TikTok videos by personal support worker 'dehumanizing,' 'ageist,' advocate says
Videos posted on a TikTok account associated with the Ontario Personal Support Workers Association (OPSWA) appear to show a personal support worker mocking long-term care residents, angering families and advocates who are now demanding an apology.
The videos were posted by TikTok user @PSWChronicles, who has nearly 30,000 followers on the platform.
In one of the videos, a PSW is seen eating cake with a caption that reads: "My resident called asking me where her three friends ran off to. The ones at the end of her bed. So now I'm delaying rounds by this slice of cake. Pray for me haha."
The account is now private after receiving backlash when the videos were widely shared on other social media platforms.
In a statement to CP24, OPSWA said they condemn any actions that seek to undermine vulnerable communities.
"The OPSWA does not condone any messaging or actions that in any way downplay the severity of dementia or any vulnerable person. It is the duty of personal support workers to support those in their care and to continue to work and uplift this community. The OPSWA will continue to work to achieve the highest standards in front-line care," the statement read.
Long-term care advocate Dr. Vivian Stamatopoulos said the association needs to apologize for the 'inflammatory' posts. She noted that she first learned about the posts Wednesday evening after being alerted by concerned PSWs.
Stamatopoulos called the posts "dehumanizing, derogatory, and ageist."
"To see this coming from an organization that is purported to represent PSWs is doing this profession a wild disservice. And I don't think this is how the vast majority of PSWs feel," Stamatopoulos said.
"I think this is a problem with the executive and they really need to look inwards. And frankly, if I were an OPSWA member right now, I'd be calling for a vote of non-confidence. I'd be trying to get a new executive if they're even granted the ability to do that."
Stamatopoulos posted the videos on her social media account to raise the alarm about the situation. She said the fact that this type of content is affiliated with OPSWA is 'wildly problematic.'
"I don't think people understand that, and they need to, dementia is a highly stigmatized illness," she said.
"This kind of discourse, I cannot underscore how damaging this is. To not only increasing the stigmatization around dementia and Alzheimer's, but furthermore, this kind of dehumanizing discourse can in itself lead to violence against this population."
Dr. Mary Fernando, whose father had dementia, said it is worrying to see the videos.
"One day, it will be all of us. Even though we feel like we're competent now, we could be that little old person in a bed being made fun of, not having the kindness we deserve," she said.
"I don't think they should be PSWs, quite frankly."
Fernando said they need to think about the families and, most importantly, about the person they are making fun of.
"We need to remember that not just for the families, but for the person who looks completely out of it that they are there at times," she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Fluid in eye cells can 'boil' if you watch the eclipse without protection: expert
Millions of people in parts of Eastern and Atlantic Canada will be able to see the rare solar eclipse happening on April 8. But they should only look up if they have proper eye protection, experts say.
He didn't trust police but sought their help anyway. Two days later, he was dead
Jameek Lowery was among more than 330 Black people who died after police stopped them with tactics that aren’t supposed to be deadly, like physical restraint and use of stun guns, The Associated Press found.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
Being harassed at work? What to consider when deciding what to do next
If you've been the victim of workplace harassment, it can be difficult to feel you're not alone - and even more difficult to know where to go with a complaint.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Half of Canadians support TikTok ban, with U.S. concerns 'trickling' north: poll
A new poll indicates 51 per cent of Canadians support banning the social media app TikTok, after a U.S. bill aiming to do just that passed in the House of Representatives.
Where is the worst place for allergy sufferers in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
More unauthorized products for skin, sexual enhancement, recalled: Here are the recalls of this week
Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency recalled various items this week, including torches, beef biltong and unauthorized products related to skin care and sexual enhancement.