In the dynamic realm of Child and Youth Work, possessing effective counselling and communication skills is akin to wielding a powerful tool for positive transformation. At Gates College, where we nurture the next generation of Child and Youth Workers, we recognize the profound impact these skills can have on the lives of young individuals.

The Heart of Child and Youth Work: Effective Counseling

Counselling is at the heart of Child and Youth Work, serving as a guiding light for individuals navigating the challenges of adolescence. In our Child Youth Worker program, students delve into the art of counselling, learning how to create a safe and supportive space where young minds can express themselves freely.

Understanding Individual Needs: A crucial aspect of effective counselling lies in understanding the unique needs of each child or youth. Our program emphasizes the development of empathetic skills to connect with individuals on a personal level.

Building Trust and Rapport: Trust is the cornerstone of any counselling relationship. Our students learn the delicate art of building trust and rapport through practical scenarios and real-world simulations, creating a foundation for open communication.

Empowering Through Active Listening: Active listening is a skill that goes beyond hearing words. Our students are trained to listen empathetically, discerning the unspoken and empowering young individuals to articulate their thoughts and feelings.

The Art of Communication in Child and Youth Work

Communication is a bridge that connects Child and Youth Workers with the young minds they aim to support. Gates College’s Child Youth Worker program places a strong emphasis on refining communication skills to foster understanding and facilitate positive outcomes.

Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication: Our curriculum explores both verbal and non-verbal communication strategies. From verbalizing empathy to understanding the nuances of body language, students develop a holistic approach to effective communication.

Conflict Resolution: Conflict is an inevitable part of adolescence. Our program equips students with conflict resolution skills, teaching them to navigate disagreements and challenges with diplomacy and empathy.

Collaborating with Families and Communities: Child and Youth Work extends beyond the individual to encompass families and communities. Our students learn to foster collaborative relationships, recognizing the importance of a united front in supporting the holistic development of young individuals.

Connecting Theory with Practice: The Gates College Advantage

What sets our Child Youth Worker program apart is the integration of theoretical knowledge with practical applications. Through internships, hands-on experiences, and mentorship, students at Gates College translate their learning into real-world impact.

Supervised Field Placements: Our program includes supervised field placements, allowing students to apply their counselling and communication skills in actual Child and Youth Work settings. This hands-on experience is invaluable for building confidence and competence.

Expert Faculty Guidance: With a faculty comprising seasoned professionals in the field, students receive personalized guidance and mentorship. This ensures that theoretical insights are complemented by real-world wisdom.

At Gates College, we believe that effective counselling and communication are catalysts for positive change in the realm of Child and Youth Work. Join us on a journey where theory meets practice, and every skill learned is a step toward empowering the future.

Enroll in our Child Youth Worker program and be part of a community dedicated to making a difference.

Are you passionate about making a positive difference in the lives of children and youth? Do you have a natural ability to connect with young individuals and empower them to reach their full potential? If so, Gates College’s Child Youth Worker program is the perfect stepping stone for you to embark on a fulfilling career in the field of child and youth work. In this blog post, we’ll explore the program in detail and highlight the exciting opportunities it offers.

Understanding the Child Youth Worker Program:
At Gates College, our Child Youth Worker program equips students with the necessary knowledge, skills, and practical experience to support and advocate for the well-being of children and youth. Through a comprehensive curriculum, students gain insights into child development, mental health, communication strategies, crisis intervention, and more. The program is designed to provide a strong foundation in areas such as counselling techniques, social work practices, and community engagement.

Hands-On Learning Opportunities:
We believe that practical experience is vital in preparing students for real-world challenges. That’s why our Child Youth Worker program incorporates hands-on learning opportunities. Students have the chance to apply their theoretical knowledge in various settings, including schools, community centers, and youth programs. This practical exposure allows them to develop essential skills, build professional relationships, and gain a deeper understanding of the diverse needs of children and youth.

Supportive Learning Environment:
At Gates College, we prioritize creating a supportive and inclusive learning environment. Our experienced instructors are dedicated to providing personalized guidance and mentorship to students throughout their educational journey. Small class sizes allow for individualized attention, fostering a collaborative and engaging atmosphere. Additionally, students benefit from ongoing support services and resources to enhance their learning experience.

Career Opportunities:
Upon successful completion of the Child Youth Worker program, graduates are prepared to pursue various rewarding career paths. They can find employment in a wide range of settings, including schools, child and youth centers, group homes, social service agencies, and community organizations. As a child youth worker, you’ll have the opportunity to positively impact the lives of young individuals, supporting their emotional, social, and educational growth.

Continuing Education and Professional Development:
At Gates College, we recognize the importance of lifelong learning. Graduates of the Child Youth Worker program can further their education by pursuing advanced degrees or certifications in related fields. Additionally, they can engage in professional development activities, attend workshops, and join industry associations to stay updated with the latest trends and best practices in child and youth work.

If you have a passion for working with children and youth, Gates College’s Child Youth Worker program is your gateway to a fulfilling and meaningful career. Through a comprehensive curriculum, hands-on learning experiences, and a supportive learning environment, we provide the necessary foundation for you to excel in this field. Embark on this rewarding journey with us and make a lasting impact on the lives of children and youth.

Police officers are looked up to as community role models, tasked with keeping the people around them safe. In that respect, they are expected to be able to apply their professional skills and communication abilities to resolve a wide range of situations that involve heightened emotions or confrontation.

These kinds of incidents can include anything from calming and comforting an upset individual, to defusing a public confrontation. Here are some of the most effective approaches to take in a crisis situation.

De-escalation Begins With Individual Mental Preparation

A police officer can only be effective in a crisis scenario by being firmly in control of his or herself. Once you go on duty, any kind of event can occur and need to be responded to, and it’s important to prepare yourself before entering a potential de-escalation situation.

This includes taking stock of your own mood and ascertaining if any mental readjustment should take place beforehand. By retaining control over your emotions, you will be able to enter into a situation with a far more productive and clear frame of mind.

Walking into these scenarios with a pre-judged idea of what has definitely happened or what it consists of is also counter-productive. Instead, effective professionals keep an open mind and firmly establish the facts of the situation.

Respect as the Key to Effective Communication in a Crisis

Graduates of law and security courses will find that adopting certain approaches can be very productive when it comes to de-escalating crisis situations. Officers should ensure that their interactions with the public do not give the impression that they are overreaching the power and authority of their position.

Communicating at an appropriate volume and using courteous titles while retaining eye contact and adopting attentive body language will contribute towards a respectful attitude that helps foster conflict resolution. In a scenario where you must attain the attention of preoccupied individuals, utilizing a loud greeting gesture and instantly following up by speaking in a calming and pleasant manner can be a way to assert control over the situation in a non-confrontational manner.

Police officers can also take physical steps to de-escalate crises where safe and appropriate. For example, physically separating two conflicting parties can be a fruitful way of reducing the chances of escalation and conflict.

Training at Police Foundations College Will Help You Recognize Your Limits

Graduates of law and security college will know that an awareness of what can realistically be achieved should always be in an officer’s mind during a crisis situation. Situational awareness is a vital part of the de-escalation process, and an officer should be continually assessing how the crisis develops, staying on the alert and not allowing complacency to take over.

It’s by misreading the difficulty of a situation, or tackling a problem with no clear idea of a positive outcome in mind, that an effort at de-escalation can ultimately prove to be unproductive. Nonetheless, with increased training and experience, the ability to read crisis situations and take the best course of action to keep the peace will quickly become more natural.

Do you want to help your community as a police officer?

Contact Gates College today to learn why a law and security program is the ideal gateway to this career.

Counselling individuals and their families can be one of the most important ways to contribute to a community as a community services worker (CSW). CSWs may provide counselling to a variety of different clients, such as at-risk populations, those with mental health issues, and others addicted to drugs and alcohol. In order to effectively care for these clients, CSWs must have a good understanding of the counselling process, and techniques they can use to get clients to trust and open up to them.

If you are considering becoming a CSW, having a helpful overview of good counselling practices can give you an advantage during your studies and help you better understand the field you are about to enter. Read on to learn more.

There are Many Different Components in the Counselling Process

In order to be an effective counsellor during your career, it is important to have thorough knowledge of the process of counselling, which professionals commonly divide into six stages:

• Relationship building
• Assessment and diagnosis
• Formulation of counselling goals
• Intervention and problem solving
• Termination and follow-up
• Research and evaluation

How long the process is expected to last depends on each client and their own individual journey.

When CSWs begin counselling clients or families, they start by engaging with them in an attempt to understand their needs and concerns. The first stage of the counselling process is also a chance to create a space where clients can feel safe and free to express their feelings without fear of judgement.

Once a client has been assessed and clear goals have been set, CSWs may use many different approaches towards addressing their problems. This might involve getting clients to explore some of the formative experiences in their past – sometimes referred to as spheres of influence – and attempt to find ways to address how they may have influenced their current behaviours. CSWs may then explore different techniques, such as mindfulness, to help their clients break out of negative behavioural patterns. They can also help clients find a clear sense of direction, discover their passions, and set clear life goals.

Counselling is a Collaborative Process for Clients and CSWs

As such, the process of counselling is a collaborative effort between a client or family and a CSW. Throughout their sessions, a CSW can help clients better understand the sources of their problems by being active listeners and asking open ended questions.

Active listening may help CSWs to better locate the potential sources of a client’s issues by paying close attention to what they are saying. Open ended questions then allow clients to find ways to address their fears and anxieties by expressing their emotions and exploring the sources of those feelings. As clients might be upset or uncomfortable when discussing personal experiences, a CSW should always be patient, compassionate, and supportive to help alleviate their distress.

CSW Programs Can Teach Students Essential Counselling Techniques

A CSW program will give you the opportunity to learn some of the most effective counselling techniques used today. Gates College’s course, for instance, equips students with basic counselling skills, before moving on to more advanced techniques to better prepare graduates for some of the more challenging cases they may encounter during their careers.

Students also study essential communication skills, as well as behaviour modification, conflict resolution strategies, and solution-focused intervention techniques, all of which can be very important during the counselling process.

Are you looking to start your career as a CSW?

Contact Gates College to learn more about community services worker program!

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common disorder for children in Canada. The general signs of those who have been diagnosed with ADHD include a propensity to act impulsively, increased energy, and need to concentrating.

These factors can diminish a child’s performance in the classroom or cause difficulty at home as they find it hard to control their behaviour. Children are also more inclined to become distracted, have a tendency to interrupt, have difficulty listening, an inability to remain still, and have difficulty doing things quietly.

Thus, it is important for both parents and future child and youth workers to acquire the knowledge and insight on how to aid children with ADHD both in an educational and domestic setting.

Caring for a child with ADHD does not have to be a huge challenge, and there are a number of ways to make their learning experience and everyday life easier. Keeping reading to learn more.

Limit a Child with ADHD’s Focus to Specific Tasks by Creating Stimulating Activities

When it comes to accomplishing a task or schoolwork, children with ADHD can have difficulty keeping their concentration. However, if they develop a genuine interest in following through with the work, then their focus and willingness is much more likely to remain intact.

The best way to keep a child’s attention tied to the task at hand is to make it interesting and exciting. If the work itself is able to constantly stimulate the child, they will be more inclined to remain involved in finishing the exercise. A lack of intrigue can easily lead to distractions, boredom, and a lack of motivation, which will make the child want to abandon the task and search for alternative activities. In schoolwork, it is crucial to give students with ADHD ample time and opportunities to complete assignments in order for them to excel to the best of their ability. Through child and youth worker courses, students learn to recognize how to divide the workload of someone with ADHD in order for them to feel less overwhelmed. By breaking down assignments into sections, it enables the child to comprehend a simplified version of the work instead of viewing it as a complex and daunting activity.

Learn Effective Methods and Training at Child and Youth Worker College

Graduates of child and youth worker college recognize that ADHD does not only affect one’s attention and excess activity, but their ability to control their behaviour and how they approach a task when introduced to it. Children will tend to focus on the immediate reward of the task and will lose interest if they feel the reward is trivial or too far in the future. It is important for child and youth workers to focus on present incentives rather than long-term motivations.

A good approach to consider is to direct praise and encouragement toward the child during the exercise. This action reinforces positivity as well as their likelihood to continue performing. In instances where a lack of praise is present, it may detour the child away from the work since feelings of failure and self-consciousness may arise. They may start to think that they are making mistakes and may become hesitant in trying to produce any kind of material. With a sense of encouragement, the child will want to achieve immediate success and keep their momentum going.

Are you thinking about helping children with ADHD?

Contact Gates College for information about our child and youth worker program.

The training you will receive as you work toward earning your personal support worker (PSW) certificate will allow you to develop a strong foundation of knowledge and skills for success on the job. Throughout the learning process, however, you will also find that a number of interpersonal skills will be integral to your success.

Working on these qualities during and after your training is a great way to ensure that you perform well as a PSW as you enter your career. Keep reading to find out more.

Empathy is an Important Skill to Cultivate During Your PSW Certificate

One interpersonal skill that PSWs would be lost without is empathy – the ability to understand and share the experiences and feelings of another person. As a PSW, you will often be working with clients who are seniors, and may experience physical or mental disabilities.

Any of these characteristics can have a significant impact on an individual’s day-to-day activities and quality of life, and may contribute to distress or discomfort. An ability to put yourself in your client’s shoes will make it easier for you to identify, understand, and meet their needs.

Communication Skills Are Essential for Personal Support Workers

The ability to communicate effectively is another skill that will be absolutely essential after earning your PSW certificate. Communication skills are critical not only to your ability to ascertain your clients’ needs, but also to your capacity to understand and relay information to your colleagues and supervisors.

PSWs often need to report changes in their client’s behaviour and condition to a supervising nurse, and it is essential that this information be clear and accurate. Additionally, effective communication with your clients will help you build strong and supportive relationships with them, contributing positively to their care.

Developing Patience Will Help You Succeed After Your PSW Certificate

Sometimes, it can be very challenging and tiring to do good work as a PSW. Clients may be scared, in pain, or simply unhappy, and this can make simple tasks like check-in conversations or ambulation much more strained.

In order to succeed, PSWs often need to be patient with their clients, giving them time and space to ask questions and express emotions. Patience is an interpersonal skill that ties in closely with empathy. If you understand what your client is feeling, it will be easier for you to avoid reacting negatively and making the situation more difficult.

Bringing Self-Awareness into Your PSW Work Will Make You More Effective

Finally, self-awareness is an interpersonal skill that can be very helpful after graduating from a personal support worker program. While it may seem like an individual skill, self-awareness is actually essential to successful interpersonal interactions and relationships, especially in the fast-paced environments that often employ PSWs.

Being aware of your own reactions, emotions, and the extent of your own knowledge and skills will make it easier for you to anticipate challenges, avoid escalating difficult client interactions, and know when you need the guidance of a supervisor. By making an effort to develop and improve these interpersonal skills, you will be making strong contributions to your future career success as a PSW.

Are you interested in learning more about the role of PSWs?

Contact Gates College for more information on our personal support worker certificate program!

Are you passionate about law enforcement? Does the criminal justice system excite you? If so, you’ll be excited to read about what opportunities our Law & Security Program offers. 

There are many reasons why you could potentially want to be part of a professional and exhilarating environment. If you can relate to the following examples, we definitely recommend you learn more about our Law & Security program!

• You are interested in the criminal justice system.
• You’ve been personally affected by the law.
• Law and justice inspire you to make a change.
• Mystery and true crime events intrigue you.
• You want to be part of criminal and law enforcement.

So, why choose a career in the public safety field? For starters, it’s a career to be proud of and it’s personally rewarding. Providing security and safety to others is a courageous task. Currently, our Law & Security program teaches the fundamental skills in order to succeed in this aspect. The program provides students with the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of others. Additionally, many jobs in the public safety field offer great salaries and career stability.

Are you ready to learn about what it takes to enforce laws and provide security in communities?

Firstly, our Law & Security program provides theoretical and training. More so, it gives students the knowledge, skills, and industry contacts needed for employment in public safety fields. With that being said, the Law & Security industry offers various types of roles and jobs for employment. For instance, roles and jobs within Law & Security could include (and are not limited to):

• On-site roles
• Administrative roles
• Specific law jobs
• Security-related roles
• Much more!

Did you know our program is recognized by the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services (MCSCS)? Furthermore, professionals from the public safety field organize and teach class material. With this in mind, we believe the Law & Security industry provides important career opportunities for anyone interested. Above all, we believe students choose careers in Law & Security to make a valuable difference in the community. Having a sense of pride in your everyday job makes for a successful and fulfilling career!

Thus, it’s time to start your new career. Our Law & Security program can lead to these career and job opportunities:

• Corrections officer
• Customs officer
• Private Investigator
• Military police
• Railway Police
• Private security officer
• Security officer
• Armed forces
• Border patrol services
• Conservation services
• Correctional facilities
• Corporations
• Ontario police services

As a graduate of Gates College’s Law & Security program, you’ll be prepared to work in a variety of law enforcement areas. Visit our Law & Security Program page to learn about areas of focus, employment opportunities, and a salary estimate.

So, are you ready to be part of the change in your community? Are you ready to work hard and open new doors in your life? 

Start your new career today!

The ability to effectively handle conflicts can not only maintain relationships at home or work, it often strengthens the respect between both parties. Community services workers work with a wide array of clients, including those with physical and mental disabilities. Differences of opinion regularly arise, which is why training programs focus on conflict resolution strategies.

Clients may not feel physically or mentally capable of carrying out daily tasks, or disagreements may have occurred between them and friends or family. Community services workers must avoid becoming frustrated during these challenging times. It’s all a matter of maintaining composure, and looking at the situation from everybody’s point of view.

Here’s how to make sure you can do this effectively during your career.

Stay Composed with the Client and Establish a Positive Discourse

When a conflict arises, it’s important to establish some background and recognize why there’s tension. Take a metaphorical step back from the situation and consider what the difference of opinion is, and the gap between the two parties.

You may be working with a family in distress after community services worker training, where the mother, father and children have different needs which they want addressed. Encourage them to take deep breaths and consider whether there are any solutions which will appease everybody.

Remember, silences aren’t uncomfortable in conflict resolution, they are very important. There’s no point in saying anything if it isn’t constructive. A quiet moment allows everybody to reflect on the situation and generate positive solutions.

Recognize Potential Biases and Ensure They Don’t Become Problematic

Most people have a tendency towards stubbornness, believing that we know what’s best for ourselves and others. Another key tenet of conflict resolution is to get clients to consider our own biases and assess whether they are an obstacle to progress. Community service workers can play an important role as a mediator by helping people to understand situations from another point of view.

These people may believe that a situation is irretrievable, but they need to be reminded of how much they have in common with their opposite party. They may soon establish that they share the same goals and will be much more likely to work towards achieving them.

Community Services Worker College Graduates Know the Value of Good Communication

Positive communication is about much more than speaking with clarity. It’s about active listening as well, where you understand the points that your clients are trying to make. They must also know that their thoughts are respected, and this can be done by intermittently nodding or vocally affirming that you’re listening to what they’re saying.

‘I’ statements are also important in conflict resolution for explaining personal thoughts. It helps people to concentrate on their own feelings rather than being critical of the behaviour of others. Clients should be encouraged to speak in these terms by graduates of a community services worker program.

The Benefits of Effective Conflict Management

Taking the right steps when it comes to conflict management can generate all kinds of wonderful benefits. Bottling up grievances serves nobody well and could eventually lead to mental health distress. Conflict resolution is an avenue to address those issues and build a more positive relationship between, and with, clients. The problem-solving and communication skills of everybody involved develops after these positive discussions, and they are much more likely to stay composed when future disagreements arise.

Choose a community services worker college with a dedicated diploma program.

Find out why Gates College is the perfect place to start your new career!

For passionate and caring individuals, a career as a personal support worker (PSW) can offer truly rewarding experiences. Benefits can include forming new friendships with clients, opportunities for learning from them, and plenty of chances to engage in fun activities. A career as a PSW is also one of the few professions that can offer a high level of job security, given the abundance of clients who need professional care.

However, one of the most appealing advantages of choosing a career as a PSW is the amount of flexibility healthcare college graduates can enjoy. Whether it’s working in a different care environment, or being able to balance your working hours with home life, below are a few great examples of the kinds of flexibility PSW careers offer!

PSWs Have a Wide Array of Flexible Career Opportunities

PSWs possess the skills and expertise to find work in a variety of exciting healthcare settings. Working for homecare agencies, in long-term palliative care facilities, or in retirement and assisted living communities, PSWs can contribute to the wellbeing of their clients by helping them with their daily routines, exercises, meal plans, and hygiene.

PSWs are also becoming increasingly utilized in hospitals across Canada to assist with inpatient care. Generally, PSWs in a hospital setting use their skills to keep clients safe and comfortable, and can contribute to bettering a patient’s quality of care in departments such as the surgical, mental health, palliative, and intensive care units. A PSW’s expertise may even allow them to take over certain simple care tasks from nurses so that they can attend to other patients. With a long list of flexible career opportunities like these, future PSW graduates have a lot to be excited about.

Grads with PSW Training Can Benefit From Making Their Own Schedules

PSWs often work very flexible schedules, meaning they can have some control over their work hours, and find a schedule that best suits their unique lifestyles. For instance, a PSW working in certain home care agencies and care facilities might be given the option to pick their own hours, or be able to choose to work with clients two to three times a week rather than full-time. Others may prefer to work only during the daytime so that they can spend their evenings with their children, spouse, or with friends.

Recent graduates of a personal support worker program might also to decide to work with their clients only during the weekends so that they can return to school in order to further their training, perhaps to become nurses.

PSW Graduates Can Work in Diverse Locations

As the aging population continues to grow, there is no shortage of clients who require care in both rural and urban areas. For healthcare professionals who enjoy experiencing new places, a career as a PSW could offer them the flexibility of being able to care for clients in many different locations.

A PSW may decide to depart from a palliative care facility in one city to work for a mental health facility in another, for example. Others may enjoy working for agencies that provide care for clients at home in rural parts of the countryside. By completing personal support worker courses, you too can benefit from the flexibility PSW careers offer.

Some aquatic therapy exercises include walking or running in deep or shallow water. Your clients can also grip the side of the pool and tread water to strengthen the muscles in their legs. Of course, DSWs should always be mindful of their client’s safety, and ensure that these children wear life preservers whenever necessary.

Are you ready to start your personal support worker career?

Contact Gates College to learn more about PSW Training!

The heart is the most important muscle in the body. It ensures the regular circulation of oxygen-filled blood to the rest of our organs and muscles. A prolonged lack of this critical supply could cause severe damage and could even be fatal if not hastily remedied. As such, it’s incredibly important to take good care of the heart.

A key aspect of your profession as a personal support worker is to look after your clients’ health, which includes helping them stay heart healthy. Unfortunately, the older someone gets, the higher their risk for heart disease or of affliction with a disability related to the heart. However, there are things that can be done and activities that can be encouraged to try and maintain good heart health. To find out what they are, keep reading.

Use Your PSW Training to Encourage Feasible Forms of Exercise

As holders of a personal support worker certificate know, exercise is crucial to staying healthy, and this is especially true where the heart is concerned. In fact, The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada says that exercise can reduce the risk of death from heart disease by up to 50 percent.

For seniors, however, exercising might be challenging, especially if they have disabilities which limit their physical movement. The good news is that there are still many types of physical activity that seniors can engage in.

Some light and easy yet beneficial activities you can encourage are walking, aquatic exercises, or chair yoga. When in doubt of what a client is capable of, their personal care plan may list appropriate physical activities which you can draw upon. Even if they only work their heart rate up lightly for small periods every day, it can make a huge difference.

A Healthy Diet Keeps Helps Keep Arteries in Good Shape

Exercise is the top dog when it comes to things to do to stay heart healthy, but its positive effects can be diminished through a poor eating regime. Diet – another major player in overall wellness – is also critical to heart health.

Eating well for the heart means enjoying a variety of fibre-rich fruits and vegetables, eating lean meats and low-fat dairy, and avoiding processed and packaged foods, as well as those that are high in sodium, sugars, and saturated fats. A big aim of a heart healthy diet is to keep cholesterol down, as this nasty substance contributes to the buildup of plaque that can clog arteries and lead to heart disease. Sodium also happens to be one of the bigger foes as it can lead to hypertension.

As people age, a diminishing sense of taste and lower appetite may lead to unhealthy dietary choices such as adding too much salt to a meal or not choosing sufficiently nutrient-rich foods. Therefore, letting your clients know about the possible ill effects of a bad diet and encouraging them to make better choices is a good way to help them keep their hearts healthy.

Stress Reduction is Important for Staying Heart Healthy

Besides diet and exercise, those with PSW training are aware that minimizing stress is also important for health, and heart health is no exception. This is because chronic stress can raise blood pressure or even lead to the formation of blood clots, all harmful to heart health. Moreover, stress can cause a lack of appetite which can hamper healthy eating.

Great ways to keep stress minimized include the aforementioned exercise, calming breathing techniques, hobbies, and social interactions with others. Especially if they are in home care, seniors may be less socially active, so encouraging them to join community activities for the elderly may be a good way to tackle this and also get them engaged in a hobby.

You may even consider recommending gardening to your clients, as it’s a great therapeutic and stress-relieving activity that can also get them moving. Additionally, a personal garden can allow your clients to grow their own healthy produce, therefore assisting them with their heart health on all three fronts.

Are you interested in becoming a PSW?

Contact Gates College to learn about our personal support worker program!