PSWs and Their Role in Home Care: Supporting Patients in the Comfort of Their Own Homes

Personal Support Workers (PSWs) are an essential part of the healthcare sector, especially in the home care environment. The demand of PSWs has since been on the increase since more and more patients are willing to have the care provided at their homes. In any case, including the assistance in personal care and the management of medications, PSWs play a vital role in making sure that patients obtain the necessary help in a comfortable and familiar setting.

As a career choice, the NorthBridge College has a Personal Support Worker course in a New Brunswick that provides the course graduate with the required skills and knowledge to ensure success in such a developing profession.

We are going to discuss the importance of PSWs in home care, the duties undertaken by a PSW and the advantages of home care to patients in this blog. At the conclusion, you will understand why becoming a PSW is not only an excellent profession but a profession that is becoming more and more popular in Canada.

The Rising Demand for Home Care in Canada

Home care is becoming a fast-growing preference in Canada due to the aging population, desire to have more personalized care and cost-effective healthcare services. As the population ages, the healthcare services provided to the aged people are increasingly demanded to enable the elderly people live and stay in their homes as long as they can be independent and comfortable. The Canadian Home Care Association has indicated that over 1.4 million Canadians are currently dependent on the services of home care. This need is supposed to increase, and the role of PSWs cannot be more important than ever.

The advantages of home-based care are considerable, not only to the patient, but also to their families:

• Comfort and Familiarity: Being in a familiar setting makes the patients feel more relaxed, which is vital in matters of recovery and general wellbeing.
• Cost-Effectiveness: Home care can also be comparatively cheaper than long-term hospitalization or institutionalized care, thus making it a cost-effective method of care to families.
• Enhanced Quality of Life: Home care means that a person can keep their independence that may increase emotional well-being and decrease feelings of isolation.

With the home care sector expanding, the number of Personal Support Workers who are well trained are on the increase to help patients in their homes with the numerous duties they involve.

Key Responsibilities of a Personal Support Worker in Home Care

The responsibilities of a PSW in home care are varied, starting with personal care and ending with emotional support. The job is very dynamic and most of the time it involves multi tasking, empathy and adaptability to different needs of patients. The major duties of PSWs in home care are the following:

1. Personal Care Assistance

Personal care is considered one of the most basic activities performed by PSWs. This includes:

• Bathing, grooming, and dressing: Several patients (particularly those with mobility problems or chronic conditions) require assistance with their grooming and bathing.
• Toileting and incontinence care: PSWs assist patients with toileting which may involve the assistance in adult diapers or other hygiene-related functions.
• Mobility support: Assistance to patients in safely moving around their homes, either with the help of a walker or a bed to a wheelchair or assistance with walking.

Such personal care activities help to make the patient comfortable, uphold their dignity and remain as independent as possible with the care they need.

Confused between a Home Support Worker and a Personal Support Worker? We’ve broken it down for you — check out our blog to find out which career path fits you best!

2. Medication Management

Medication management is a very important part of home care to patients who are on various medications. PSWs usually have to take care of:

• Providing reminders to patients to take prescribed medicine in proper dosage and time.
• Arranging medications in such a way that they are properly packed and easily accessible.
• Monitoring the side effects or any change in the condition of the patient and reporting them to the healthcare professionals.

Although PSWs cannot prescribe medications, their medication management contributions are crucial in assisting patients to adhere to the treatment plans given to them.

3. Providing Emotional and Social Support

Emotional and social support is another responsibility of a PSW, which is less discussed and is also important, yet necessary. Home care may be a savior to loneliness and isolation among many patients, most of whom are the elderly. PSWs engage with patients by:

• Offering companionship: Conversational support and emotional support are critical in ensuring mental wellness.
• Assisting with social activities: Helping a patient to remain attached with their family, hobbies, or even community activities would go a long way in enhancing the quality of life.
• Providing reassurance and comfort: Patients who are ill, recovering, or in their end-of-life stage usually need a person to listen to their concerns and provide emotional support.

4. Light Household Tasks

PSWs are usually asked to help the patients in minor housekeeping to ensure a safe and clean environment in the home. These may include:

• Cleaning and organizing: Making sure that the home of the patient is clean, well-organized and without any hazards that can lead to accidents.
• Laundry: Assistance in laundry, washing, and folding of clothes.
• Meal preparation: Preparing nutritious food, particularly for patients with dietary limitations, can significantly improve the well-being of a patient.

A comfortable, safe, and clean home also plays a vital role in the healing process and the overall mental state of the patient.

5. Health Monitoring and Reporting

PSWs are not medical professionals but they usually notice a change in the condition of a patient first. Responsibilities include:

• Monitoring vital signs: PSWs can monitor vital signs like (blood pressure, temperature, and so on) as directed by the healthcare team.
• Reporting health changes: PSWs notify the healthcare team about any major modifications in the physical or emotional health of the patient (level of pain, fatigue, or mobility changes) that they should follow-up on.

The observations are used to secure that the health condition of the patient is handled effectively, and any health problems are dealt with as quickly as possible.

Why Home Care is Beneficial for Patients

The benefits of home care are many and not only to the patient but also to the families. The following are some of the reasons why home care is a good choice:

• Personalized care: Home care enables the individualized plan of care depending on the patient. This individualization is capable of enhancing patient satisfaction and results.
• Independence: When one is in their own home, the patient can continue to have a sense of autonomy, as they are in a familiar environment and they have greater control over their daily routine.
• Cost-effective: Home care is usually more cost-effective than hospital or long-term institutional care, and is therefore a viable choice among families.
• Improved recovery: Researchers have found that patients heal faster when they are in a familiar and comfortable setting, and this is why home care is being regarded as an effective option.

How NorthBridge College Prepares Students for a Career in Home Care

NorthBridge College offers the best foundation in case you are thinking of a career as a PSW in home care. The Personal Support Worker program offers:

• Comprehensive curriculum: We address all the necessary knowledge regarding home care, such as personal care, medication management, emotional support, etc.
• Hands-on training: The students are allowed to use their skills in real life experiences which will make them ready to handle the situation when working with the patients in their homes.
• Professional development: Our program focuses on the acquisition of the essential skills, such as communication, empathy, and time management, which are essential to leave an impact in the home care sector.

Conclusion

A Personal Support Worker (PSW) plays an important role in home care by ensuring that patients get the personalized care they require in the comfort of their homes. PSWs are engaged in personal care and medication administration to offer emotional support, which contributes to patient independence and the quality of life.

Are you eager to change the lives of people and you would like to join the expanding home care industry, then you should consider joining one of the best PSW program at the NorthBridge College that will enable you to become the skills needed to get into this rewarding profession.

Get moving on your path to becoming a PSW today and become a part of the expanding home care sector in the state of New Brunswick!

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