Spotlight Features

Discover innovative practices and outstanding contributors in healthcare.

Enhancing PSW Care with CAPE: Kaila Jonsen’s Experience

August 2, 2023 

PSW Kaila Jonsen shares how CAPE courses have deepened her skills in critical reflection, co-creation, and cognitive integration. She highlights how these resources help PSWs provide high-quality, patient-centered care and encourages others to explore CAPE’s free, PSW-focused tools to improve their knowledge and caregiving approach.

PSW Feature - April Gustafson

May 19, 2023

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, and 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".

PSW Feature - Cynthia Matundan

May 10, 2023

Happy PSW Awareness Month 2023! Personal Support Workers (PSWs) are a necessary but under-appreciated part of our healthcare system, especially as the number of people who need care continues to increase. In 2020, there were approximately 348 people diagnosed with dementia every day. It is projected that by 2030, this number will increase to 512. PSWs are an important part of the support system for this increased need, and our goal is to spread awareness around them & the crucial work that they do.

In the pursuit of this goal, I had the pleasure of interviewing Cynthia Matundan, a PSW working at VHA Home Healthcare, about the work that she does and the things she loves about it. Continue reading to learn more.

What is your favourite part about working as a PSW?

My favourite part about working as a PSW is that when I see smiles in the faces of my clients, whenever they feel the contentment and happiness and mostly when my clients felt being a whole human being despite their disabilities. Knowing that I made a difference in their lives even for just an hour visit. 

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

I want people to know that a PSW work is a noble job, a very demanding work…physically, emotionally, mentally and challenging at times that you should be prepared to face in your everyday work life, yet very fulfilling. A PSW in the community or homecare setting does more than just personal care and helping with Activities of Daily Living (ADL), we become an extended family listening to their stories and learning from them.

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

After a stressful and tiring day at work, I would like to reflect on what I learned and being thankful for the day. I do volunteer works in our church. I also love spending some quality time with my husband watching movies and listening to relaxing music. 

Can you describe a typical day in the life as a PSW?

A typical day in the life of a PSW would be checking our mobility for the days schedule, reading the Service Plan Description (SPD) of the clients, knowing, and learning each individual preference so that when I service the client, I am able to practice Client Centered Care and thus accomplishing my duties accordingly. Then I travel to my client's place, doing what is important to them, and of to my next client until the last. We report any necessary updates to the office via email or phone. There are times I have a gaps in between my schedule that I will spend sitting, relaxing and drinking coffee in Tim Hortons or any other shops that are available.

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

I hope people would see and acknowledged that a PSW in the community or home care is the same as a PSW in the Long-Term Care (LTC), meaning we are healthcare service providers that are all essential to the lives of each individual client we care for and serviced. We might be working in a different setting, yet the job description remains the same.

Is there anything else you'd like to touch on that I haven't asked?

I hope that the PSW profession will be given more support and recognition from our government.

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PSW Feature - Kaila Jonsen

April 14, 2023

Personal support workers (PSW) are a crucial part of our healthcare system, and are under-appreciated for the important work that they do for our loved ones every day. Here at CAPE Learning, we aim to remedy that.

In the pursuit of this goal, I had the pleasure of interviewing Kaila Jonsen, a PSW at VHA Home Healthcare, about the work that she does and the things she loves about it. Continue reading to learn more.

What is your favourite part about working as a PSW?

My favourite part of my career as a Personal Support Worker is the feeling of accomplishment I have when conquering tasks for my clients that they and their loved ones wouldn't be able to alone. The amount of appreciation, love and respect I get from the people I care for is extremely rewarding.

Become a glass half-full type of person. Kindness is a universal language. Be compassionate.

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

Personal Support Work is vital to our Healthcare system. It ensures that people remain stable and out of hospital. We take a proactive approach to health issues and treat the entire person plus their families - not just the physical ailments.

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

I love dancing, camping, spa treatments at home and experiencing new cultures on my free time away from work. I have a variety of friends who are like family that I love spending time with as well. We love taking all our children for adventures.

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

Be our ally and advocate with us. We will certainly do it for you should you ever need our skills or services, which we all eventually do.

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PSW Feature - Joie Francisco

March 14, 2023

Personal support workers (PSW) are responsible for vital work, caring for our loved ones every day. The career is one that often goes unrecognized in many discussions around healthcare, and this is something we are working to change.

In the pursuit of this goal, I had the pleasure of interviewing Joie Francisco, a PSW, about the work that she does and the things she loves about it. Continue reading to learn more.

What is your favourite part about working as a PSW?

Working as PSW in the community (home care setting) had given me a privilege in getting to know the people, their back stories, cultures, the wisdom behind each character. I've been able to explore various traditions throughout the communities I serve.

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

PSWs provide care in the comfort of their home, we are the eyes, ears, hands and legs (back bone) of the people we look after, we enhance the quality and dignity of each clients we care. We provide the essentials service in the healthcare sector by taking care of those who can't care for themselves. PSWs' soft skills are equally important as their hard skills.

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

I enjoy silence in my "me "time. That's the time I unpack all the things my system got to absorb from work, from the people I got to know, go for a long walk (when the weather permits), and I do volunteer at the church (outreach program "out of the cold" serves meals).

Can you describe a typical day in the life of a PSW?

• Start with checking our (phone) schedules/emails, read the client information (care plan, special functions) and prepare ourselves in the event of unknown "incident".
• As soon as the shift starts, I see client after client (30 mins interval/travel time only) till the shift ends (sometimes there is a gap time for an hour or so, that's the time we eat and sit (washroom break).
• We serve different kinds of clients in a day, which leaves us physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted. At the end of the day, we make sure we report and document what is needed.

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

Being a PSW worker for several years has been fulfilling for me. I have found joy and happiness in my job, helping my clients feel that they are not alone, and that they are cared, loved and respected as a family.A PSW needs to be valued and respected as well, and acknowledged at the same time. It's noble work. Bringing light to every patient. A simple and sincere appreciation is worth a million tons of happiness.

‍Researchers developing COVID-19 vaccine education initiatives with PSWs

‍August 19, 2021

UHN researchers, including CAPE’s Co-Leads Stella Ng and Nikki Woods, in collaboration with personal support workers (PSWs), are developing COVID-19 vaccine education initiatives. This project aims to enhance vaccine knowledge and support strategies among PSWs, ensuring effective care for vulnerable populations.

‍Future-proofing the PSW workforce through education and advocacy

‍April 15, 2021

The University Health Network's Institute for Education Research, supported by a grant from the Future Skills Centre, is developing online education resources and advocacy tools to support personal support workers (PSWs) in providing safe, effective care and to highlight their vital role in healthcare.