Everyone has a calling in life. Some people are skilled trades workers, others enjoy working with nature – and Harpreet Singh ‘22 is a caregiver. Harpreet is a grad from the Personal Support Worker (PSW) program at Mohawk College, and he plans to dedicate his life to helping people who are vulnerable and can’t help themselves.
Harpreet chose to pursue his goal by becoming a PSW working with residents in long-term care facilities and retirement homes. “I want to work with older residents, or those unable to care for themselves. I really want to be there to help them,” he said. “It’s my nature to help others, especially elders. I chose this profession to help people who can’t provide self-care. I love this profession.”
As a PSW student, Harpreet helped clients perform day-to-day tasks they may struggle to do on their own. “The residents are older, have illnesses, or have dementia. Usually, they are unable to care for themselves,” said Harpreet. “We provide personal care such as bed baths, feeding, hygiene, stuff like that.”
During his work experience, Harpreet was surprised to see how PSW’s go above and beyond to care for people. “I didn’t expect that PSW’s would go so far to take care of their clients,” said Harpreet. “I knew there was caregiving, but I’ve never seen this kind of care, not only physically, but compassionate care, mental care. I really like seeing this.”
He recalls one moment in particular that showed him the compassion PSW’s should have for their clients. “There was one resident who was having a bit of a mental breakdown. She was crying, talking about how she didn’t want to live in a retirement care facility, she wanted to go home,” said Harpreet. “My preceptor talked with the client in a very compassionate way, telling the client how she ‘cares for her like a mother,’ and that she’s there for the client, and she loves her.” The preceptors’ actions helped to calm client, which Harpreet found inspiring.
The experience Harpreet gained through his work placement helped to prepare him to enter the field, and he’s thankful for the time he was able to spend in a real work environment. “Without the placement, we haven’t learned everything there is to learn,” said Harpreet. “Placement teaches a lot of important things, especially how to interact with clients and coworkers.”
While he learned a lot through his placement, Harpreet is also thankful for the time he was able to spend in class. “I really enjoyed in-person classes,” he said. “I had the chance to participate in activities, to connect with classmates and teachers, it was the best thing ever. I loved coming to class.”
His proudest accomplishments as a former student are two videos he made for the PSW program. “The first one was about personal care, taking vital signs, blood pressure, pulse, oxygen levels,” said Harpreet. “The other one was for medication, displaying how can I provide medication to the client.”
Harpreet completed his second co-op placement at Sunrise of Burlington senior living facility and is looking forward to what his career holds now that he has graduated “I’m really excited to work in this field. I find this profession gives me peace. Whenever I work with a client, it gives me peace when I get to care for them.”
Harpreet believes that anyone who wants to care for others should consider the PSW program. “I find this program awesome. I would recommend this program to students who want to enter the health care profession,” he said. “They have the opportunity for pathways to other healthcare professions like RNs, it’s not just PSW’s.”
Mohawk College offers the Personal Support Worker (PSW) program at several campuses across Hamilton and Burlington, including the new Tansley Woods campus, which provides students the opportunity to gain hands-on learning experience in a retirement and long-term care environment.
