I love working as a Personal Support Worker (PSW) knowing that I am making a difference whether it be helping someone or just being there to make their day a little brighter. I really enjoy the clients as they all have their own unique personality and it makes each day different, even though the tasks may be repetitive it makes every day feel like a new day.
Yes, there are some aspects of the job that are not fun or not always enjoyable, but the enjoyable moments always outweigh the negatives. Working in a few different long-term care facilities and an in-home care setting I have seen a lot of how care is handled and how each home/company runs things a little differently. Some long-term care homes were better than others but overall, the care for every client was very similar. While there is always room for improvement, I have found that working in a few long-term care homes and in-home, has given me a more well-rounded approach to the care I provide, and I can take things I have learned from one home and share them with another. It’s great to know that they want to listen and improve in ways that can allow them to provide better care for all clients.
I have met a lot of PSWs that really care for clients as if they were their own family and it was always so heartwarming and enjoyable to work with them knowing they go the extra mile for the care they provide. Growing up and having my grandma in a long-term care home I had vowed that if I ever became a PSW to treat every client like they were family and I have held on to that commitment to this day. It is one of the most rewarding jobs I have ever done and I truly love being a PSW.
I believe when looking for the right company for a loved one, or even to work with, you must look at their values, mission, and vision statements to gain an understanding of how they run their care. I have also found it is better to voice opinions on the care being received or given as they are always more than willing to investigate it or to work with you to provide the best care possible. You don’t know unless you ask.
For in-home care, don't be afraid to speak up if the care the client is getting is not what they need. I have a grandpa who is receiving home care once a week and he was afraid to speak up and say the quality of his care was not meeting his needs, so by speaking up for him we were able to adapt his care plan and get him the right quality of care that he required, and now he looks forward to his PSW visits.
Look at the types of services they offer on top of personal care i.e.: setting up transportation, activities etc., to make sure you can utilize and lessen the workload for clients and family members. Overall, I really enjoyed the environment of working in-home. I found that I was able to provide better care, had a more positive working attitude, was less stressed and have also found the clients to have an overall better well-being. It truly makes my heart happy knowing I am making a small difference in their lives just by being there and helping them however they need me to.
The in-home care has its pros and cons. Here are just a few that I have noticed during the time I have worked in home care as well as some suggestions for future care.
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