As many health care assistant programs wrap up across the province BC Care Providers Association is welcoming new graduates into the rewarding area of seniors’ care.
“Whether new graduates are planning to work in care homes, assisted living or home health care, they have probably chosen the caregiving field because they want to use their skills to make a difference in the lives of seniors,” says BCCPA CEO Daniel Fontaine. “We could not be more excited to welcome them into our sector, and to their new roles as valued members of health care teams across the province.”
Last week Fontaine addressed over 400 students graduating from the Health Care Assistant, Community Support Worker and Activity Assistant diploma programs at Drake Medox College. At the event Fontaine spoke to the health human resources challenge affecting seniors’ care across the country.
“We know that B.C.’s population is aging,” says Fontaine. “For the first time ever there are more seniors than people under the age of 15, but this is only an indication of what is to come. By 2038 we can expect seniors to account for approximately one quarter of the population.”
As highlighted in the forthcoming report “The Perfect Storm: A Health Human Resources Crisis in Seniors Care” (to be released mid-April) an aging population means that more people need support, but it also means that existing workers are beginning to retire, exacerbating an already significant health human resources shortage in the sector.
“With our aging workforce and low recruitment rates, it is crucial that we are attracting a new generation of workers into the continuing care sector,” says Fontaine.
The solution to increase recruitment and address the worker shortage in the continuing care sector includes tuition relief and bursaries for students, as well as other financial incentives to address affordability challenges, along with a comprehensive marketing and recruitment campaign, through job fairs and social media.
BCCPA is also exploring solutions such as expanding the delivery of dual credit programs to allow career-orientated students to graduate from high school ready to work in seniors’ care, as well as supporting programs such as CATE, which equip internationally-trained health care professionals with the skills and experience necessary to become successful Health Care Assistants in the Canadian workplace.
The program pays the tuition fees of participants who have a health care background outside of Canada, who are then enrolled in the Health Care Assistant program at Sprott Shaw College. Last year 100 per cent of CATE graduates were successful in finding employment following graduation, thanks in part to BCCPA encouraging our service provider members to hire the grads.
Rebecca Morris, Manager of Public Affairs for Home Care and Assisted Living, and Lara Croll, Health Human Resources Analyst, attended the graduation of MOSAIC’s 2nd CATE cohort last week.
“The stories we heard from the graduates were inspiring. Many had been physicians, nurses or dentists before moving to Canada,” says Morris. “When they arrived here they wanted to stay in health care but were unable to use their skills and training. This program gives them the opportunity to re-enter the workforce, while helping meet the growing need for seniors’ care workers.”
BCCPA CEO Daniel Fontaine left the new graduates with the following advice: “As you prepare to take your talents and new credentials into the labour force, do not underestimate the opportunity you have to make a real difference in the lives of the people who will need your support.”
Interested in learning more about HHR? On April 12th, 2018 the Vancouver Island Chapter of the Canadian College of Health Leaders will present B.C.’s Health Human Resources Pipeline: Exploring what’s restricting the flow of new seniors care workers and how to resolve it at Patient Care Centre Lecture Theatre, Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria.
