Personal Support Workers (PSWs) are still essential to the Canadian healthcare system in 2025, particularly given the growing need for chronic and senior care. PSWs are in great demand in both home care and institutional care due to an older population, longer life expectancies, and a growing desire for aging at home. Their primary objective—offering practical help with personal and health-related duties—remains constant, but their responsibilities, difficulties, and effects differ greatly based on the type of care setting. In order to shed light on the abilities needed, changing expectations, and reality encountered in each setting, this blog examines how PSWs’ roles in home care vs. institutional care change in 2025.
PSWs in Home Care (2025)
1. Increasing Demand for In-Home Care
With advancements in remote monitoring and telehealth, more Canadians prefer to receive care in the comfort of their own homes. As a result, PSWs are now delivering a wider range of services, including support for post-surgery recovery, palliative care, and chronic condition management, all under virtual supervision from healthcare professionals.
2. Independence and Flexibility
In home care, PSWs operate with a high level of independence. They are expected to assess and respond to clients’ needs in real time, often with limited immediate supervision. Scheduling is often more flexible, which is appealing for many workers—but it also requires excellent time management and accountability.
3. Expanded Responsibilities
Today’s PSWs in home care go beyond personal hygiene and medication reminders. In 2025, they may also be trained in using smart home technology, managing digital health records, and communicating updates through care apps. Their role includes emotional support, social companionship, and even guiding family members on basic care procedures.
4. Challenges: Isolation & Travel
While meaningful one-on-one relationships can develop in home care, PSWs often work in isolation without the support of a team. Frequent travel between clients—sometimes across large urban or rural areas—adds physical and logistical strain, especially during bad weather or staff shortages.
PSWs in Institutional Care (2025)
1. Structured Environment with Defined Roles
In long-term care homes, hospitals, and assisted living facilities, PSWs function within well-defined roles and schedules. They follow established care plans and work under the supervision of registered nurses or care coordinators. This structured setting offers stability and teamwork but allows less room for personal flexibility.
2. Collaborative, Team-Based Approach
Institutional PSWs work as part of an interdisciplinary team that may include nurses, physiotherapists, dietitians, and doctors. The team approach enhances care quality, ensures better communication, and reduces the feeling of isolation that can affect home-based PSWs.
3. Higher Workload and Pace
Unlike home care, PSWs in facilities often care for multiple residents during a single shift. This includes helping with mobility, feeding, bathing, toileting, and monitoring health conditions. With increasing patient-to-staff ratios in some institutions, the pace can be fast and physically demanding.
4. Technological Integration
In 2025, many facilities are equipped with electronic medical records (EMRs), automated lifting systems, and wearable monitoring devices. PSWs are expected to be tech-savvy, comfortable documenting care digitally, and able to respond quickly to alerts from monitoring systems.
Home Care vs. Institutional Care: What’s the Difference?
| Factor | Home Care | Institutional Care |
| Work Environment | Client’s residence | Hospitals, long-term care, retirement homes |
| Supervision Level | Low – PSW often works alone | High – PSW works within a team |
| Number of Clients | 1–2 per visit | Multiple clients per shift |
| Care Delivery Style | Personalized, flexible | Routine-based, structured |
| Use of Technology | Home monitoring, mobile apps | EMR systems, facility-wide equipment |
| Emotional Bonding | Deep one-on-one connections | Balanced with broader professional boundaries |
| Challenges | Travel, isolation, home environment variability | High workload, limited flexibility, physical strain |
| Autonomy | High | Moderate – decisions are often guided by protocols |
Choosing the Right Path in 2025
For new or aspiring PSWs, choosing between home care and institutional care often depends on personality, lifestyle preferences, and long-term career goals. Home care might be more appealing to those who value flexibility, independence, and closer personal relationships. Institutional care may be better suited for those who thrive in team environments and prefer more structure with opportunities for advanced clinical exposure.
Final Thoughts
As of 2025, both home care and institutional care settings are rapidly evolving due to technology, shifting demographics, and new care models. PSWs are at the heart of these changes, adapting their skills to meet the growing and diverse needs of clients. Regardless of setting, the role of a PSW remains one of compassion, resilience, and essential service—providing dignity and care to those who need it most.
Whether in a home or a facility, PSWs continue to prove that quality care isn’t just about medical support—it’s about human connection.