I asked our clients what they consider to be an outstanding caregiver and here’s what they said:
As a Client Care Manager who has spent many years speaking with home care clients and prospective clients, sometimes, more importantly, listening to our clients and prospective clients, one of the subjects that we discuss, is what they consider A Great Caregiver. After all, who could better answer that question than home care clients; people who receive ongoing caregiving and who have received care from several different caregivers in the privacy of their homes. These clients are able to recognize Super Star Caregivers and those who are outstanding at their profession. I asked some of our long-time clients to share with me what they consider an outstanding caregiver. In addition to Patience, Confidence, Attentiveness, Trustworthiness, and Compassion, these are a few of the examples that they shared with me:
Caregivers Who Have A Passion For Caring For Others
Dependability is one of the words that I hear most when speaking with prospective, or existing clients. It’s not easy to find a person who is reliable, responsible, and can be trusted to use their discretion to make the right decisions. Knowing who to call if the power goes out, especially if a client is on oxygen, knowing who to contact for a water leak, etc. Handling situations such as these in addition to providing quality, compassionate personal care to a client is what a client looks for in a caregiver. These things are even more important when family members work and can’t be there for their senior loved ones.
Caregivers Who Put In the Effort to Help Improve Their Client’s Condition
Dementia clients experience cognitive decline and gradually forget how to perform routine, everyday tasks. They even sometimes have difficulty recognizing family members and friends. Even though it is not possible to stop the progression of the disease, things can be done to slow it down. Interacting with the client and encouraging them to perform mind-stimulating activities such as reading or looking at pictures of family and friends and naming them, playing board games, or doing simple physical exercises are some of the activities that can help to slow the progression of the disease. Sometimes dementia clients are a bit resistant to these types of exercises. In these cases, a seasoned caregiver knows how to stay with the client’s feelings without being demanding or pushy. They are gentle, yet firm, and as the old saying goes, “you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.”
A Caregiver Who Is Trained to Support a Client At the End Of Life
End-of-life, Hospice care, is one of the most difficult aspects of in-home care. This takes a very special caregiver who must be able to emotionally support the client. Someone who is able to hold their hand and say the right words at difficult moments, while at the same time controlling their own emotions to avoid causing anxiety in the client. Not everyone can do this job. I’ve had several clients who have lost spouses and have shared stories of these amazing caregivers.
If you are considering home care for yourself or a loved one, give us a call to schedule an in-home assessment with one of our Registered Nurses. (919) 301-0236