Personal Support Workers: The Unsung Heroes of Our Time
(Photo : Personal Support Workers: The Unsung Heroes of Our Time)

Personal Support Workers (PSWs) are healthcare professionals who provide support and care to seniors and individuals recovering from surgery or an illness. PSWs are compassionate by nature and have an intuitive desire to help others. You can find PSWs working in hospitals, long-term care homes, community centres, and private residences. The type of care that PSWs provide to seniors can drastically improve the quality of their Clients' lives and loved ones. PSWs often don't receive the amount of credit that they should. Unless you're directly affected by what PSWs provide, you might not understand how incredibly essential such hard-working people are to millions of seniors.

PSWs bring joy to people's lives. Many individuals wouldn't function without their assistance, and their expertise and unique skills are invaluable. Is there someone in your life that might benefit from regular visits from a trained healthcare professional? Read on to find out why PSWs are integral to senior healthcare and how your loved one might benefit from their ongoing support.

They Provide Companionship 

Being a senior is hard work. Many people develop conditions such as arthritis or other mobility issues as they age, making it challenging to get out and about. Getting older can also be tough on people's mental and emotional health. It's widespread to experience depression, anxiety, and loneliness. Loved ones start to pass away, and it becomes increasingly difficult to stay in touch with distant friends and family members. You wish you could spend more time with your loved one, but unfortunately, it's not always easy to do so - especially with the ongoing pandemic and physical distance restrictions. 

PSWs can fill that void with genuine friendship. They'll lend an empathetic ear, even if it's merely to sit down with your relative or friend to watch the evening news or play a game of cards. PSWs are natural listeners and learners and will mentally stimulate your loved one's day with engaging conversation. 

They Provide Specialty Services at Home

PSWs offer unique options to their Clients right in the comfort of home. Find a senior healthcare agency that provides services such as massage therapy, physiotherapy, and wound care. Does your loved one have a life-limiting illness, such as cancer or Parkinson's Disease? You'll want a service provider that offers a compassionate at home palliative care program. The right team of PSWs and caregivers will provide the support that your loved one needs as they receive the treatments and therapies for their illness, such as chemotherapy or radiation. 

Palliative care is all about increasing patients' quality of life by implementing things such as pain management and emotional counselling. Palliative PSWs will do precisely that with their trained expertise and nurturing approach.

They're Highly Trained 

There's a growing demand for personalized home care services. PSWs are fully trained and capable of offering the long-term care that seniors need. Certified PSWs perform various duties, from personal hygiene to physical care to home management to recreation. 

Personal Support Workers wear many hats. They become a friend, a confidante, a helper, and a provider of health care and personal services for their Clients. They work hard at their jobs to ensure seniors' health and safety and deserve a round of applause for the work they do.