situations, like working with terminally ill patients or patients with dementia. When answering each question, keep in mind your goal is to convince the interviewer that you are the best candidate for the position in a professional and respectable way.

Practice Your Answers

Another step you may want to take is practicing your interview answers in front of a mirror, recording yourself, or with family and friends. You can even have a mock interview where you practice every part of the interview, including your introduction. The idea is for you to get comfortable talking about your experiences and skills and get feedback that will help you perform much better when the real interview happens.

Plan Your Outfit

Even though when working as a PSW you usually wear scrubs, it is important that you dress in professional attire for your interview, even if it is a video interview. Our recommendation is that you wear a professional suit in neutral colors and keep the accessories as simple as you can.

Get Some Rest Before PSW Interview

You need to get plenty of rest before your interview. This will help you keep a clear mind and look fresher in the morning if the interview is early.

Be on Time

Regardless of where the interview will be held, in person or virtual, you need to make sure you can be there on time. If it's in person and in a location that is unfamiliar to you, make travel arrangements with enough time, so you can get there about 15 minutes ahead of schedule. For virtual PSW interviews, make sure your computer and accessories are working well, and double-check if you have to sign up for a particular website to access the interview. The goal is to be there at the right time and not keep the interviewer waiting.

Behave in a Friendly and Professional Manner

How you behave during your interview will tell your interviewer just as much about you like the things you say. Remain friendly and professional, making sure you look confident, but not presumptuous. You need to prove that you can communicate well with others because this is a key skill for a PSW(personal support worker), so smile, make eye contact, and speak slowly and clearly.

Ask Genuine Questions

‍Everybody knows that candidates are supposed to ask questions at the end of their interview, so you should prepare a couple beforehand. However, these are not supposed to be questions that you think will make you look good in front of the interviewer, these are supposed to be questions about aspects of the job or the company that you are truly and genuinely interested in. Don't ask just for the sake of it, make sure you use this opportunity to get the information you need to decide if you really want to take the PSW position if they offer it to you (but don't ask about salary or benefits unless the employer mentions it. These topics are usually discussed in later stages of the hiring process.)‍

Be Yourself

‍This is the most important tip we can give you. Be who you are, speak about what makes you passionate about your career and why you want the job. Being a PSW is not an easy path, so if you are serious about this career, show it. Be honest and stay true to yourself.

Follow Up

‍At the end of the PSW job interview, take notes of anything in particular that you spoke about and you can later bring up in a thank you message. This is important because it will make you stand out from the rest of the candidates the interviewers probably saw that day and that week. And if you don't hear from them in two weeks, feel free to send a simple and respectful follow-up message, to remind the employer that you are still interested in the position and waiting to hear back.

And that is it! We wish you the best of luck in your job search, and if you have more questions about this topic, let us know in the comment section below.

Source: https://bit.ly/2VlUMFG

Frontline workers such as caregivers, wearing masks and personal protective equipment (PPE) throughout their entire shift have reported negative skin reactions. The highest incidence of conditions includes facial itch, rashes, and most commonly reported; acne.

Related: Useful Self-Care Recommendations For Nurses

Having a consistent skincare routine is more important today than ever before. That is to ensure that our skin is being well taken care of, eliminating adverse reactions to masks, or even to ensure that the negative reaction is not progressing and becoming a larger issue leading to extensive medical procedures.

While masks are a great way to protect ourselves and others while only keeping a small amount of our face covered, caregivers must have them on for long periods of time which in turn can capture the moisture of air we exhale within it, causing a variety of skin problems. At Caring Support, we want to ensure that caregivers are well prepared for all challenges that may come their way while they face these unprecedented times. With that being said, the following are some skincare problems experienced by caregivers and people who wear masks all the time, and how to properly take care of them.

Dry Skin

Some masks, especially surgical masks, can absorb the natural moisture of your face and can result in dry skin. Drying of the skin can lead to irritation such as rashes or even itchiness.

Applying a facial moisturizer that is heavy duty and includes ceramides can penetrate the skin with hydration and allow the skin to gain back its natural moisture. Ceramides help create a barrier to prevent absorbency, this allows the moisture to be locked into the skin and helps prevent dryness and irritation. A great example of a skin hydrating moisturizer is First Aid Beauty’s Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration.

Red Rash

Almost all mask reactions are irritation from friction rather than a physical allergic reaction to the mask’s material, with that being said caregivers wearing masks for long hours and multiple days in a row can experience red sore rash where the mask comes to contact with the face.

Over-washing and exfoliating the skin frequently can worsen the irritation, instead of using water and a warm washcloth and using a gentle cleanser should help reduce the redness and the rash faster and more effectively. A gentle face cleanser is CeraVe’s Hydrating Cream-To-Foam Cleanser.

Washing your face regularly, ensuring all dirt, soap, and detergent are washed out is very important. Make sure to use skin products that do not include anti-aging treatments, condition treatment, or fragrance as those can become irritating to the skin when combined with a mask.

Rash & Soreness Behind The Ears

An experience that we have had one or a few times now that we have been wearing masks for over a year is dryness, soreness, and rashes behind the ear. This is self-explanatory and comes from the friction of the mask’s strings with the ears as we move our face, speak, or move the mask down.

One of the easiest ways to fix this issue is to use a string-tie mask, that ties behind the head rather than loops around the ears. Another option is to use a clip that connects the ear loop parts behind the head. A great suggestion is the Mask Hook Straps from Amazon. Ensuring your mask fits right is another aspect of curbing the rash and soreness behind the ears. With that being said, wearing a mask that has ear loops that fit more loosely can be very beneficial. However, be careful that the mask isn't too loose. The mask should still be snug around the cheeks, nose, and chin area. A great suggestion is Amazon’s face masks.

Rosacea

With the warmer weather around the corner, heat under the mask is bound to become unbearable. People who suffer from Rosacea already know that heat causes the skin vessels to widen resulting in a worsen case of Rosacea. Caregivers who suffer from Rosacea that are now wearing masks for long periods of time can experience frequent flares. This will cause redness, enlarged blood vessels, and fluid-filled bumps around the cheeks and chin area.

People have had multiple solutions of Rosacea, however, one of the most effective ways to ensure that flares are not happening often is removing the mask every once in a while. However, if that is not possible, ensuring your face is cool by staying in shaded spaces and colder environments is also helpful. A product solution that has become popular for Rosacea is The Ordinary’s Niacinamide Serum.

Acne

If you are someone who experiences breakouts, masks have definitely given you a hard time. Masks can trap acne-causing bacteria on the skin, and for caregivers who are wearing their masks for long periods of time, this can create a build-up of bacteria that then causes a larger breakout.

One of the ways to prevent mask acne is to begin using a gentle salicylic acid wash as part of your skincare routine. Salicylic acid is known for reducing acne and gently exfoliating the skin to ensure pores stay clear. An item to keep note of is the ensure that products you are using to curb acne are labeled “non-comedogenic” to ensure that pores are not clogged in the process.

If you have a current prescription for your acne, ask your physician for a change in prescription and skincare routine. Some products maybe become irritating from wearing a mask, and new prescription products may be necessary.

Additional Notes

Problems caused by different masks affect the skin differently. For example, blue surgical and cloth masks can cause irritation and dryness, and applying moisturizing cream to your clean damp face after taking off the mask for the day can help prevent dryness and future irritation.

It’s vital to have a consistent skincare routine that works for you, as it will help prevent problems from arising in the future. This can be a simple cleanse, serum, moisturize steps, or an extensive one, make sure it works for your skin type.

Caring Support

We want to ensure that caregivers find the answers to all their questions on our platform. That is why our blogs range from topics regarding how the Caring Support platform works and finding the right position for you, to topics such as this one. If you have not already, make sure to create your FREE caregiver account today, and connect with us on social to stay up to date with all things healthcare.

Source: https://www.caringsupport.com/blog/ways-to-prevent-mask-skin-problems