support worker

aide en soins de santé

préposé au service de soutien personnel

infirmier

infirmier auxiliaire autorisé

Extendicare

I have worked in many jobs where employers have questionable work ethics and will be hard to enforce fair employee policies especially with no union. This is a huge step-up as I feel secure in doing my work duties safely and that more opportunities of a concrete professional employer-employee relationship with clear policies and standards. Great work ethics and growth can be recognized with the knowledge and application of the employee handbook and company policies. The workplace can always be improved as most workers who have been there for a very long time can be resisting to changes of work flow and system, technology and policies. The resistance of change can dampen the workplace in an archaic and one-dimensional environment.
My job entails fast-paced and efficient multi-tasking duties. It is time constrained, must be able to work independently and prioritize daily duties. It can be very stressful but the result/end-of-the-day can be very rewarding as cooking quality food for an older generation while practicing and challenging work ethics can feel immensely gratifying.
One big problem being faced now is working full-time hours with no benefits as a casual worker for more than 3 years. Because I work casual I feel overwhelmed when pulling night then morning then double shifts with short notices for months at times. Great money but personal life has suffered. Comes with most jobs these days and this is one them. I have built trust and dependability towards my employers and employees that I feel has not been recognized, as of yet.
One of the greatest job opportunities and experience but I recently feel the need to look for companies to gain more experience, growth and recognition.

This was the most APALLING company I have ever been employed with.  An absolute lack of concern for residents safety and dietary concerns. NEVER enough product on hand for the cooks to properly prepare meals for all residents. You are regularly left to figure out how to make 3lbs of food stretch to feed 200 residents. Residents on texture modified diets fed whatever junk is leftover because once its ground or pureed no one can tell anyway. Leftover food saved and re-packaged and sold as fresh for Meals on Wheels clients.  Unsafe storage of food. Equipment not maintained properly. 

Employees expected to start early and work through most breaks because the workload is so intense you couldn't possibly complete the expectations while taking normal breaks and lunch. Vietnamese factory kids have better working conditions.

Management just concerned with "covering their own butts" even when you bring up serious safety concerns. They are just a bottom-line driven company that should be absolutely ASHAMED of their operating standards and how they treat their residents. Union is equally useless. Happy to take your dues every cheque but unwilling to take a firm stand on anything else.

Do not risk your trade qualifications, professionalism or conscience on this company. And do not EVER consider admitting anyone you love into an Extendicare owned or managed home.

Extendicare....You know what you are doing...I know what you are doing and the Ministry of Health and Long term care will know what you are doing. I am exercising my "Duty to Report". And to all the mid-managers upwards in the company...I wish for you in your "golden years" the same kind of care and nourishment that you currently feel is appropriate for your residents.

A Typical Day at Work:

It's like a never-ending game of putting out fires here. I definitely didn’t sign up to be a firefighter, but it's all part of the gig, no matter where you stand in the company.

What I've Learned:

What I've learn here are the bad practices that an organization was not supposed to do to their employees.

Management:

Some managers are awesome, they really care about us and the folks we look after. But then, there are the odd ones (more from the "corporate"), on some kind of power trip and clueless about how things actually run.

Workplace Culture:

It's a mess. Stress, stress, and more stress. Feels like no one up top gives a hoot about us. And don’t get me started on the communication — it's a joke.

The Hardest Part of the Job:

Balancing caring for people with the higher-ups' money game. It's a tough act.

The Most Enjoyable Part of the Job:

There’s not much that's a highlight, but it's the crew - those who genuinely care about what we do and who we do it for. Despite the crazy stress, their dedication is pretty inspiring.

Lately, corporate decisions about Manitoba homes have been a total mess. They flipped our schedules, and now they’re tossing us back into rotations! Makes my stomach churn. No apologies from the "corporate" higher-ups for the chaos they caused.

My tip? Do your homework, chat with current and former employees. This place has got some serious issues and I'm surprise that we're still even open, so you might want to think twice before jumping in.

7:00 Arrive staff meeting
7:15 Start getting clients ready (hygiene, briefs, oral care)8-10 residence
9:00 Be in the caffetieria for breakfast
10:00 Get clients to washroom if needed
10:15 Break
10:30 Make beds, do Charting, Change brief if needed
11:00 Leisure time( arts, singing, stretching, go for walks)
11:30 Lunch
12:15 Break
12:30 POC electronical charting
12:35 Laundry, making beds, brief check
1:15 juice or snack time
1:30 POC electronical charting
1:35 Brief check
1:40 Assisting with nurses if helps needed
2:00 Leisure time 
3:00 Make sure all charting is done properly
3:30 Home time

■Caring for individuals and/or families during periods of incapacitation, convalescence or family disruption.
 ■Administering bedside and personal care to clients such as aid in movement, bathing, personal hygiene, dressing and undressing.
 ■Planning and preparing meals, including special diets, and feeding or assisting in feeding clients.
 ■Demonstrating infant care to new parents.
 ■Performing routine health-related duties such as changing non-sterile dressings, administering medications and collecting specimens under the general direction of home care agency supervisor or nurse.
 ■Performing routine housekeeping duties such as laundry, washing dishes and making beds.
 ■Providing elderly and convalescent clients with companionship and personal care in client’s home under general direction of home care agency supervisor or family members.

Extendicare – Medex is a workplace where the hiring process may feel quick and promising at first, but the experience after starting can be very different. Unfortunately, I have found the work environment to be challenging, particularly in terms of support from management.

There appears to be a lack of meaningful support from leadership, including the ADOCs. Staff concerns often feel unheard or minimized. In my experience, the Director of Care seems overwhelmed and disengaged, which impacts the overall culture and staff morale.

A recent situation regarding sick leave was particularly concerning. I was pressured to come into work despite having legitimate health concerns. While employees are not required to disclose detailed medical information, I felt compelled to explain myself due to the tone and pressure surrounding call-ins. This creates an environment that feels unsupportive and, at times, inhumane.

Staff retention should be a priority in healthcare, especially in long-term care settings where consistency directly affects resident outcomes. Without stronger leadership support, empathy, and a healthier approach to employee well-being, turnover will likely continue to be an issue.

I hope corporate leadership takes time to evaluate the current management structure and consider changes that prioritize both employee wellness and safe resident care.


I worked at the Extendicare in Red Deer for a just shy of a year and this company has some of the worst management I have ever seen. They care more about the money they are taking from residents then they do providing quality care to the residents. They do not support their employers and when issues arise they tell you to figure it out on your own. I was hired as a screener for the pandemic and had to train myself from day one as they do not provide any training and you rely on coworkers to train/educate you causing lots of job confusion and miss communication. When faced with a conflict or situation needing support from management they turn a blind eye. Extendicare has some good employees who care deeply about their residents but should consider new management across the bored and should re evaluate what quality care for seniors should be and what respect to employees is. They truly don’t know what’s going on with their staff, when screeners call out or quit management leave it to the screener to figure out who is picking up shifts or changing their rotations to fit the required hours for when screeners are needed causing every day to be short staffed. Keep looking for a job. They pay well but you won’t want to stay with them long.  

I recently worked as  PSW at this home. I am a student in University in the HC field and thought this job would be a great opportunity to strengthen my skills. Well, from the first day I cannot explain the disorganization of this home. It is such a poorly managed staff. I was assigned so many patients that it was nearly impossible to provide proper care. The other staff members were so uninterested in assisting me, especially since I was new. In fact, I had someone say "do not ask for help and do not give help." I struggled every shift I had, and found myself constantly apologizing to patients for my chaotic work ethic. I valued the residents and wanted nothing more than to provide high quality care and ensure they were comfortable. The staff told me to hurry up constantly and even suggested that if the patient was too slow (even though they are elderly) to leave them until later in the day. The home was so dirty and dated. It truly felt like working in a prison setting. I left most shifts in tears as I was so upset with the quality of care. The staff did not like me for being new, mocked me and left me on my own. I would never suggest anyone to work here, EVER. Nor would I wish for anyone's loved one to be subject to the level of care provided here. I will never forget this awful experience. I can only hope the LTC homes are improved as no one deserves a life like that.

worked night shift...11 -7 am...was great and demanding as night shift is not largely staffed. however whenever a curve ball was thrown at me like an employee didn't show up i would stay after work to catch up on the work that still needs to be done. 
the best part of the day is helping people who have no one else that can help them out except for the PSW the fact that I am,  there is a a great moral there.  
I like to stay connected to my teams too...whether that be on the floor PSW or my Supervisor and or the other D.O.C.s and consistently be on time for work and set a schedule for myself so that all tasks are completed and proper. 
look at task binder every shift , and sign that the task has been performed and inspection is thorough of all tasks in PSW task binders usually everyday there is a different tastks, while some tasks remain constant through out the time period.
perform delegated tasks ( ie: perform 25 brief changes and re position and record all observations for 25 clients in a palliative setting.  Communicate using appropriate form of communication,ie: PSW ;on floor communicate with a walkies talkie. for two person (two PSWs) assistance such as a lift for toileting. 
 use appropriate language style for each different level of the members that make up the organisation consistence.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Friendly environment, your co- ordinates with you. There is always room for improvement and growth. The best part of your day is putting a smile on the residence faces and getting along with family members. I feel bless to be apart of the Extendicare team and family.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
When you are not sure what to do to meet the needs of your residents, it makes you feel like you have fail. But there is always a turning point, if there is a colleague that you can talk to, then speak with them. I am sure before the day ends you will be wearing a smile and leave work stress free.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
We are diverse, multicultural, we celebrate and respect each other cultures. It is beautiful here as we learn from each other. Everyone is apart of the team with the residents at the centre of it all.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Listen to endorsements ,smiling and greeting each residents and co-ordinating with co- workers. This makes for a good and full filling workday.

At Extendicare a typical day at work is helping my partner set up the dining table, setting up the nourishment cart, serving food to the residents, cleaning and sanitizing the dining table and then cleaning and washing the dishes. Sometimes I carry boxes of food to storage rooms and freezers and prepare the food. 
     At Extendicare I've learned many skills like using different equipment (big blenders, ovens, etc.,) managing my time and how to work well with co-workers. 
     My manager was very friendly and understanding and handled any situation in a calm manner.
     I've made many good friends at Extendicare and even though some of weren't good team players we've all learned to get along.  
     The hardest part of my job was dealing with some difficult co-workers. The most enjoyable part of my job was making friends with my co-workers and all of the residents.
     At the end of the day I am always satisfied with how I helped the residents in a friendly manner and I would definitely recommend this nursing home for somebody looking for a safe and friendly home.

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Support worker 68 salaries reported	$23.25 per hour
Aide en soins de santé 3 salaries reported	$22.11 per hour
Préposé au service de soutien personnel 22 salaries reported	$28.27 per hour
Infirmier 5 salaries reported	$44.05 per hour
Infirmier auxiliaire autorisé 4 salaries reported	$33.11 per hour

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