{"id":4209,"date":"2021-05-19T05:52:10","date_gmt":"2021-05-19T05:52:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/psw.circleofcare.com\/?p=4209"},"modified":"2021-05-20T18:27:57","modified_gmt":"2021-05-20T18:27:57","slug":"celebrating-psw-day-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/psw.circleofcare.com\/index.php\/2021\/05\/19\/celebrating-psw-day-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrating PSW Day 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1\/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]This year, to celebrate PSW Day, we asked you \u2013 our Personal Support Workers (PSWs) to share your stories about meaningful experiences you\u2019ve had with clients. Your responses reflect the deep connection and positive difference you make in the lives of our clients each day. Thank you PSWs for all the hard work and dedication you commit to each day.[\/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line”][\/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1\/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1\/4″ column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][image_with_animation image_url=”4215″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”3\/4″ column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]\u201cOne day, when I arrived at my client\u2019s home for his daily visit, I noticed that he was still in bed sleeping. I tried to wake him up but he didn\u2019t respond and didn\u2019t open his eyes. His granddaughter came and I asked her if she could wake him up, but he still wasn\u2019t responding. I told her to call 911. The paramedics arrived and started doing some tests on him. In that moment, we were all worried. As the paramedics were attending to him, my client woke and opened his eyes. He started talking to his granddaughter, who was crying. In Spanish, he told me \u201cMe Salavaste la vida!\u201d which means \u2018You saved my life\u2019. In that moment, he cried too. It was a touching moment for me. I held my own tears back, wanting to show my client that I\u2019m strong and he can rely on me. This experience is one of the reasons why I love my job. I love being a PSW because I care for others and sometimes even save lives.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2013 Joseph, PSW[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1\/4″ column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][image_with_animation image_url=”4218″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”3\/4″ column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]\u201cThere\u2019s one client in particular that I think about. From day one, she told me how glad she was that I was sent to her and constantly praised me on how I did things the way she wanted them done. Eventually, her health started to deteriorate. She was given more hours of care, so I was with her almost every day. She would repeatedly say to me how she felt so peaceful in my presence and that she didn\u2019t need to take her pain pills as long as I was with her. Perhaps a bit of an over-reaction, but nonetheless, I took her words to heart. Those words helped me to care for her in her difficult times. Then the family made arrangements to have my client moved to a nursing home. I was with them the day that she moved. It was only three or four days later that I received a phone call from her daughter to let me know her mother had passed away in her sleep, just exactly how she wanted to leave this world. I attended her Shiva, along with some of her other regular PSWs. I am so blessed to have cared for her and will forever treasure the memories of our time together.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2013 Lita, PSW[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1\/4″ column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][image_with_animation image_url=”4219″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”3\/4″ column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]\u201cEvery time I visited one of my clients, she would give me a nice smile and tell me she\u2019s very happy that it\u2019s Monday. When I would ask her why, she\u2019d say \u2018Because I get to see you today!\u2019 She\u2019d say, \u2018Everytime you\u2019re here with me, my heart is full of happiness.\u2019 Whenever I was done caring for her, she\u2019d ask when she would see me again and tell me she loved me. It made me feel like she was my mother. It was a sad day when I had to say goodbye to her because she was being transferred to long-term care. She gave me a thank you card, and it made me want to cry. But I smiled at her and told her I was going to miss her. One day, by God\u2019s grace, I hope I get to see her again.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2013\u00a0Marilyn<\/span>, PSW[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1\/4″ column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][image_with_animation image_url=”4220″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”3\/4″ column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]\u201cOne of my clients speaks multiple languages, but English is not one of them. In many ways, this is my greatest problem, because communicating is so important when you\u2019re helping someone else. \u00a0At first, I really found it hard to provide care for her. I wanted to use my mobile app to translate back and forth between us, but it didn\u2019t work because she combines multiple languages when she speaks. In this case, I asked her family to interpret some of the common words used daily and I wrote down a list. I also started using gestures and body language to express my thoughts. In the beginning, she used to get anxious and agitated, and wanted to get up from her bed. I had to distract her attention or offer her something to eat or drink, or call her daughter to speak to her. \u00a0It took time, but after a while, I won her confidence. Now, she\u2019s so happy whenever I visit her. She feels great when I shampoo her hair and give her a bed bath. We enjoy each other\u2019s company and my presence and assistance makes her happy and satisfied. I was especially honoured to hear that she prays for me and my family to be safe and healthy. (Her daughter translated that for me!)\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2013 Rosalina, PSW[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1\/4″ column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][image_with_animation image_url=”4224″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”3\/4″ column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]\u201cI\u2019ve been working with Circle of Care for almost 8 years, and have developed wonderful working relationships with my clients. I\u2019ve worked with one of my clients the whole time I\u2019ve been with Circle of Care! Last year, I was unfortunately in a car accident, and had to take 5 weeks off work. All my clients were worried and wondered where I was, and kept waiting for me to return to them. When I finally was able to return to work, they were so excited to see me! It was so heartwarming to hear their words of kindness and praise for my work.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2013 Josefina, PSW[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1\/4″ column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][image_with_animation image_url=”4244″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”3\/4″ column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]\u201cOne of my clients is a sweet older lady. We became close when we discovered that she had a great-granddaughter that is the same age as my granddaughter, and we used to show each other pictures. I would go in to pull back the covers on her bed, and give her a back rub with her favourite cream. With everything that happened with the pandemic, our schedules got shuffled by Public Health, and she had to get a different PSW. The transition was hard on her, and she struggled with the change. I missed her too. Happily, now I\u2019m back with my old schedule and can see her again. She\u2019s so happy! When I returned to her on the first day, I got the biggest hug ever. She said that she kept comparing the other worker to me. It\u2019s great to be back with her, we talk about everything like we\u2019ve known each other for years. And the unique thing is, we share the same birthday! She\u2019s just wonderful and special, and I\u2019m happy to provide her with care.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2013 Eleen, PSW[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1\/4″ column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][image_with_animation image_url=”4226″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”3\/4″ column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]\u201cAt the beginning of my visit, I greet my clients with a hello, and their response right away is \u2018My sunshine is here!\u2019 My clients always greet me with a big happy smile and welcome me like family. That\u2019s why I\u2019m so attached to them. One of my clients told me, \u2018I\u2019m so blessed to have you come three times a week. I feel so alive when you\u2019re here, and it brings me happiness.\u2019 Another client told me \u2018Luisa, you improve my life, the way you care for me, you treat me like you family.\u2019\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2013 Luisa, PSW[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1\/4″ column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][image_with_animation image_url=”4228″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”3\/4″ column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]\u201cMy clients are very nice to me and they appreciate my work for them. They are very happy every time I visit them, and they wait for me every day. I get the best feeling when they say thank you and appreciate all the things I\u2019ve done for them. They treat me like a family member! You have to have lots of patience and understanding to be a PSW. Having love for your job and loving care for your clients helps as well. When my clients say thank you and see you tomorrow, it completes my day and I finish with a big smile.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2013 Ethel, PSW[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1\/4″ column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][image_with_animation image_url=”4229″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”3\/4″ column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]\u201cMy client is a retired doctor. Every time I visit him, he tells me that when he sees me he doesn\u2019t feel sick. I answer him, \u2018Well, it\u2019s a good thing, I\u2019m not sick either!\u2019 He always laughs every time I tell him that. Truly, laughter is the best medicine. Whenever we can laugh together, it will be a good day!\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2013\u00a0Saniata, PSW<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1\/4″ column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][image_with_animation image_url=”4230″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”3\/4″ column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]\u201cOne day, my client\u2019s daughter approached me and told me a very heartwarming story. She saw her mother staring at the window Monday night and asked her mother how she was doing. The mother said she couldn\u2019t wait for Tuesday to come: \u201cTuesday is my favorite day of the week because I get to see my Kristina, my little daughter.\u201d I have received a lot of appreciation and compliments at work but this one made me a little teary. To learn that someone is so looking forward to seeing you and be with you is priceless! I feel very grateful that God is constantly reminding me to spread kindness and giving me the opportunity to witness it as well.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2013 Kristina, PSW[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”15″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1\/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]\n

Our PSWs Are…<\/h3>\n

Here are some of the words that describe our Personal Support Workers, from members of our senior team:[\/vc_column_text][image_with_animation image_url=”4238″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Today is PSW Day in Ontario! Thank you to all of our outstanding PSWs for your dedication and commitment. Here are some of the stories that you shared with us about meaningful client experiences you have had.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":4232,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-4209","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-memos"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/psw.circleofcare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4209","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/psw.circleofcare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/psw.circleofcare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/psw.circleofcare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/psw.circleofcare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4209"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/psw.circleofcare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4209\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4245,"href":"https:\/\/psw.circleofcare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4209\/revisions\/4245"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/psw.circleofcare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4232"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/psw.circleofcare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4209"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/psw.circleofcare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4209"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/psw.circleofcare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4209"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}