Pioneering Demand For Personal Support Workers in 2022 – Why?

Healthcare professions are not just limited to doctors, surgeons, and nurses. In fact, there are other allied health professionals like personal support workers, who are an integral part of the healthcare sector. Today, the role of PSW is counted amongst the 10 most sought-after job opportunities in Canada. Correspondingly, there has been an increase in the number of PSW programs from multiple colleges. So, if you are the one looking forward to taking up PSW as your healthcare profession, now is the right time to train yourself.

This gratifying career option is available in places like private homes and other medical facilities like:

• Hospitals
• Convalescent care
• Nursing homes
• Rehab centres
• Respite care centres
• Mental health care facilities, etc.

Now that we have a brief understanding of PSW as a healthcare profession, let’s dig deep to unveil the reasons which triggered the rise in its demand in the recent few years.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic

It’s a well-known fact that the COVID-19 pandemic did badly hit multiple professions and industries around the globe. But one industry which experienced a massive boom is the healthcare sector. Be it the doctors or nurses, everyone was on selfless service 24*7. Especially the PSWs who came close to the patients for care, even when family members maintained distance. Also, the services of these dedicated professionals were of high standards and highly personalized.

All of this instigated the rise in the demand for healthcare support professionals with certified credentials in their kitty. Ontario and Quebec were the provinces with a massive demand for support healthcare professionals. With COVID-19 came the enormous demand for healthcare professionals who were both emotionally and professionally strong to attend to their patients. As a result, PSW came out as a budding profession with so much spotlight and attention of all.

Ageing population

By the end of the year 2037, Canada’s ageing population is expected to touch the mark of 10.4 million. This ageing population is inclusive of elderly aged 65 and above. Undoubtedly, at this stage, individuals rarely live the life of Riley. They need a lot of medical care. As per the new Fraser Institute study, the healthcare spending on elderly people will inflate to 71.4% of the total healthcare expenditure in 2040. All such statistical insights help us foresee the increase in the demand for PSW healthcare professionals in the years ahead.

PSWs are professionally educated and trained to help others. They act as the companion, assistant, helper and sometimes the friend-in-need for elderly people. These angel-like professionals help the aged normalize their routine way of living. As a result, senior citizens depend on them for their orthodontic care, bathing, feeding, taking medical care, including management of catheterization tubes, etc. In fact, PSWs are looked up to by people as an alternative to settling down at old age/retirement homes.

To standardize the quality of health care

Talking of the healthcare system, everyone wants to experience the service of professional health workers, owing to their standardized approach. For this purpose, PSWs with genuine certification are considered being the first choice. PSW health professionals are trained to provide essential health-related services, unlike doctors and nurses. Their services are personalized as well as flexible.

Overall, PSWs are looked up to as an important factor to standardize the quality of the healthcare system in Canada. They are specially trained to execute the services like:

• housekeeping
• preparing a personalized nutritional plan and basic meal preparation
• Basic shopping for plants, fruits, vegetables, medicine, etc
• Personal grooming of client
• Giving medication on time
• Therapeutic or physiotherapy help
• to help the client with appointments or physical exercises.

So, if you are a person with an inclination toward helping others and being a support pillar for those who need, you are the right fit for this PSW’s job.

Final thoughts

Apart from the growing population of elderly and the need for standardized health care setup in Canada, the need and demand for certified PSW professionals in Canada are on the rise. Also, there is financial support from the government for students having a keen interest in taking up private support workers as their profession. All of this triggered more and more students to get certification as healthcare professionals in various colleges in Canada.

For more information on the PSW programs/courses and colleges offering these programs, please contact Edkosmos – your ultimate program finder across Canada. Our education consultants are here to help you get the best of the courses and job opportunities across Canada, in the most sought-after career option of today.