Long Term Care is a sector that provides an essential service to society by supporting millions of people in the world who need living assistance. In Ontario, for instance, this field supports more than 115,000 people who live in the hundreds of long-term care homes across the province. The sector also provides work to thousands of healthcare workers and specialized staff who look after residents, most of which are seniors and/or people living with dementia and other cognitive impairments.
Another interesting fact is that long-term care is the fastest-growing sub-sector within the healthcare system in Canada, as the local population keeps aging and becoming more medically complex. For these reasons, long-term care is a great choice for people looking to start or further develop a career as a healthcare worker. With that in mind, in this article, we will talk about the top careers in Long Term Care for 2022.
According to the latest report published by the Ontario Long Term Care Association (OLTCA), 90% of the residents in long term care homes have some form of cognitive impairment, while 86% of residents need extensive help with daily activities (getting out of bed, eating, or toileting), and 40% need monitoring for an acute medical condition. These figures can help us predict that the top careers in long term care for 2022 will be the following:
58% of employees in Ontario's long-term care sector are personal support workers (PSWs), according to the most recent long-term care staffing study conducted by the province. This role remains one of the most sought-after by nursing homes and retirement homes, as these workers are essential for their operations. In 2022, PSW jobs are likely to keep increasing, so if your new year's resolution is to pursue a career in healthcare, this is a great choice.
Currently, RNs account for 25% of the employees in Ontario's long-term care sector, and this percentage is projected to keep climbing considering that most residents in nursing homes and retirement homes have delicate medical conditions such as heart disease, circulation issues, recent stroke or risk of stroke. Moreover, a considerable number of residents require prescription medication that can only be administered by nurses or physicians.
The aforementioned long-term care staffing study conducted by the province of Ontario reveals that 62% of people in long-term care have musculoskeletal diseases such as arthritis and osteoporosis. Considering this fact, it is safe to say that physiotherapists will become one of the top healthcare workers in the long-term care sector in 2022.
80% of residents in long-term care in Ontario have neurological diseases, and these patients are usually better managed by DSWs, as they are healthcare workers specialized in supporting people with disabilities. This is a career path that has seen a considerable increase in the past few years and for 2022, seasoned DSWs and new graduates will have plenty of work opportunities in nursing and retirement homes.
These healthcare workers are sometimes known as psychiatric technicians and what they do is provide support to patients with mental illnesses such as dementia, which affects about 64% of residents in long-term care in Ontario. This career path is a great choice for people who want to pursue an occupation where they can have direct contact with patients and make a positive impact in their lives.
The Canadian long-term care sector is set to continue expanding in 2022, especially in terms of infrastructure and staffing. In provinces like Ontario, the local government has said that it's working on increasing the number of beds and healthcare workers to meet the demand.
In 2022, nursing homes and retirement homes across the country are expected to continue making efforts to improve infection prevention and control, as they did in 2021 to protect their residents, staff, and visitors.
Read More: How To Find A PSW Job With No Experience In Canada?
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