A Conversation with a Personal Support Worker (PSW)

The Covid-19 pandemic revealed a large number of deaths and deficiencies in the care provided to patients in long-term care facilities in Canada. There was much suffering for patients as well as their families. Currently, national standards which provide guidance to enable long-term care homes to provide high-quality care are being reviewed and many health care organizations have been asked to comment on the draft document. I invited a PSW to talk about her experience working in long-term care facilities. I will call the PSW “Margaret” instead of using her real name. Margaret’s comments describe the thoughts and feelings of a long-term care worker who loves her occupation and the patients she cared for while working in a public-funded facility. The conversation went like this: 

Sister Pat:  Margaret, did you work in any long-term care facilities before coming here? 

Margaret: Yes, one in Toronto and one in London.  

Sister Pat: What did you like about working in those places? 

Margaret: I had not taken care of my parents when they grew old and so it was an opportunity to give to my patients the kind of care I wish I could have given my parents.  I learned patience. And I learned about the cycle of life: being a child, becoming an adult who could give to others, and then growing old. I learned to give my patients the kind of care I hope to receive when I become old. 

Sister Pat: Margaret, was there anything you did not like when you worked at those places?  

Margaret: Yes, I did not have the time I needed.  If a patient had dementia and could not communicate, I needed time to get to know them, to observe, and to listen. I needed to see if I could point to something they wanted and to read their body language. But often I would have to move on to a new task and could not spend the time I needed to know and communicate with that patient.  I also would have up to twelve patients, and it would be impossible to give them all the care that they needed.   

Sister Pat: Margaret, how did you feel when that happened: 

Margaret:  I felt sad.  

Sister Pat: Margaret, did you feel angry when you had too many patients? 

Margaret:  I felt very sad. I would go home and just feel sad that we (staff) could not give these patients the care that they needed.  

Sister Pat: So, the long-term care facility was a sad place to work. The atmosphere was not happy. Did that affect everybody? 

Margaret: Yes.  

. . . . . . 

I have great admiration for the PSW’s who provide care to patients in their homes and in long-term care facilities. They are persons who often work for minimum wages and love their patients and want to make their lives better. I hope that the review of standards for long-term care homes will help our society to value the service they provide with such dedication.  

-Sister Pat McKeon, csj

Passover - A Conversation

Sister Ann Marshall interviews her friend Judy Rochwerg and they discuss Passover 2021.

Judy was my physiotherapist in 2004 following surgery, and since then, I am happy to say, that our lives have become intertwined. After all, we are daughters of the Patriarch Abraham. 

Judy worships with a Reform Jewish Temple in Hamilton, Ontario.  She has been happily married to Lorne for 45 years; they have two married sons and two healthy grandsons.  

We have chosen to make this interview both a conversation as well as an educational opportunity.  

Q.  Thank you, Judy, for agreeing to this interview.  As the Jewish and Christian world prepares to celebrate Passover and Easter, I am wondering what was it like for you as a child to learn about the sacred story of Passover? 

A. Passover, or Pesach, in Hebrew, is my favorite holiday in the Jewish calendar.  It is a holiday celebrated mainly at home, rather than in the Synagogue. Passover connects me to my family, to Jews in my community and around the world who are celebrating the Exodus of the Jews from Egypt some 3000 years ago.  As a child, I would look forward to celebrating with my family including grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. 

Q. Can you give us some background on the rituals surrounding Passover? 

A. Passover is celebrated for eight days.  The most important Passover dates are the first 2 evenings where Jews celebrate at a dinner called a Seder.  Seder means order as each Passover ritual is performed in a certain order on these evenings.  In 2021 the Seders fall on March 27 and March 28. 

The Haggadah is the prayer book that is used during the two Seders on Passover eve.  There are dozens of Haggadah’s available for purchase. A modern Haggadah can include elements of social activism, environmental responsibility, feminism, comedy, minimalist, and Family Seder, to name a few.  I have written my own Family Haggadah that while having all the necessary ritual components, also includes additional commentary unique to my Passover experience. 

The word Haggadah means “telling” as its primary purpose is to facilitate the telling of the story of the Exodus from Egypt.  Children are encouraged to participate by asking “Why is this night different from all other nights”? 

A Seder Plate is placed on the table and each item on the plate has its own significance, as follows:  

• Maror or bitter herbs symbolize the harshness of the lives of the Jews in Egypt. 

• Charoset is a delicious blend of sweet wine, apples, cinnamon and nuts that resembles the mortar used as bricks of the many buildings the Jewish slaves built in Egypt. 

• Karpas is a green vegetable, often parsley or lettuce that is a reminder that Spring is sprouting up all around us. The Karpas is dipped in salt water to symbolize the tears of the Israelis. 

• Zeroah or roasted shank bone symbolizes the sacrifice made to the great Temple on Passover. 

• Beitzah or egg represents Spring and new life. 

• Matzah is the unleavened bread we eat to remember that when the Jews fled Egypt, they did not even have time to let the dough rise in the bread.  During Passover Jews do not eat bread or bread products. 

Through the course of the Seder we drink 4 cups of wine.  There are numerous explanations of why four.  In Genesis 40: 11-13 when Joseph interprets the dream of the butler, the butler mentions the word “cup” four times. 

The Passover meal is a festive meal that may contain time-honoured favorites, like chicken soup and gefilte fish, as well, there are usually selections of meats, vegetables, and desserts. 

Each Seder is unique.  I have participated in Seders from 4 -40 participants.  The Seder Leader sets the tone – traditional or liberal, ancient or modern, lecture or participatory. Prayers are adapted according to the ages of guests. If the Seder leader is more traditional, as was the case with my husband’s grandfather, the Seder was entirely in Hebrew with no participation from the guests.  A Seder teaches, and re-tells the story of the Exodus to all present.  This can range from puppets for the very young to researching topics specific to Passover for adult participants. 

Q.  Was there a time in your growing up years that you drifted from this tradition and if so, what caused you to return. 

A. No, I have been connected to my Reform Jewish faith all my life while growing up in my parents’ home, and later I taught the faith for many years in my Temple. I carried on this tradition when establishing my own home with my husband.  

Q. What are some of your fondest memories surrounding the celebration of Passover? 

A. My father and his 2 brothers would take turns hosting Passover. Each year we would attend a Seder at one of their houses.  Living room furniture was often moved out to the way to accommodate the long table, always set with the best china.  My father and uncles would lead the Seder and encourage discussion on what we were reading in the Haggadah.  I remember wearing my newest dress and enjoying time with my cousins. 

Q.  Tell me why you look forward to celebrating Passover with your family and especially with your grandsons? 

A. I feel fortunate that my 2 sons each married Jewish women who understand and have memories of their own childhood Passovers. When my children were younger, I enjoyed teaching them the story of the Exodus and the rituals of the Passover Seder.  I would often create games for my children, nieces, and nephews such as Passover Jeopardy to teach and entertain.  

Q.  Will you be able to celebrate Passover this year if COVID is still among us, and is the celebration of Passover important enough for a contingency plan to be in place? 

A. Last year my husband and I led a Zoom Seder.  Guests included family members who zoomed in from their own homes. I imagine this will be our plan for this years’ Seder on March 27 and 28.