When COVID-19 devastated older-adult organizations (long-term care homes and retirement homes), most public attention was directed toward the older-adult residents rather than their service providers. This was especially true in the case of personal support workers, some of whom are over the age of 55, putting them in two separate categories in the COVID-19 settings: (1) a vulnerable and marginalized group who are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19; and (2) essential healthcare workers. Since the current disaster-driven research, practice, and policy have primarily focused on generalized assumptions that older-adults are a vulnerable, passive, and dependent group rather than recognizing their diversity, expertise, assets, and experiences, this study aimed to identify their contributions from the perspective of older-adult personal support worker (OAPSW). This qualitative study conducted in-depth interviews, inviting 15 OAPSWs from the Greater Toronto Area, Canada. This study uncovered the OAPSWs’ contribution at three levels: individual (enhancing physical health, mental health, and overall well-being), work (improving working environment and service and supporting co-workers), and family (protecting their nuclear and extended families). The outcomes inform the older-adult research, practice, policy, public discourse, and education by enhancing the appreciation of older-adults’ diverse strengths and promoting their engagement and contributions in disaster settings.

当 COVID-19 摧毁老年人组织（长期护理院和养老院）时，大多数公众的注意力都集中在老年人居民身上，而不是他们的服务提供者身上。对于个人支持工作者来说尤其如此，其中一些人年龄超过 55 岁，在 COVID-19 环境中将他们分为两个不同的类别：(1) 弱势和边缘化群体，他们受到 COVID-19 的影响尤为严重。 19; (2) 基本医护人员。由于当前灾害驱动的研究、实践和政策主要集中于老年人是弱势、被动和依赖群体的普遍假设，而不是认识到他们的多样性、专业知识、资产和经验，本研究旨在确定他们的老年人个人支持工作者（OAPSW）角度的贡献。这项定性研究进行了深度访谈，邀请了来自加拿大大多伦多地区的 15 名 OAPSW。这项研究揭示了 OAPSW 在三个层面上的贡献：个人（增强身体健康、心理健康和整体福祉）、工作（改善工作环境和服务并支持同事）和家庭（保护其核心家庭和大家庭） ）。研究结果通过增强对老年人多样化优势的认识并促进他们在灾害环境中的参与和贡献，为老年人的研究、实践、政策、公共话语和教育提供信息。