The Ontario Personal Support Worker Association is the first ever Professional Association for PSWs across our Nation. OPSWA is run by PSWs FOR PSWs and public safety. We understand the difficulties PSWs deal with everyday OPSWA represents thousands of Personal Support Workers across Ontario. Our goal is to make the PSW a profession of choice, not just a stepping stone. As PSWs work with societies must vulnerable, we believe in due diligence where our membership is concerned, our PSWs must meet certain criteria in order to be an OPSWA Registered PSW. All of our PSWs have an annual National Police Check done at NO extra cost to them, plus so much more! Because OPSWA is run by your Peers, OPSWA PSWs have opportunities to obtain extra training at a discount price, Liability Insurance, discounts at major stores and so much more! For more information on what OPSWA’s criteria is please go to membership.
OPSWA was developed out of our mother organization PSW Canada(2007), which was created by PSWs as an information station for PSWs and those alike cross our nation.
For more information on PSW Canada, please contact info@pswcanada.ca.
OPSWA’s Mission Statement
To continuously strive to improve the professional status of the Personal Support Workers of Ontario through advocacy for excellence and consistency in training, services, working conditions, and value to those we serve.
Vision: Standardization of the Personal Support Worker will afford all Ontarians the quality of care which they are entitled too.
OPSWA's Blog 
I am totally against elder abuse in the nursing homes,however now and again psw’s are wrongfully accused of elder abuse. Do you know of any links or resources to help if someone is wrongfully accused?
Hi Dale,
You can contact us at admin@pswcanada.com and we’ll see what we can do for you.
Thanks
PSW Canada Staff
Hi there,
Do you think that a PSW will ever become a regulated health care team memeber? Why has it taken so long? And what steps would be taken? With the work that PSW do I can’t understand why its not regulated already.
Thanks
Melanie
I am wondering if it is because PSW’s are educated at the certificate level and does not require a diploma. The activity aides just got regulated and they have a diploma program. Why not make the PSW program a diploma? I think it is because it is still thought of as an ‘easy’ job that anyone with half a brain can do. I think it is viewed as a job that doesn’t require much skill or critical thinking. This worries me because I think you need to be a very caring, compassionate person but also be a life long learner. It should be thought of as a career that does require skill and education.
HI Genevieve,
It is a sad reality that PSWs are looked at like ” anyone can do our job”. The truth is NO ONE can do our job, it takes a very special person to do what we do on a daily basis!
We are working hard to bring the standard of training higher all over Ontario, but it will be difficult because of all the different schools and Colleges that offer the course.
Stay positive and Strong! Together we will make a difference!
Thanks for your comment
GENEVIEVE
I THINK YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD WHEN YOU SAID PEOPLE THINK PSW WORK CAN BE DONE BY THE UNEDUCATED, UNSKILLED LAY PERSON WHO DOENS’T MIND THE GRUNT WORK.
HAVING SAID THAT THOUGH I THINK IT IS OUR DUTY TO BECOME EDUCATED ABOUT ALL FACETS OF HEALTH RELATED INFORMATION AND DO OUR BEST TO ACT AND CARRY OUT OUR DUTIES AS PROFESSIONALY AS POSSIBLE. WE HAVE TO PROVE OURSELVES IN AWAY. BECAUSE WE DON’T CARRY AN “R” IN FRONT OF THE PSW WE ARE LOOKED AT AS SECOND CLASS . IT IS MY HOPE AND PROBABLY EVERY PSW’S HOPE THAT WE WILL BECOME REGISTERED….
TODAY I AWOKE TO SNOW COVERING MY CAR, MAKING IT VERY HARD TO OPEN THE DOOR, GET THE HEATER WORKING AND ALSO TO GET THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKING ON YOU QUESSED IT THE DRIVERS SIDE. WHAT A START TO THE DAY…
ANYWAY TODAY I ATTENDED A PSW COURSE ON GRIEF. HIGHLIGHTS WERE THE FOLLOWING: ANY LOSS THAT CAUSES A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE TO OUR LIVES IS A LIFE LOSS . UNRESOLVED LOSSES CONTINUE TO CAUSE PAIN.
SOME PEOPLE FIND IT HARD TO CREATE AN IMAGE OF HOW THEY FEEL HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLE OF HOW GRIEF MIGHT LOOK IF IT WERE A PICTURE: GRIEF IS LIKE A BROKEN HEART, GRIEF IS LIKE A JIGSAW PUZZLE , GRIEF IS LIKE A WOUND, GRIEF IS LIKE WAVES POUNDING ON THE SEASHORE, GRIEF IS LIKE A MAZE.
STAGES OF GRIEF: 1. SHOCK (NUMBNESS) EMOTIONAL DETACHMENT ( THE PERSON AT THIS STAGE NEEDS TO BE COMFORTED AND TEND TO BASIC NEEDS.
2. SEARCHING,YEARNING, AND DENIAL (LISTEN TO THE PERSON)
3. DISORGANIZATION AND DESPAIR (BREAK THINGS DOWN AND DEAL WITH THINGS IN SMALL STEPS)
4. REORGANIZE AND RECOVER (GET INTO A REGULAR ROUTINE AND LOOK AT HOW TO RE-CREATE THE FUTURE)
OF COURSE AT ANY TIME THE PERSON MAY GO FROM 1-3-4 “TRAPEZING” THRU THESE THE STAGES.
POEM FAITH
WHEN YOU HAVE COME TO THE EDGE
OF ALL THE LIGHT YOU KNOW
AND ARE ABOUT TO STEP OUT
INTO THE DARKNESS OF THE UNKNOWN,
FATIH IS KNOWING
THAT ONE OF TWO THINGS WILL HAPPEN:
THERE WILL BE SOMETHING SOLID TO STAND ON,
OR YOU WILL BE TAUGHT HOW TO FLY.
BOOK RESOURCES GIVEN:
GRIEF : COURAGEOUS JOURNEY: A WORKBOOK BY SANDI CAPLANT AND GORDON LANG
COUNSELLING SKILLS IN PALLATIVE CARE BY JOHN DAVY
LIVING IN THE EMPTY CHAIR BY DR ROBERTA TENES
FINAL GIFTS – UNDERSTANDING THE SPECIAL AWARNESS, NEEDS AND COMMUNICATION OF THE DYING BY MAGGIE CALLANAN AND PATRICIA HELLEY
THAT’S THE HIGHLIGHTS OF TODAY’S COURSE TAKE CARE OF YOU
ONE FINAL NOTE
OFTEN WE GRIEVE
NOT FOR WHAT WAS
BUT FOR WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN
Thank you to a psw, from apsw..as i read your info on stages of grief,i was thanking you. I have dealt with dying/ grief of clients many, many times, however i am going through it again with a client and family.i thank you for the renewal of grief list.
to the anonymous PSW who wrote that note on grief, thank you. It is 3 a.m. I have to face grief in my life, as do we all. To read your note and see your commitment to your job, and your interest in your clients made me feel a lot better.
I have many reasons to be hopeful about the future of our residents – based on your note today.
I hope you know that you touched my heart.
Thank you
thank-you for your comment on the grief note. it really made me feel good to know someone is intrested in what i wrote. i decided to start using the site to leave little tidbits, comments etc. my thought was that we all pick up things thru our lives either thru life experiences or thru further education and why not share them amongst ourselves.
i am so glad what was written held special meaning to you , it did for me as well.
thank you
community psw
trish
THANK YOU
NAT
I AM SO GLAD YOU GOT SOMETHING FROM WHAT I WROTE. THE PURPOSE WAS TO SHARE INFO AND I HOPE TO CONTINUE TO SO SO AND LEARN FROM ALL OF THE OTHER’S HERE ON THE SITE.
SNOW DAY TODAY, STAYED HOME AND CLEANED AND COOKED AND DID BOOK WORK. NICE TO HAVE A LITTLE TIME TO DO THINGS THAT ARE OFTEN LEFT UNDONE OR HURRIED.
NO WORK TODAY SO I WILL SHARE INFO FROM LAST COURSE ON RESPIRATORY THERAPY..
HIGHLIGHTS:
CONSIDER THIS HOME RESPIRATORY EQUIPMENT IS PROVIDED TO PATIENTS EXPECTING THE PATIENT OR THEIR FAMILY TO TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MANAGMENT AND THE CARE OF THE EQUIPMENT. (AND OFTEN US THE PSW’S)
FOR EXAMPLE LAST YEAR IN ONTARIO 30000 PATIENTS RECEIVED SUPLEMENTAL OXYGEN FROM 46 HOME OXYGEN COMPANIES.
THE BASICS: OXYGEN IS A MED IT IS PROVIDED ONLY UNDER A DOCTOR’S PRESCRIPTION. IT IS COMMONLY PRESCRIBED PRN, WITH EXERTION, WHILE SLEEPING (NOCTURALLY) OR CONTINUOUSLY. FLOW RATE IS ALSO PRESCRIBED.
GENERAL SAFETY OXYGEN DOES NOT BURN BUT IT SUPPORTS COMBUSTION (WHATEVER BURNS WILL BURN FASTER ) IT WILL NOT EXPLODE OR CATCH ON FIRE (BECAUSE OF SMOKING OR BEING NEAR A HEAT SOURCE ETC) BUT IF SOMETHING CATCHES ON FIRE THE OXYGEN WILL MAKE IT BURN MUCH FASTER AND HARDER. IF A PERSON IS REPORTED TO THE SUPPLIER OF THE OXYGEN FOR SMOKING WHILE HAVING OXYGEN ON THEIR PERSON THEY CAN AND WILL BE DENIED ANY FURTHER SERVICE. AND THIS NEWS GOES FROM ONE SUPPLYIER TO THE NEXT. (BECAUSE OF INSURANCE NO ONE WILL WANT THE RISK) AND REALISTICALLY ALL THE CLIENT NEEDS TO DO IS TAKE OF THE OXYGEN STEP AWAY 10 FEET HAVE THEIR CIG AND THEN GO BACK TO THE O2.
CYLINDERS, CONCENTRATOR AND LIQUID OXYGEN
CYLINDERS: LOOKS LIKE FIRE EXTINQISHER
MUST BE LAID DOWN WHEN NOT IN USE OR TRANSPORTING
THE REGULATOR CONTROLS FLOW AND PRESSURE
ARE USED MOSTLY FOR OUTINGS AND ANGINA (KIND OF OCCASIONAL USE)
CONCENTRATOR- CREATED AN ENDLESS SUPPLY OF OXYGEN, IS THE EASIEST TO USE, NEEDS ELECTRICITY AND OFTEN IS IN USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER SYSTEM FOR PORTABILITY. YOU DO NEED A BACK UP FOR GOING OUT OR POWER OUTAGE.
PORTABLE OXYGEN CONCENTRATOR WORKS LIKE STATIONARY (ABOVE) EXCEPT IT IS BATTERY OPERATED AND RECHARGEABLE.
IT IS THE ONLY OXYGEN THAT CAN BE TAKEN BY PATIENT THROUGH AIRPORT AND ON PLANE.
LIQUID OXYGEN- GAS OXYGEN IS PRESSURIZED AND COOLED . IT IS STORED AS A LIQUID AS IT WARMS IT CHANGES INTO A GAS.
NO POWER REQUIRED . WILL NEED FILLING EVEN IF NOT USED. PORTABLE UNIT HAS TO BE FILLED RIGHT BEFORE OUTINGS IT WILL EMPTY IN 12 HRS.
FOR MORE INFO ON THIS OR SLEEP APNEA THE WEBSITES AND WRITER OF THIS INFO ARE AS FOLLOWS
http://www.kingstonoxygen.ca
http://www.health.gov.on.ca
http://www.sleepapnea.org
thanks for taking the time to read and hopefully like myself you have learned a little
knowledge is power
JILL BOLTE TAYLOR, A 37 YR OLD HARVARD TRAINED BRAIN SCIENTIST, EXPERIENCED A MASSIVE STROKE IN THE LEFT HEMISHPERE OF HER BRAIN. AS SHE OBSERVED HER MIND DETERIORATE TO THE POINT THAT SHE COULD NOT WALK, TALK, READ, WRITE, OR RECALL ANY OF HER LIFE ALL WITHIN FOUR HOURS SHE FELT A SENSE OF WELL BEING AND PEACE (THE EUPHORIA OF THE INTUITIVE AND KINESTHETIC RIGHT BRAIN) AND THE LOGICAL, SEQUENTIAL LEFT BRAIN, WHICH RECOGNIZED SHE WAS HAVING A STROKE AND ENABLED HER TO SEEK HELP BEFORE SHE WAS COMPLETELY LOST. IT WOULD TAKE HER 8 YRS TO COMPLETELY RECOVER.
MY STROKE OF INSIGHT (THE BOOK) BY TAYLOR PROVIDES A VALUABLE RECOVERY GUIDE FOR THOSE TOUCHED BY BRAIN INJURY AND FOR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER’S WHO TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD SIMILIAR EXPERIENCES.
I HAVE READ THIS BOOK AND THOUGHT IT WAS VERY, VERY GOOD. IT GAVE ME SOME INSIGHT OR FOOD FOR THOUGHT AS TO WHAT SOME OF MY CLIENTS HAVE BEEN THRU AND FELT LIKE.
THERE IS SOMEONE STILL IN THERE EVEN WHEN THEY CANT COMMUNICATE SOMETIMES THEY KNOW WHAT THEY WANT TO SAY BUT CAN’T FIND THE WORDS. THIS BOOK SO INTENSLY DESCRIBES WHAT SOMEONE IN THIS CASE TAYLOR WENT THRU STEP BY STEP LOSS OF FUNCTIONING AS SHE KNEW IT AND WHAT IT FELT LIKE.
A GOOD EDUCATIONAL CAREER DEVELOPMENT TOOL
PICK IT UP , READ IT AND LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK
I work in long term care. And have for 17 years. Though regulation of PSW sounds good it will cost us. We have many single moms and young people coming into this field. Many are very capable and competent to do this job with the training provided. You cannot teach someone compassion and a good work ethic, it has to be there to begin with.
I don’t know about the rest of you but my wage is okay but if I was expected to pay for a registration fee and to pay for more education when I find my job getting more and more demanding as our residents continue to come to us with more and more serious heath problems, I believe it would become just another burden.
If we could just get government and the general public to understand the valuable services we provide to our elder population and there families we would really have achieved something.
I have been a PSW for 10 years now, what i find disturbing about this line of work in Ontario, is the fact that there is no care ratio for our elderly in LTC facilities, there just is no law or regulation that states the number of residents per PSW . In fact, this is the only line of work, or shall we say public service that is not mandated when it comes down to care ratios, you don’t see this in hospitals, schools with children or even daycares. All of the above are mandated by the government. So for myself, i am just disgusted that the province of Ontario has just plain forgotten or just doesn’t care that our own aging population are not properly looked after by enough PSW’s!! The average PSW looks after 16 residents per PSW in Ontario.
I totally am against elder abuse and these so called uncertified hca’s making us look bad. Thats what college is for. I work in a nursing home in limoges, and u wouldn t believe the staff there who don t have their certificate. They do ALOT of things incorrect and a good majority of them are just ignorant and completly imature! And rough with them? i’ve seen how some of these uncertifed hca’s handle these people and let me tell ya, its extremely horrible! But to them, they think its just fine and they know what their doing. well they don’t! You always hear some of them say that they been woorking there for all these years, ya all those years of doing incorrect work! It should be manditory that these people who don t have a certificate, should be forced to take the course!
Pam…psw
Dear Pam,
There are some out there with the certificate that are just as unquailified to be providing care for our seniors. I have a co-worker who can be extremely rough with our residents. I take care of a resident who can be quite physically violent when we are providing her care so my co-worker seems to feel justified in handling her roughly. ( after all she feels more qualified than i because i don’t have a certififcate) Not all of us that haven’t abtained our certificate are horrible.
But yes I do agree that there are many people that think they know what they are doing when they really don’t. Certified or un certified.
OK you are not a PSW unless you have a Certificate. You are considered a health care worker which is slightly different. A psw should be paid more and can administer some meds while with consent of the family members permission. (ex diabetic shots.) while under any circumstance a health care worker could not do! That is my understanding feel free to tell me diffrent if you actually know for sure!
I agree just because you have a certificate in any field doesn’t make you a good person at what you do, look at any profession there are corrupted ones out there and good ones too but the good get the bad rap for crappy people who don’t givea a dam!
Having the certificate simply means you understand and have a good memory of what you studies. To actually put what you learned to work is another story. And you only get if you have the passion for what you do and enjoy it! And someone is willing to train you! It is a catch 22 in the working world some don’t have the patients to train. Some learn quick and others take time. But in all you need to get the experience in the end.
Hi Cheena
NO PSWs are NOT allowed to administer ANY medication even if the family members want you too, why? because we are an UNregulated Health Care Provider, therefore we have NO protection if there is a mishap.
Upgrading of your skills is nessecary to enhance your preformance as a PSW and also ensure that you are up to speed with what is happening in the field.
I hope that answers your questions.
OPSWA
Instances where a PSW CAN administer a med:
* emergency situation
* delegation by a RN
* part of daily living
of course the delegation and part of daily living HAS to be done PROPERLY!! IE) policy and procedure of your employer, proper training, proper paperwork in place!
I am a young PSW. Just starting my career. My first job experience was awful. I was hired as a PSW with only college placement work experience. I started my work with orientation but the problem was that no one new who I was and why I was there so no one felt or even wanted to take time to get me familiar with the routines and how things are done in this home.
I want to use the proper and safe ways of doing things while working with clients because I honestly feel that they deserve the best care possible. Being inexperienced I know I’m not the fastest worker and being on probation there was lots of pressure put on me. After working a month as a casual I was told to basically speed up by CUTTING CORNERS or else. I didn’t feel right doing it. How can you?
Most my shifts I worked alone or with another inexperienced PSW so how can I learn from a professional with experience how to do things in a more efficient manner? They were giving me clients that required 2 workers to do the job to handle on my own. When I buzzed for help, it didn’t come anytime soon… I was working alone taking care of 16 seniors at times. At night for 168 seniors we had 8 PSWs working on 3 floors. During the day it was 168 to about 20. I think there should be some better standard set for the ratio of PSWs to seniors, not just to make things easier for PSWs but also mainly for the safety and better quality care for seniors.
Then finally when I started to feel that I was getting better hold of some things and I was getting faster, I was let go. The reason for the immediate termination was lock of experience and efficiency.
Right now I feel discouraged because I don’t know if I ever find a place to allow me to gain the experience and become GOOD and efficient PSW. Why is the speed the main factor? Why not the quality care?
Please contact us Teresa at admin@opswa.com or visit our website at http://www.opswa.com ~ Thank you
you will find the right place. honest you will. it was an over stressed under staffed place not good anyway. not how one gets good experience or training..
michelle
i work in a retirment home where i give meds and med passes
and insulin injections and have no nurse with me my company
did a three day training with rpn and said retirment homes are
aloud to have psw giving meds .
yeah retirement homes
arent regulated.. so technically they dont need to hire psws to do that anyone they can train to do it can therefore be workign in that job. psws do not typically legally hand out meds as a psw in a accountable setting like long term care or in home care either.