The Integration of Long-Term Care and Personal Support Worker Education: Evaluation of a Living Classroom Experience

Abstract

The shortage of Personal Support Workers (PSW) to meet the needs of residents in long-term care (LTC) homes has been well documented, and the issue has been made more acute in the context of the global COVID-19 pandemic. The living classroom (LC) has been implemented as one approach to addressing the need to train PSWs and attract them to the sector. A mixed-methods program evaluation of a LC program was undertaken. Surveys were carried out with students during and at the end of the program. Focus groups and individual interviews were carried out with staff, residents, and students. Program implementation was successful, and several program graduates were employed in the LTC home upon graduation. Key stakeholders were satisfied with the program, and students had improved attitudes toward the LTC sector. Opportunities for improvement were noted and addressed. The LC model is an approach that can be used by LTC homes and their educational partners to deliver high quality, integrated PSW programs. It can be used to help address the serious staffing shortages in the LTC sector.