Caregiving is a tough job and families should know the criteria involved when identifying an authentic caregiver.

Caregivers try to meet the physical needs of home care patients as well as promote overall happiness and well-being.

And everyone related to the patient wants to make sure their loved ones are in good hands.

So how do you identify a good caregiver then?  Are all caregivers alike?

Well, no.  Caregivers come from all walks of life with different backgrounds and interests.

Here are five qualities that can help you identify an authentic caregiver:

Compassion

Caregivers require heartfelt compassion to care for someone else, often someone they don’t know.

Having a compassionate heart means the caregiver is genuinely concerned and seeks out resources to improve and maximize their quality of care with a positive attitude.

Empathy

Good and authentic caregivers express empathy and kindness towards clients and their family members who are going through a difficult time be it medical, physical or emotional.

Not only will caregivers assist them to overcome the challenges they are facing due to needing care, but also they’ll strengthen relationships and trust in the process.

Reliability

Often, home care clients rely on caregivers to meet their activities of daily living (ADLs) such as bathing and grooming to medication management.

If a caregiver fails to keep their appointments or are consistently late, someone else’s well-being may suffer as a consequence.

As such, it is important for caregivers to be reliable and dedicated to a patient’s well being, thus, reliability is key when identifying an authentic caregiver.

Communication

You cannot properly care for someone if you are unaware of their needs and desires.

It’s essential that you communicate well with patients and establish a rapport so that they feel comfortable with your presence, especially in the event they need to relay an important health update that may require the assessment and intervention of a licensed clinician.

In some cases, you may need to find non-verbal methods of communication, especially if your patient has antecedents which affect their speech or cognition.

Patience

When it comes to caregiving, things may not always go as planned. Sometimes a home care treatment plan may not meet expectations or the patient changes their mind about a care service or cancels.

Caregivers should be open-minded and avoid getting frustrated when plans change.

Any signs of frustration on a caregiver’s part can upset clients and staff, possibly resulting in further frustration and even substantive patient care gaps occurring.

Patience is one of the most important caregivers qualities one can possess and is especially crucial when working with adults who suffer from diseases such as Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s, stroke or any other serious disease.

Thus, patience is another attribute to look for when identifying an authentic caregiver.

Confidence

Some seniors that are receiving home care may be apprehensive or hesitant to work with someone outside of their family, friends or trusted companions. Basically, a stranger.

Caregivers reassure their clients by exhibiting confidence and competence.

If a client believes in a caregiver’s skills and abilities, they will feel more secure, safe, willing, and engaged.

Bottom Line

Caregivers are human too.  And often caregivers may get burned out whether they are family members or professionals.

No doubt, caregiving is a tough job.  But it’s not only a job, it’s also a calling or duty to some people.

At Assisting Hands® Home Care, our caregivers are trained, bonded, insured, and prepared to maximize the best assistance with client needs.

Care is our business and responsibility.

Call us today to arrange care for you or your loved one.

Refer a friend who needs home care.