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5 Useful Insurance Tips | Awesome Advice for Your Future Coverage!

By Avlin on June 10, 2022

Man stacking cubes with insurance

Whether you’re forking out for extortionate bills or working doubly hard to maintain your health, life can be extremely stressful and unforgiving.

Thankfully, there are things out there that can ease your fears and give you peace of mind in your day-to-day life. One of the most significant ways to achieve this is by having a solid insurance policy, which can provide extreme financial aid when you need it most.

Whatever your age, it’s always a good idea to plan and take out an insurance policy, whether that’s for your car, life insurance, or a treasured item in your home. 

If you don’t know how or where to begin your quest for ideal insurance coverage, these five useful insurance tips might come in handy.

1. Look For Discounts

Once you have been able to carry out an initial evaluation of your coverage needs, your next priority should be factoring in your overall budget and other ways that you can save a bit of money. 

Make sure to research various companies online to find the best discount for the particular insurance type you’re looking for. Or, you could speak to an agent or representative of your current insurance carrier to see if they will be able to provide you with any discounted coverage. 

You may often find that your carrier offers loyalty-based discounts that will reward you if you have fulfilled your contractual requirements, have remained loyal to the carrier themselves, or have circumstantial factors that work in your favor.

This may include things such as getting good grades (if you’re in school), paying your policy in full and on time, and even staying free of all types of auto incidents.

You might even be able to save some cash by bundling multiple policies together. For example, you could potentially combine purchasing an auto policy and a home from a single carrier, depending on what your insurance provider is willing to offer.

2. Shop Smart

When you shop for insurance, your main aim should be to find a policy and a provider that provides you with the adequate insurance coverage that you so desperately need. You must consider several other important factors, including:

  • Whether the policy fits within your budget
  • The overall financial strength of the insurance company

Taking the time to consider the price of your insurance policy plays more of an important role than you know. You are the person who will have to be paying for the insurance cover, so you will want to ensure that you can afford to make the payments when required.

Having a stricter budget with your insurance might also impact the kind of coverage that you require. However, you can then slot this coverage within your budget which can help to narrow down the carriers that can provide you with the most comprehensive cover.

You’ll also need to think about the financial state of your insurance company. Carry out research to ensure they will be able to afford to pay out if you need to make a claim at any point during your period of coverage.

Insurance policy document

3. Purchase Life Insurance

Life insurance is an essential expense. And, contrary to popular belief, you are never too young to shop for life insurance! In fact, it may benefit you to start shopping around for a good life insurance policy sooner rather than later. 

If you’re at the age where you’re taking out student loans, planning to buy a place of your own, operate and pay for your own car, or have children, then it may be time for you to start thinking about purchasing some life insurance (if you don’t already have a policy in place).

If you have children, any life insurance policy can be put towards the cost of their education or childcare expenses. 

Overall, it might work out to be much cheaper to purchase a life insurance policy at a younger age than it would later in life.

4. Speak To An Independent Agent

An independent insurance agent can become an essential resource for purchasing insurance, especially if it is your first time buying it. 

These individuals work with many different carriers and have lots of experience in various areas. They’ll also have lots of knowledge of different insurance types which means they can discuss all of your options with you and explain the ins and outs of each policy.

As a result, they are very different from “captive” agents in firm carrier networks who are only able to sell insurance from the company they are working for.

Speaking to and closely working with an independent agent can make sure that you’re getting the best possible coverage for the greatest (and most budget-friendly) price. Not only are they extremely knowledgeable but they can also make sure that all of your assets are covered.

Because of this, you can find discounts or other money-saving methods quickly and easily.

5. Fill In The Gaps

A general insurance policy will typically cover the very basics of what you need. Depending on personal circumstances, you might require additional coverage to meet all of your unique needs, but this can be resolved with help of the insurance carrier.

Insurannce policy cartooned document

For example, you might have many small items floating around your home that are of significant financial value. This could include anything from a priceless family heirloom to an expensive laptop or even a piece of furniture.

Whatever it is, it is likely going to be very costly and difficult to replace, even with the assistance of your homeowners or average renters policy. In this situation, you should look around to find additional coverage for these items.

Taking the precautionary steps to safeguard your health and personal items is always an excellent process to follow through with, especially if you’re shopping around for your first insurance policy.

Summary

Shopping around for insurance is often a stressful and time-consuming process. As long as you can decide on the type of insurance coverage you need, and can find a company that will cater to your every whim, you shouldn’t have any issues finding the best coverage for a price within your budget.

6 Reasons Why You Should Become a Personal Support Worker

By Avlin on February 1, 2022 2

Nurse, elderly, PSW, patient
Reasons why you should become a Personal Support Worker

There are several reasons why working as a Personal Support Worker is amazing, but becoming a professional personal support worker is not easy.

Only the strong stay in the profession.

There are approximately 100,000 personal support workers in Ontario. 

According to a recent survey, 62% of graduates from the Personal Support Worker programs in Ontario end up leaving the profession and 25% of them leave within the first 2 years. 

So, for those of you who want to understand why that 38% stayed and love what they do every day, and maybe want to become one of them, here are six reasons to become a Personal support worker, though you should be aware of potential PSW problems, too.

1. Job Security

This job isn’t going anywhere, and it never will.

Personal support workers are the largest group of healthcare employees in the long-term care sector. There are also various bridge programs available at several institutions in Ontario to help you make the move from personal support worker to RN or RPN.

There are approximately 58,000 personal support workers working in the LTC sector in Ontario. 

And the demand for personal support workers in this sector and other settings such as hospitals and communities is at an all-time high.

As a personal support worker, you have a job for life. 

There will always be elderly and sick people in this world who need your help.

Now, that’s not to say you’ll always have full-time employment in facilities because, more often than not, you’ll start part-time or casual.

However, the profession will always be there.

It will grow.

More LTC homes will open and more jobs will be created.

Always always keep your eyes open to opportunities.

This brings me to my next point:

2. The Pay

To start off, we all agree that the hourly wages of Personal Support Workers in not what they really should be.

Current wages do not reflect the hard work you do!

However, 

there are many reasons behind it. 

All along, Governments at various levels have never recognized PSWs as integral members of the healthcare delivery system.

But the COVID-19 pandemic had changed that perception. 

The Government has finally realized the critical role of PSWs.

There is no going forward without your help. 

There are Government plans to enhance the wages of PSWs and we hope those plans materialize soon.

Going forward, it is a great profession to be in with strong future job prospects including better hourly wages and stable working hours. 

3. Flexibility

This is a 24/7 and 365-day-a-year job.

It doesn’t stop because it’s Friday, or because you have a dentist appointment at 2:30 PM on a Wednesday.

If those days or times don’t work for you, then I have no doubt that you can pick up a shift that does work.

Keep in mind, though, that the more shifts you are able to pick up the more seniority you’ll have.

The work is out there, but you have to go get it.

If you decide to work with an agency, you can more or less make your own schedule.

This is a great second job to have on top of working elsewhere for extra hours.

4. Diversity of Work

You don’t want to work in a long-term care home?

That’s not a problem.

You can work in the community?

You don’t want to work in the community?

That’s not a problem.

You can work in a private setting.

You don’t want to work in a private setting?

No problem. 

You can work in a hospital.

There are many options for you to work as a Personal Support Worker. 

Hospitals are starting to utilize more and more PSWs. 

PSWs work in many inpatient care areas, even the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Critical Care Units (CCU). 

You have many options. 

Pick one. Pick two! 

5. Emotionally Rewarding

If you have decided to become a Personal Support Worker, there is one for sure:

You love to help people. 

Why else would you become a personal support worker (besides all of the reasons above!)?

And why do you love to help others, other than the fact that you’re simply a great personality?

Because it feels good.

No, it feels GREAT.

If you’re having a bad day and you walk into work, I guarantee someone will cheer you up very quickly.

The emotional benefits of being a personal support worker, far outweigh any negativity that you may come across.

When you work with co-workers who appreciate you, in a friendly, home-like environment, you can’t help but feel good about what they do.

6. It’s Fun!

This job is so. Much. FUN!

If it wasn’t, many people wouldn’t put in the effort to talk about it ad nauseam with everyone that they know.

When working with seniors you’ll hear tons of stories.

You’ll probably get hit on by some flirtatious gentlemen (or ladies!).

And, to round out the day, you’ll no doubt run into some cursing from someone almost 3 times your age.

While this is hilarious in and of itself, the facilities also show their love for PSWs by throwing parties and getting together. 

Everyone likes a party, right?

In addition, if you choose to work in private care settings such as in the community, you are not confined to working in one place.

Seniors and people in need of help are everywhere, so PSWs are needed everywhere too.

When working with an agency, you end up working in homes, nursing homes, and retirement homes for private care.

Also, take into consideration the potential for leaving the big city.

Not a lot of people want to work way up north in the middle of nowhere, but some do.

Being a Personal Support Worker, you can work just about anywhere.

The Final Verdict

This is why 38% of you will continue to provide great services for a long time.

These are the reasons that great PSWs thrive on, what keeps them going in this fantastic, emotionally rewarding, endless opportunity line of work.

Always keep your eyes and ears open to opportunities.

Talk to people.

Anyone, everyone, even if they’re not in healthcare.

Be proud of this growing profession, your growing profession. 

To be a personal support worker is to not only be a healthcare worker but a good friend.

You’re kind, patient, and caring.

The PSW profession is fantastic,

and

You’re the reason why!

FAQs

1. What do you enjoy most about the PSW job?

The work PSWs do is appreciated by their family and clients, who really appreciate what they do. They enjoy making their clients smile and feeling cared for as much as they enjoy brightening their days. That’s the essence of becoming a personal support worker.

2. What are the question for PSW interview?

The questions for a PSW interview can vary depending on the hiring organization, but often includes questions about your experience, skills, and what you can bring to the role. You may also be asked behavioral questions to assess how you would handle certain situations in a care setting. Be prepared to answer questions thoroughly and honestly.

3. What are the top 5 things that make a good support worker?

Some of the most important characteristics of a good support worker include:

  • Patience – A good support worker is patient and can handle difficult situations.
  • Compassion – They must be able to feel compassion for their clients and understand their situation.
  • Communication Skills – They must be able to communicate effectively with their clients and other professionals.
  • Organized – They must be able to keep track of their client’s files and appointments.
  • Dependable – They should be reliable and able to handle stress well.

4. What are the roles and responsibilities of personal support providers and workers in aged care?

Personal support providers and workers in aged care have a variety of roles and responsibilities, including providing personal care, assisting with activities of daily living, providing social and recreational activities, and helping to maintain the safety and well-being of residents. They also may be responsible for meal preparation, housekeeping, and other tasks as needed.

5. How can you safely prepare for tasks when providing personal support?

When providing personal support, it is important to safely prepare for the task at hand. This can be done by ensuring that all necessary supplies are gathered and that the work area is clear and organized. Additionally, it is important to take into account the individual’s abilities and limitations when preparing for a task. For example, if the person has difficulty standing for long periods of time, then tasks that require standing should be avoided.

About The Author

Avlin

Avlin is passionate about helping aspirants become better personal support workers. He is an entrepreneur and runs a clinic in Toronto.

See author's posts


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