Happy Personal Support Worker (PSW) Awareness Month 2023! This is the last week in this year's PSW Awareness Month - thank you for joining us! We'll be focusing on Education this week, as our final category - a demonstration that even if this dedicated month is over, our pursuit of furthering education & awareness in and around PSW work is not.

In the pursuit of this goal, I had the pleasure of interviewing April Gustafson, a PSW working at CBI Healthcare, about the work that she does and the things she loves about it. April has been a PSW for 23 years, in both the community and long-term care homes - and her love of the profession was evident. Continue reading to learn more.

What is your favourite part about working as a PSW?

My favourite part of working as a PSW is when a client smiles at me. I know they are appreciative of the care they received and it warms my heart knowing that. Caring for vulnerable people, it's not always seniors, and knowing I'm helping them and their families warms my heart each day that I go to work out in the community.

What is one thing you want people to know about PSW work?

 I want people to realize that PSW's work is more than just providing personal care. PSWs are the ones who notice changes in our clients or if working in a LTC facility- residents. We notice changes most of the times before nurses. So therefore, one could say "PSWs are the Nurses' eyes!" We report changes in our clients/residents and the nurses are then notified. 

What do you like to do on your own time, outside of work?

I enjoy flower gardening, spending time with family, reading, watching movies, listening to music, day trips.

What is one thing you hope people will take away from PSW Awareness month?

One thing that I hope people take away from PSW Awareness month is that PSWs are a very important part of the Healthcare field. In reality we are the "Eyes for the Nurses".