Making a difference as a ParaMed Personal Support Worker
Rosemary joined ParaMed 25 years ago on the advice of a friend who was already employed with the company.
“My friend told me I should come and give it a try. I had an interview to become a Home Support Worker (HSW) and got the job.
Within a few months, I applied (with Extendicare’s support) to George Brown to become a Personal Support Worker (PSW) and now here I am, and I love my work,” says Rosemary.
She also appreciates the strong team at ParaMed and the support and caring that it has brought to her career.
“ParaMed offered me flexibility,” she says. “I had a young son when I started here, and they really helped me to focus on my degree and work when I was available. The office team knew me by name and treated me well, which really matters.”
Why Rosemary enjoys being a Personal Support Worker
PSWs work with clients to help them live more independently in their homes and communities, and assist with personal care, meal preparation, and activities of daily living. Rosemary loves working with clients and takes great pride in the care she provides.
“I get to meet all kinds of people from different socioeconomic backgrounds, places and spaces. The great equalizer is the human heart. It doesn’t matter where you come from. They all just need someone to help and to care,” says Rosemary. “I have a big heart, and I love to give. I empathize with all the people I care for, and we share a very special bond. I feel appreciated and needed – like every day I make a difference, and I like that.” Rosemary equally cherishes the friendships she has made at Paramed with many other health-care professionals like PSWs, home support workers, and nurses.
“Some of the best people I know and am friends with I met while working here,” says Rosemary. “It’s not every day you get to work side by side with a friend and I feel very lucky.”
Rosemary’s advice to people just starting out in the field is that “You must work with your heart. You must listen and you must help.”