Mitigating MSD in Personal Support Workers and Improving Client Mobility Webinar
Proficiency in mobility and manual skills is essential for quality of life for both caregivers and clients. This webinar will review efforts to improve the mobility and manual skills of providers across the health care sector. It will review care practices that promote safe client movement and examine the risks of existing practices. A framework will be provided that promotes the optimal function and quality of life we seek for clients and the safe practice essential for care givers.
About the presenters
Dr. Catherine Brookman
Catherine is a consultant with 30 years’ experience in health care organizational management, partnership exploration, program development/evaluation, research, knowledge dissemination and translation. Catherine is a dynamic authority on Ontario’s Personal Support Worker (PSW) occupation with extensive expertise in gerontology specializing in the development and evaluation of services for seniors. Along with working with the University of Waterloo’s Centre of Research Expertise for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders (CRE-MSD), Catherine works with the Aphasia Institute, St. Clair West Services for Seniors, and McMaster University as a co-investigator for the Ministry of Labour funded PSW health and safety research project. Catherine holds a Doctorate, Masters and Bachelor of Science degrees.
Dr. Sheila Ritcey
Dr. Sheila Ritcey is president of the University of Toronto Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Alumni Association. Education has been a primary focus of her career and her graduate studies addressed the challenges of the aging process. Her interest in competence in the elderly is reflected in support for client centered care and health goals that reflect the needs of the individual client.
Sheila has worked for provincial and municipal levels of government and has delivered a variety of rehabilitation models in institutions and the community. Sheila works with Personal Support Workers to emphasize the importance of mobility and to reinforce the collaborative role of rehabilitation professionals and support personnel.
She continues to pursue personal competence as she navigates a busy teaching career and the adventures provided by four daughters and eight grandchildren.
Emily King
Emily King is a PhD candidate at the University of Toronto and Toronto Rehabilitation Institute – University Health Network, and a MITACS-funded fellow at the University of Waterloo. Her goal is to improve safety and independence in home care. Emily’s doctoral research has focused on identifying tools and techniques for preventing injuries during assisted bathing and toileting. Emily is also heavily involved in the design of assistive devices – she holds multiple patents and has contributed to the development of assistive technologies for toileting, mobility and safe patient lifting. Emily holds a BASc in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Waterloo and a MASc in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Toronto.
Webinar resources
Webinar slide presentation (PDF)