Some say the shortage of personal support workers in Ontario is worse than ever as staff exit the profession due to burnout and stress. BNN has reported that due to a lack of beds, the Ontario government is considering relocating hospitalized seniors in northern Ontario to long-term care facilities up to 300 kilometers away from their hometowns. In this month’s “Blackfly Q & A”, we asked Linda McMullen, Director of Operations at TLC Healthcare Services (TLC Muskoka Home Health Care), how the critical shortage of personal support workers is impacting the elderly.
- The healthcare system as a whole is reportedly in crisis right now and much of the issue appears to be staffing shortages. We know the pandemic was especially hard on PSWs. Is that partly why the field is experiencing a labor shortage?
There are a variety of issues surrounding the PSW shortage that existed prior to the pandemic.
The greatest area of concern is the Long-Term Care Act that restricts who can be hired to work as a PSW in Long Term Care Homes. The Act requires PSWs to have an Ontario PSW certificate obtained from an accredited provincial program.
This requirement results in PSWs with certification from other Canadian provinces or out of country educated health care professions, such as Registered Nurses, paramedics (and) even doctors!, not being hired to work in Long Term Care for personal support positions. It even prevents those who have obtained an Ontario Development Service Worker diploma from being used in these positions.
This requirement excludes competent professionals from working in an area that consistently experiences staff shortages with the pandemic dramatically highlighting the problem.
Home Care and Retirement Residences do not require this certification; however, they suffer as well because traditionally the pay for support workers in these positions has been low, often minimum wage. Home Care workers also require the use of a vehicle and driver’s license with clients, particularly in rural areas, being widely dispersed.
Regardless of whether a PSW works in Home Care, Retirement, or Long Term Care the position requires training to perform the duties. As well, the nature of the work is both physically and mentally challenging and this often results in high levels of burnout.
- Seniors are a large demographic who are reliant on PSWs. How are services provided to them being impacted?
Care for seniors has been negatively impacted both in their homes and in Retirement and Long-Term Care Residences. Staff shortages result in not enough time to provide the appropriate level of care and this leads to both negative physical and mental health outcomes. Many seniors could live in their homes with varying degrees of support, and this would relieve the pressure on the bed shortages in Long Term Care and Retirement Residences. Unfortunately, with Home Care staff shortages this is not an option and the Senior’s safety and well-being is put at risk.
- What could be the long-term impact of the PSW shortage?
The long-term impact is the same as the current impact, declining levels of care placing vulnerable individuals of all ages at risk.
- What is the field doing to recruit people?
Care agencies such as TLC Healthcare actively recruit healthcare workers. As well, we encourage and support people to pursue PSW certification as health care will always be an expanding job market. A PSW certificate can be used as the first step in pursuing higher health care positions such as Registered Practical Nurse or other fields the PSW may discover during their support work.
For More Information: www.tlchealthcare.ca
We are following this developing story closely. We’ll have an in-depth look at long-term care facilities in Northern Ontario beginning September 15th.
