Home Support Worker

Develop a solid foundation to your new healthcare career by understanding the role and responsibilities of the home support worker, gaining insight into the care that clients require by exploring the Canadian healthcare system, Canadian legislation, ethics, and interpersonal communication, leaving you with the foundational skills necessary to promote overall client wellness.

Develop comprehensive knowledge and practical skills to ensure the safety and improve the mobility of clients under your care. Develop the critical competencies required to safely and respectfully handle, move, and position clients.

Learn about human anatomy and body systems including the musculoskeletal, nervous, circulatory, immune, respiratory, digestive, and reproductive systems, along with the correct medical terminology and language structure to describe them to communicate effectively with patients, families, and other healthcare workers.

Develop the knowledge and skills needed to effectively manage hygiene and infection control in clients. Understand how to identify and report changes or concerns in a client's condition as well as how to assist clients with bathing, showering, and personal grooming to ensure comfort while adhering to safety protocol and preventing accidents and injuries.

Understand how to identify and effectively address elder abuse issues relating to older adults, caregivers, perpetrators, and situational influences. Gain crucial knowledge on how to access essential resources to address self-neglect, domestic abuse, abuse in long-term care settings, financial abuse, and sexual abuse.

Learn to provide compassionate care for individuals with life-limiting illnesses through practical strategies and real-life scenarios. Develop necessary skills in palliative care, effective communication, and culturally safe practices while understanding psychosocial needs, advanced care planning, symptom management in the final stages, and self-care to prevent compassion fatigue. Learn the importance of your role in the healthcare team along with how to support the dying and their families with empathy and professionalism.

Understand the significance of comfort, pain management, and home management while developing skills in cleaning, laundry, and handling clients' money. Learn to promote a safe, comfortable, and hygienic environment for clients while supporting their nutritional needs and hydration.

Develop essential skills and knowledge in care planning, restorative care, and community settings. Learn to differentiate between rehabilitative and restorative care, understanding their respective goals and benefits. Explore the roles of therapy, training, and the family in the rehabilitation process.

Gain a deep understanding of cognitive and mental health issues, including the impact of brain injuries, through a blend of theoretical knowledge and practical skill development. Explore the complexities of mental health disorders, their effects on individuals and families, and the challenges posed by various forms of cognitive impairments like disorientation, delirium, and dementia.

Understand a wide range of health conditions affecting various body systems, from communicable diseases to complex disorders. Learn the essentials of caring for individuals with conditions related to the integumentary, musculoskeletal, neurological, endocrine systems, and more. Understand how to manage cancer, fractures, amputations, visual and hearing impairments, as well as speech and language disorders so that you can provide effective and empathetic care.

Develop proper speaking skills to give effective and professional oral presentations. Understand what to do before, during, and after presentations, and how to design useful and informative visual aids.

Make the transition into post-secondary education easily by learning how to make the most of your chosen career education path and prepare for your new role in the workforce. Understand different learning styles, how to effectively set goals, take notes, and complete tests.

Work hands-on to build the essential skills needed to find meaningful employment opportunities in today's job market. Learn and develop essential communication skills to be successful throughout the entire job application process by understanding how to plan, write, and complete a resume, search for employment, and develop presentation skills to achieve gainful employment.