Why I Want To Be A Personal Support Worker

A personal support worker is about being dependable, compassionate and patient when taking care of others. I understand the expectations of this job and the hard work and dedication it takes to be a personal support worker.

I will be expected to look after others that can no longer do many things them selves. There for it will be my responsibility to do it for them such as cleaning their house, doing the laundry, cooking, running errands for example taking them to appointments and out shopping. My responsibilities may also include dressing, feeding overall personal hygiene which includes bathing and cleaning up bodily fluids. I know it can be demanding at times not just psychically but mentally as well. Including working long hours and occasional heavy lifting. On the mental side this job requires for me to be emotional strong. To be able to handle this much stress I need to not take things personally and have ways to unwind, I do yoga, paint, play with my rabbits and have verity of people I can talk to.

I have previous experience that will help me with the tasks of being a personal support worker. I grew up in a
centenary home which required a lot of work , so excessive cleaning and maintenance is nothing new to me. I have also looked after my grandmother for two weeks. She was mostly bed ridden with shingles. I cooked her meals, vacuumed, hand washed her clothing because the laundry detergent was to harsh on her skin. As well as went grocery shopping and helped her bath and put cream on her back.
Other experience I have with the disabled and elderly is volunteering at my church and school to help run the senior lunch in and was part of the lunch buddy program, in which students volunteered to have lunch with the LLS students.
I don’t have any children which makes me available at any time. Although I did have heavy involvement looking after my friends child who was often placed in my care. I was changing his dipper until he was five so cleaning up other peoples bodily functions don’t bother me. I have my first year in psychology at Trent so I should be able to handle different situations more proficiently. Eventually I want to become a nurse practitioner or a personal care supervisor. I figure starting out as a personal support will get me the experience I need as well as save up some money to go back to school and achieve that
goal.

I believe I have the determination, skill set and past experience to be able to do well in this course and make a great personal support worker and with the aging population of the baby boomers there are many opportunities for work as a personal support worker to find work.