The Support Worker

So, what's a Support Worker? Everyone is well aware of Personal Support Workers (PSWs), care attendants looking after Seniors. Then there are also Rehabilitation Support Workers who assist injured and accident survivors with their rehabilitation. Let's also not forget Developmental Support Workers who help patients with developmental disabilities.

Thinking further about it, who are they really supporting? Obviously, they are supporting their clients. They may also support the client's family by providing respite care. It may also be argued that they are supporting other supervising Healthcare Workers. By looking after people, they could also be seen as supporting the community at large.

So, what's a support worker? Perhaps the simplest definition is what it's not. A Support Worker is not a government-regulated healthcare worker, such as a Nurse, Occupational Therapist, or Social Worker.
And, it's here that the stigma of a 'lesser' healthcare worker creeps in. They are not government-regulated; they do not hold advanced degrees; they are not specialized; they are not as vital or important.

Wait! Hold up! Not as vital or important?! Nothing could be further from the truth. The Support Worker is essential as all other healthcare workers.

After the Nurse gives the Senior his meds, who will be left to feed, dress, and provide him companionship? After an Occupational Therapist does an Assessment on a client and details rehabilitation goals in a Treatment Plan, who will be called upon to execute that plan? After a Social Worker finds a recreational program for his client, who will take the client to the program? In all these cases, the
Support Workers will be required to fulfill these roles. Support Workers are important and vital, and they should be respected.

To achieve the best healthcare system, we need to reassess how we see and treat these essential Frontline Healthcare workers. We need to provide them with good-paying jobs with benefits and other incentives. We also need to prioritize their well-being and provide them with safe workplaces.

And, Support Workers, collectively, we need to speak up more and demand these things. Browsing Facebook PSWs groups, I see Support Workers striving to become more empowered, yet some will still share posts about being concerned about their supervisors encountering their comments.

Actually, I hear them. I have been in the field for a long time, and I have built solid relationships with the companies I contract with. I work closely with OTs, Social Workers, Physiotherapists, and, honestly, I would describe such relationships as largely positive. Yet, by blogging about Support Workers' frustrations, do I really want to give the impression that I am in some way slagging them? Actually, am I really comfortable with sticking my neck out and sharing personal stuff about myself or family that the world will now read? Do I even want to advertise to way more people that my name is really Elvis and be subjected to more 'blue suede shoes jokes' that some may think I am hearing for the first time? Of all the names that my mom could have picked, what was she thinking, again?!

Actually, I digressed. The point is, Support Workers, change won't come easily. It will sometimes require us to stick our necks out and do what's uncomfortable. When we do, everyone benefits -- us, our clients and their families, other healthcare workers, and, yes, our communities.