PSW shortage in Ontario

 

In Ontario there are more than 100,000 personal support workers, but the province is in need of more. 

There is a big shortage of PSWs in the province according to Ontario Health Coalition. The issue arises from the lack of students who are enroling in the PSW courses at colleges around the province. Perceived job stress could be a factor in low enrolment.

Charlene Miller has been a PSW for 11 years, in Amherstburg. She works part time as a PSW and says she did not always want to be one. 

“I wanted to be a teacher or work in a daycare,” said Miller. “I knew I wanted to help people. Elderly people have always been near and dear to my heart.” 

Miller said working day to day as a PSW is a lot of wear and tear on a person’s body physically and mentally. She said she works with four gentleman and assists them with tasks of everyday living, like: bathing, cooking, grocery shopping and doing things in the community. 

“The hardest thing I have ever had to do is sit at a gentleman’s bedside in the hospital as he took his last breath,” said Miller. “Also, we had a gentleman in the hospital for three weeks, who we watched deteriorate and pass away. Two different individuals, but they were housemates.” 

Miller said she tries to keep a positive attitude when she is overwhelmed. She said she reads when stressed and tries to walk away from a stressful situation to regroup and face the situation a different way. 

“I keep a positive attitude by remembering why I wanted to do this job in the first place,” said Miller. “We make such an impact on the people we support, it is so important to be positive around them. After all we are in their home. Treat the people you are caring for like they are family. A lot of the time, you are all they see.” 

Dave Peters works in Amherstburg. He said he fell into the job almost 30 years ago while attending post secondary because his friend introduced him to it. 

“It’s not always my favourite place to be,” said Peters. “But watching people I support making forward strides and achieving a better quality of life is the rewarding part.” 

Peters says he has issues with relieving stress. He said stepping away from stressful situations for a period of time helps him. Other times he said he will tinker with electronics and feels a certain satisfaction out of fixing stuff that others would probably throw away. 

Along with Miller, Peters said the hardest part of being in this field is watching people’s health decline. He said it is difficult when someone does not have any family to advocate for them. Peters said if anyone is interested in pursuing in this field, they need to be patient.

“Take time to listen and advocate,” said Peters. “Don’t go into it thinking you will earn lots of money. Go into it because you want to make a difference in someone’s life.” 

The average rate of pay for a beginner PSW is $16.50 hourly. Their salary can range between $27,300 and $48,750 per year. A Caring in Crisis report has been commissioned by Unifor regarding the shortage. The report is going to be based on the meetings which will be held across Ontario along with feedback. In Windsor-Essex County, around 450 people are working as PSWs in the community, and are in need of more.