The Catalyst – Care for Care Providers

Many care providers are in this profession because they have similar nurturing mindsets, yet 80 percent have considered changing careers, according to a report published last year by the Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence (CCCE).

Liv Mendelsohn, executive director of the CCCE, knows PSWs who live in their cars because they can’t afford housing. She’s heard stories about the stress of rushing between nursing homes and private residences from PSWs who cobble together gigs. “We rely on them to provide really intimate care,” she says, “but we don’t do enough to support their health.” Moreover, because a care provider’s permission to be in Canada can be tied to a particular employer, they often remain silent when facing discrimination or exploitative situations.