Summary

• Healthcare Aide Day is observed on October 18 every year to celebrate the role of healthcare aides, who play a critical role in patient care.
• Healthcare aides have different names, such as healthcare assistants, home-support workers, continuing-care assistants, etc.
• If you are looking for a healthcare assistant diploma, you can check out Edison College’
• Health Care Assistant Diploma Program.
• Canada is aging fast, and the country requires a high number of healthcare aides to meet the demand of its healthcare system.
• The problems for the federal and provincial governments have been compounded since the COVID-19 pandemic, as a large number of healthcare workers left the profession.

What is a Healthcare Aide Day?

Healthcare Aide Day is observed to celebrate the role of healthcare aides, who play a critical role in patient care.

In Canada, their role is so crucial that two of the Canadian provinces officially observe it on October 18 as the healthcare aide day.

The province of British Columbia was the first to declare October 18 as Healthcare Aide Day in 2012.

By 2011, there were over 40,000 healthcare aides serving the patients in British Columbia, and the provincial government wanted to recognize dedication and quality of care at the highest levels.

Later, in 2014, Manitoba also declared that it would observe October 18 as Healthcare Aide Day. Other provinces and territories also observe this day, such as hospitals, clinics, and healthcare facilities, but it is not officially recognized at the regional level.

Today, all provinces and territories in Canada recognize the hard work and devotion of healthcare aides who are serving different communities in the country.

Canada is trying to support healthcare aides and other related healthcare professions. The country is also trying to fill in the vacant positions of healthcare aides because of several factors, including a fast-aging population.

What are the Duties of Healthcare Aides?

Healthcare aides have different names, such as healthcare assistants, home-support workers, continuing-care assistants, personal-care aides, etc. But their role and duties with the healthcare system remain the same.

Some of the core duties of healthcare aides are:

• Provide daily living support and comfort to patients and clients.
• Help patients with clothing, bathing, grooming, toileting, and other personal hygiene chores.
• Assist in taking food, mobility, and exercise as required.
• Communicate patients’ condition with the family members and doctors.
• Prepare daily or weekly reports to help doctors and other healthcare providers.

Canada requires the sustained availability of healthcare aids for a number of reasons. Canadian baby boomers (people who were born from 1945 to 1965) are turning 65 or older, and they are retiring in large numbers.

Similarly, due to advancements in modern healthcare facilities, a large number of people are living longer. For instance, the percentage of people who are living beyond 100 years of age has been rapidly increasing over the last decade or so.

This old population requires additional healthcare support, and this is contributing to the demand for healthcare aides in Canada. Therefore, it is pertinent to talk about the growing role of healthcare aides on this Healthcare Aide Day.

The problems for the federal and provincial governments have been compounded since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Several trained healthcare workers took early retirements due to stressful conditions, high stress levels, and burnout during the pandemic, making the shortage further concerning for the authorities.

How to Become a Healthcare Aide?

There are different kinds of diploma programs that you can choose from. For instance, Edison College’s health care assistant diploma takes only 6 months to finish.

Some of the courses that are taught in this diploma include common health challenges, personal care and assistance, cognitive and mental health challenges, etc.

Healthcare aides, or healthcare assistants, usually work in complex care, home support, group homes, assisted-living facilities, adult day care, acute care, and such healthcare facilities.

If you are interested in entering the Canadian healthcare system, this diploma can help you to achieve your goals.  

Conclusion

Healthcare Aide Day is an excellent opportunity to recognize the critical role of these healthcare workers. It is because of this workforce that the Canadian healthcare sector is able to treat a large number of patients every year.

Join the Health Care Assistant Diploma Program at Edison College

This Health Care Assistant Diploma Program helps students develop the core skills needed to care for clients in a variety of care settings. The courses in this program include personal care, assisting with mobility and feeding needs, communication, assisting with medication, and clinical skills related to palliative and acute care.

Edison College Canada’s Health Care Assistant Program prepares students for diverse opportunities in the health care field.

Graduates of our Health Care Assistant Certificate program can work in a variety of health care environments, such as acute care hospitals, long-term care facilities, group homes, assisted living facilities, and in the community providing home care.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us now to learn more.

Read more industry-related blogs here.

Pictures by Freepik