Community support workers and healthcare assistants are two essential pillars of the Canadian healthcare sector; however, both of these careers have quite distinct characteristics. If you are looking to enrol in one of these two programs, this blog is going to help you make the right decision according to your needs.
Differences in what they do
There are differences in the job duties of community support workers and healthcare assistants. For instance, community support workers help vulnerable people who are usually at risk of getting into social and personal problems. They also help people get enrolled in social welfare programs so that they can be better served by the state-run programs. Some of the main duties of community support workers include:
- Drug-related issues in youth and teenagers
- Homeless people
- Abuse and mental health problems
- People in need of emotional support
- Trauma-related issues
- Refugees dealing with issues
The job-related duties of healthcare assistants are slightly different from those of community support workers. For instance, healthcare assistants or healthcare aides usually provide assistance to people who need help in daily living. Healthcare assistants usually help people in long-term care facilities or people who need help in their homes. They usually help old people or people with disabilities. Some of the main duties of healthcare assistants include:
- Therapeutic exercises of patients
- Companionship and emotional support
- Medication-related duties
- Meal preparation and other nutrition related matters
- Eating, grooming, dressing, etc.
- Personal hygiene
Differences in courses and training
There are some major differences in the training and the courses that they are taught in their diplomas. For instance, take a look and notice that Edison College’s Community Support Worker: Addictions & Mental Health Specialization has a focus on courses related to social sciences such as sociology, psychology, etc. Whereas the same college in its Health Care Assistant Diploma focuses on physiology, anatomy, etc. Despite these core differences, there are some similar courses in both of these two programs, such as standard first aid, CPR level C, interpersonal communication, etc.
Differences in career options
While both community support workers and healthcare assistants can help people with different kinds of needs, they mainly have different career options. For example, community support workers work in women’s shelters, school boards, homeless shelters, community service centers, hospitals, group homes, social service government agencies, correctional facilities, addiction and counseling support facilities, etc. However, healthcare assistants mainly work in long-term care facilities, acute care, assisted living, complex care, adult day care, etc.
Now that you know the basic differences between community support workers and healthcare assistants, let us see what other important aspects you should consider before choosing a specific program. Some of the important things that you should keep in mind are: how reputable is the college, what is the duration of the program, is it online or which sections of the program are online, does the program have any practicum with it, what is the fee of the program, etc. Do your own research and see what suits your requirements. On the one hand, you have 100% online programs to choose from. Such programs are more suitable for those who have travel limitations or who want to learn at their own pace. On the other hand, you have hybrid programs in which one can take theory classes online while doing the practicum in person.
After discussing the differences between community support workers and healthcare assistants, let us talk about the larger picture of the healthcare sector in Canada and how it is expected to change in the future. Like all the developed countries, Canada is getting old faster than most countries in the world. In fact, Canada has a larger percentage of a population of 65-year olds or more compared to the United States. North American countries such as Canada and the United States both have an aging population, but they are still behind many European and Asian countries, perhaps due to the higher immigration of young people annually. Most of the top 10 countries with the oldest population in the world are either from Europe or East Asia.
People 65 years of age or older make up over 17.2% of the total Canadian population. Although Canada is currently far behind compared to Japan, world’s oldest country with over 28.2% of its population over the age of 65, it will catch up to Japan by 2046, according to the data compiled by the Government of Canada. The Canadian population is not only getting old, but it is also growing very fast compared to the past. Both of these two factors are directly proportional to the market demand of healthcare workers, including community support workers and healthcare workers.
Conclusion
Whether you choose a career as a community support worker or healthcare assistant, you will not only be earning a respectable living but also serving society at large. The recognition of the services provided by these professions has also increased over the last few years, particularly after the pandemic. As discussed earlier, due to the changing demographics of the country, new job opportunities are also being created, and the trend is expected to continue in the foreseeable future.
Edison College is also offering a Health Care Assistant Program with Co-op; this is a 62-week diploma with 600-hour co-op placement. Practicum-based diplomas usually take more time to complete, but they also prepare the graduates for job-ready skills. If you have questions or concerns, you can contact us today to learn more about any of these programs.
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