“If I Do not Go to Work, They Will Die!” Dual Roles of Older-Adult Personal Support Workers’ Contributions During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

AbstractWhen COVID-19 devastated older-adult organizations (long-term care homes and retirement homes), most public attention was directed toward the older-adult residents rather than their service providers. This was especially true in the case of personal support workers, some of whom are over the age of 55, putting them in two separate categories in the COVID-19 settings: (1) a vulnerable and marginalized group who are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19; and (2) essential healthcare workers. Since the current disaster-driven research, practice, and policy have primarily focused on generalized assumptions that older-adults are a vulnerable, passive, and dependent group rather than recognizing their diversity, expertise, assets, and experiences, this study aimed to identify their contributions from the perspective of older-adult personal support worker (OAPSW). This qualitative study conducted in-depth interviews, inviting 15 OAPSWs from the Greater Toronto Area, Canada. This study uncovered the OAPSWs’ contribution at three levels: individual (enhancing physical health, mental health, and overall well-being), work (improving working environment and service and supporting co-workers), and family (protecting their nuclear and extended families). The outcomes inform the older-adult research, practice, policy, public discourse, and education by enhancing the appreciation of older-adults’ diverse strengths and promoting their engagement and contributions in disaster settings.