Parents are the most important part of our life. So, even if children are going abroad or in some other towns leaving their parents alone, they are always having this fear of health and care of their parents back in their mind.
They are always in the search of a perfect caregiver for the daily needs of their old parents in their absence. No matter how dependant or independent our senior is, we always expect a skilled all-rounder caregiver who can full fill the demands of our aged parents.
While taking care of the elderly, we have to keep a lot of things into consideration.
So, we can say that the most important thing for elderly care is “caregivers” or “trained nurses” who always keep the health of their patients and their needs and wellbeing to their utmost priority.
We can’t deny the fact that the bigger the disability of a person, the bigger is their needs and the bigger is the responsibility of the person who takes care of them.
This is observed that in home health care services provided to them are not what they deserve, and elderly people don’t like complaining. So, generally, they settle for less, but this is not right. The solution to this problem is very simple and straightforward.
* Treat them like normal human beings:
We know that this is a basic thing but we have seen people disrespect elders like they are nothing. So, while taking care of the caregivers should treat them as normal human beings. Elderly people are very sensitive and are often stressed with the issues like not having a child, alcoholic son or son-in-law, widowed daughter; drug-addicted family members, or unhealthy grandchildren.
In such cases, they should be handled politely and with love. Their thoughts should have listened. You can take them for a walk or sit with them for tea. It is also observed that taking outside help seems to them as a compromise with their privacy and dignity. So, they should be given complete freedom and mustn’t be poked for what they don’t have.
When those in their care have Alzheimer’s or health conditions that affect their day-to-day life, this is even more important to remember.
* A proper bathing schedule:
A caregiver is meant to do everything from laundry, shopping, bathing, and many more. We understand that bathing is not the best experience you can have as it is very difficult for the elder to get naked in front of a stranger. So, we suggest you make a schedule for bathing like 2-3 times a week for a full-body bath, where you can keep the bath ready along with the proper temperature of the water, sponge, towels, etc.
Also, make sure to keep the floor not very slippery as the fall risk is very much in elders. To make them feel comfortable, strike up a natural conversation, and don’t forget to maintain the elder’s dignity during a bath. You don’t want to make them feel awkward or embarrassed about it. You are there to help them. Don’t make them feel less than they are.
* Give proper care to the ones who deserve it:
We completely understand that caregivers also have their homes to be taken care of. But nurse to home should understand that she should be giving enough care to the person who deserves it while not letting the huge-do-list for their own family, come in between their work. Working carefully with clients who are grateful for your services is the key. However, it is important to note that this won’t always be the case, and as a caregiver, you must learn to push aside any personal feelings and provide the best care you can to all.
Independent caregivers also need to understand that they are as much a carer as they are a business owner. Therefore, they should learn good management skills to keep both family and patients happy. If they are to provide good management skills, then taking some training courses in management may be useful. If not, there are some great articles out there that provide some great detail on how a person can develop these skills. A combination of the two is highly recommended. With good management skills, it means their average day should be vastly improved, and the number of patients they look after could be increased.
* Focus on improving your knowledge
Providing care to anybody requires carers to always have the most up-to-date knowledge, not just in the area of healthcare they specialize in but also general care knowledge too. For those that work for a care company, then supervisors or managers may schedule this training. However, self-employed carers or those who work for an agency may need to organize this for themselves. Taking training can ensure that there are no gaps in knowledge or skills for any care team member and brings about great confidence and empowerment in staff. For those running care teams, the benefit of training is that you have a better chance of retaining staff.
Of course, this isn’t the only way to improve knowledge and skills and ensure that, as a caregiver, you are providing the top level of care in the best way possible. You can take an online DNP that will provide you with the highest level of nursing expertise and some essential skills that will be useful in your day-to-day life when caring for the elderly. Once you have earned this type of qualification, you won’t just be able to make a difference to those in your immediate care. This degree provides you with more of a voice and the authority to influence healthcare outcomes through leadership roles, and you won’t have to quit your job to be able to achieve this either. You can work, building on your skills with real-life experience, and expand on these during your hours of study.
Why go down this route, though? With a leadership role, you could become a mentor for other nurses and carers, helping many to find their feet and find enjoyment in the work just like you do. The benefit for you is that you could be earning a higher salary and getting great job satisfaction. It is a win-win for all involved. Plus, if you want to ensure that you can climb the career ladder and stand out above all the rest, this is the natural action you need to take. Not everybody that works within the care industry will take the time to gain a degree, and as a result, you are going to be a valuable part of the team and be one of the first considered for a promotion.
* Don’t take everything so personally:
Many elderly people are seen to magnify the small problems into very big issues. But you should not take everything personally; try to be as people-centric as you can instead of just being self-centered. You should start thinking by being in their shoes.
While taking care of elderly, especially the ones suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia, you might lose your patience by explaining again and again that why and what you are doing. So, don’t get stressed out, and Instead of complaining every now and then, try to understand their problems and make them feel more comfortable and happy by treating them as part of your own family.
If you find yourself getting stressed, then it is vital that you learn some of the best coping techniques that work for you. This could be making sure that you are resting up in your free time, taking adequate breaks throughout the day, getting support, and developing healthy responses to stress, such as doing your favorite activities and exercising.
Track the most common situations that you find yourself getting too stressed, and then talk to your supervisor about what you can do. For example, if caring for a particular person is difficult because they are aggressive, see if you can get another member of the team to help you out. Learning how to communicate effectively will also be vital in situations where you find yourself getting stressed. If you feel like this is a skill you need to improve, then seek out a course or training, or brush up your knowledge online. The internet is a fountain of knowledge.
Wrapping Up:
The demand of elderly care is continuously rising and it is a very rewarding experience. But we can’t ignore the stubborn behavior you might experience as elderly people don’t agree with a nurse for home or any kind of caregiver. So, it is our suggestion to maintain a positive attitude, as good things take time and ultimately things fall into the right place.
If you are also looking for a caregiver or any other health care services for your dear aging parents, we will be more than happy to help you out.
Feel free to contact us at 1800-123-44-5555.
We will do our best to satisfy you with our services.
