Personal Support Worker(PSW) :-

Priorities of the Personal Support Worker

Personal Support Worker in Home Care Setting

When a family member is no longer able to live alone or without some kind of daily assistance, family members may choose to become full time caregivers.

The decision to take on this responsibility may at first seem like an easy or obvious decision, but over time it can become stressful on both the caregiver and their loved one. Whether your family member lives with you in your home, or in their own home, there are many obstacles to overcome.

Many caregivers are too overwhelmed and may feel like they are all alone in the situation. However, a Personal Support Worker (PSW) can assist your loved one in the service known as Home Care. We describe, below, the role of a PSW in home care.

Personal Support Workers in home care, provide a service designed to aid seniors living at home and enable them to remain there longer as an alternative to living in a long term care facility or retirement home. When the service of home care is provided to your loved one, there will be many different professions visiting on a weekly basis, along with PSWs.

This depends on your family member’s needs and what assistance programs they qualify for. An example, you may meet or see company work folders for Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Case Managers, Social Workers and other Therapists/Councillors. All these professions can positively aid your loved one, and his/her caregiver(s).

Personal Support Workers, especially in home care, are sometimes confused with a housekeeper or homemaker. PSWs may perform light housekeeping duties; however the objective of a PSW is to aid your loved one in his/her activities of daily living (ADL). Keep in mind there are variations of care offered by different home care agencies. Here is a look at some duties PSWs are able and unable to perform for ADLs and light housekeeping.

Activities of Daily Living
PSWs assist with all the personal care needs of your loved one, which many family caregivers may find uncomfortable to do. Examples of ADLs are:
 assisting with shower, tub bath or providing sponge bath
 assist with or provide peri care
 assisting with hair washing and drying
 applying lotions and other non-medicated creams (medicated creams are a delegated act and a PSW has to be approved by his or her supervisor to administer)
 performing or assisting with mouth care. Including denture care and cleaning
 assess your loved one's skin during each shower/bath. Checking for any bruises, surface wounds, dryness, cracked skin, unusual redness or swelling
 nail care can be provided but filing only (PSWs are unable to cut finger or toe nails. Diabetic seniors need special nail care from a specially trained nurse or PSW)
 applying of deodorants, powders (non-medicated)
 assisting with incontinent products, or to and from the bathroom
 if needed, simple g-tube and catheter care (if delegated by PSW supervisor)
 ensuring hearing aids, glasses, life line necklaces and other aids are being used
 ensure all mobility aids (walkers, wheel chairs, canes, chair lifts etc.) are in working order and being used
 be present for medication delivery from the pharmacy and sign for it being received
 check medication blister packs or doucette’s to ensure all medications are being taken and remind your loved one if they have forgotten (PSWs do not administer medication in a home care setting)
 provide meal preparation or assist in meal making/planning
 assist with feeding or full feed if necessary, and preparing specific food like pureed or chopped food
 offering healthy snacks and ensure enough fluid intake
 upon approval can accompany your loved one on a short walk (weather permitting)
 assist in ROM (range of motion) activities. These are gentle muscle exercises as instructed by a physiotherapist
 apply tensor or orthopaedic stockings if your family member uses them
 provide socialization for your loved one, encouraging them to talk about their concerns

The PSW providing your loved one with care is always aware of their overall well-being, paying close attention to their physical and emotional state. It is their job to report to their supervisors if they have any concerns. Also keeping you aware of any needs or concerns. If your family member starts to run out of anything they use, like personal items (i.e. shampoo, new toothbrush) or food items they will communicate that to you, write a list or contact their office. Then the office would contact you.
The PSW is only to provide care to the person receiving the service. Other family members such as children, or other elderly spouses/family members, are not entitled to any of the service provided. Only in certain cases, will more than one family member or spouses receive care together.

Light Housekeeping Duties and Other Duties
Light housekeeping may be performed by Personal Support Workers. The service is not to be mistaken for a housekeeper. Here are duties a PSW can help your family member with:
All light housekeeping duties are decided and approved by PSW supervisors and the home care agency.
 go to a store for small grocery needs
 provide in home laundry service (washing, drying, folding and putting away of laundry)
 hand wash delicate items
 tidy the bedroom and bathroom after personal care duties are performed (i.e. clean tub after use)
 change bed linen, or re-making the bed
 provide light surface dusting, sweeping and mopping of floors and vacuuming
 water your loved one's indoor plants if they live alone
 wash dirty dishes
 dispose of any expired foods
 in some cases (especially in apartment buildings) dispose of garbage and recycling
 collect mail
 remove unnecessary clutter from hallways and pathways that could potentially cause falls
 assess any hazards in the home - the PSW will communicate with you if he or she has concerns about any changes that could be made to improve safety in the home of your loved one.

The purpose of performing light housekeeping duties is to help your loved one remain in their own home, keeping it tidy and safe.
However having a housekeeper will keep their home well-kept and overall clean. If your family member lives in your home, light housekeeping performed by the PSW keeps you from cleaning up after personal care is completed and helps you with smaller housekeeping duties.

Housekeeping Duties NOT performed by PSW’s
Your loved one's home is assessed by the PSWs supervisor and the lighthouse keeping duties are stated in what is called a Care Plan. The Care Plan outlines your family member’s needs and the duties performed by the PSW. Below are examples of housekeeping duties that a Personal Support Worker DOES NOT perform.
 clean cupboards and/or re-organize their contents
 dusting of home
 pet care (i.e. changing cat litter)
 garden maintenance
 household repairs or any kind of renovations (I.E. painting)
 snow removal
 wall washing
 cleaning carpets, furniture or mattresses
 moving any household furniture
 any form of heavy lifting or moving
 changing light bulbs, ceiling lights, lamps or appliance lights
 waxing/re-coating floors
 polishing furniture
 total clean of large appliances (i.e. freezers, fridges, ovens)
 cleaning under large appliances (i.e. fridge)

When you are a loved one's full time caregiver, having a PSW can be an essential service.
The home care service is to care for and keep seniors living in a home setting. Also helping their caregivers cope with the new and or current situation.