Caregivers

A Home Support Worker (HSW) is a Caregiver who assists people with daily personal care needs as they deal with the effects of aging, injury, surgery or illness.  A Caregiver works under the direction of a Nursing Supervisor who does the initial assessment and develops the client’s initial Care Plan. 

Caregivers typically have six months of training at a community college or the equivalent health care education/training in another country; many foreign-trained nurses work as Home Support Workers while they are pursuing their RN or LPN licensure in Canada.  Caregivers are by far the most popular level of Home Support Worker for senior and elderly care; they provide basic home support services such as Housekeeping and Meal Preparation, but they also have the training to deliver more skilled care such as Personal Care and Medication Management if the client’s needs progress or change.

Caregivers are not currently regulated in Canada, but British Columbia introduced the BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry in April 2010. Caregivers are also sometimes referred to as “Resident Care Attendants”, “Nurse’s Aides”, or “Community Support Workers”. 

Caregivers with Vehicles

If you would like a skilled Caregiver to accompany you to your medical appointments, or would just like the convenience of a Companion to escort you on your errands, Shylo offers Companions, Home Support Workers and Nurses with safe driving records and clean vehicles.  The Caregivers can also drive your vehicle if you prefer or may accompany you on the Handidart or Taxi.

Caregivers can help you prepare for medical appointments by making a list of your current medications and any questions you want to remember to ask.  The Caregivers can escort you to the physician’s office, then either wait outside, or accompany you in the examining room to take detailed notes.  After the appointment the Caregiver will drive you to pick-up any new prescriptions or get the blood work or x-ray done before returning you safely to your home.

Companions can drive you to your errands; help prepare the shopping list, accompany you to do the shopping and help to put the groceries away when you return home;

Travelling Nurses are available to accompany persons with complex medical needs and can provide in-transit medical care, including oxygen, sedation, and pain management; screening and monitoring during trips; medical reporting to the receiving facility; and procedures for incontinence care to assure a worry free trip.

Many of our senior clients request a regular visit from a Caregiver with a vehicle so they know they always have the option of the Home Support Worker or Companion escorting them on outings.  Others call us on an ‘as needed’ basis for a Nurse’s Aide to accompany someone home from the hospital after surgery; to support someone who needs assistance with Personal Care to a wedding or other social event; to have a skilled Caregiver on-hand when a family takes a special needs child home or on vacation; to have a Companion who can assist a senior family member to bed early, whatever the need, whether you’re 6 or 106, Shylo is here to support you.

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