It has been a long and difficult two years for everyone working in health care.
Personal Support Workers have often felt overlooked.

The provincial government has come out with various incentives to try and attract people to become PSW’s but there are still many challenges still facing those in the field.

Such standards have already been undertaken in the passing of Bill 283, Advancing Oversight and Planning in Ontario’s Health System Act, 2021, which will erect a professional perimeter and title protection around this workforce for the first time in its history. In short, this means Ontarians will no longer be receiving personal care from nonprofessional health care providers.

Alissa Sauder works a full-time job, but a few years ago started to drive for Uber to make some extra cash on the side.

During the pandemic, she started driving for Amazon Flex while also switching to Uber Eats.

But in recent weeks, her side hustle hasn’t really been worth it, she said. With pandemic restrictions lifted, not as many people are ordering food delivery. Higher gas prices are also eating into her bottom line.

Fuel hit another record this week in Greater Sudbury climbing to $1.70 per litre at some gas stations

Gas prices in Greater Sudbury keep climbing to record amounts — hitting $1.70 at some stations on Wednesday.

That is causing some hardships for workers who are reimbursed for their mileage, including personal support workers (PSWs) who conduct home care visits.

PSWs who work for home care agencies have their mileage fixed within the terms of their contracts. That means when the cost of gas skyrockets, they’re left paying the difference.

“When the gas price goes up it can actually create hardship for a lot of our members,” said Ian Da Silva, director of operations for the Ontario Personal Support Workers Association.

Health care workers are the backbone of the health care system. Before and during the pandemic they have been suffering from burnout, mentally and physically.

“They went from heroes to zeros,” said Miranda Ferrier, the CEO of the Ontario Personal Support Workers Association. “That is what my membership likes to call it. They feel like they’ve been forgotten.”

Since the fall of 2021, Ferrier said PSWs have been in short supply, as many of them have experienced an increase in violence and harassment both on the job and online.

Originally posted by the Brantford Expositor.

When COVID hit almost two years ago, some clients opted not to receive care in their homes and many PSWs moved to higher paying long-term care jobs or took advantage of federal pandemic relief programs.

Miranda Ferrier says that, when COVID hit almost two years ago, some clients opted not to receive care in their homes and many PSWs moved to higher paying long-term care jobs or took advantage of federal pandemic relief programs.

“Here we are two years in and we don’t have all of them coming back. Some prefer to stay in long-term care where there is a $3 (an hour) enhancement and they’re making good money and some felt burned out.”

She says the demand for PSWs is not being met despite training programs being “packed.”

The Canadian Townhall on COVID-19 on April 28, 2021 was hosted by the Canadian Support Workers Association, The Ontario Personal Support Workers Association and Unity Health Toronto! Our esteemed panelist were Dr Kevin Gough from St Mikes Hospital, Dr Vivian Ewa from Alberta Health and Chief Public Health officer of Canada Dr Theresa Tam. CEO Miranda Ferrier moderated. Thank you to everyone who attended.