When a professional caregiver service like Paradise In-Home Care hires a caregiver, there are certain traits that are sought after. They are all pretty basic by themselves, but when you combine them, they set the groundwork for a superior level of care for your elderly loved one. These are not the only things that we seek in a caregiver, but they are certainly a good place to start. And if the best professional services are looking for these qualities in a caregiver, they are things that you should be looking for, too.
Ability to Listen and Follow Directions
This is a big one, because you want the person that is caring for your loved one to not only be able to follow the minimum directions to help your mom or dad get through their day safely, but you also want them to be able to effectively listen and adjust what they are doing on an as needed basis to better help out. Being able to listen to and respond to changing needs as the day progresses is just as important as going in and doing the basics.
Ability to Follow Rules and Legalities
Again, this is extremely important. There are certain laws that govern senior care, and they are pretty basic. However, if the caregiver cannot follow these very simple, minimum requirements, they have no business in your home helping care for your family. This is also important for medication dispensing. Professional services should have formal rules or guidelines put in place for how medications are handed out and tracked. It a caregiver is forgetful, or otherwise unable to ensure that the right meds are given out at the right time, then there is the potential for severe health problems.
Is Helpful
This one is pretty obvious. Any caregiver you employ should have the ability to help. They should help the person they are caring for, they should help with household tasks, and they should help you and your family determine the best courses of action with their care so that things can be improved all around. If a caregiver is not helpful in all of these respects, they are not doing their job correctly.
Shows Compassion and Kindness
This is the icing on the cake. Yes, the other stuff is very basic and provides the bulk of what is done, but the ability to empathize with others, to be kind and caring, and to genuinely love the person you care caring for is the icing. It’s what separates adequate caregivers from the very best caregivers. If you were looking for a defense lawyer to help you after you were accused of a crime that you didn’t commit, you wouldn’t hire an okay attorney. You’d hire the best you could find. It’s the same with senior care. Most caregivers out there have the ability to provide the basics. But only the most loving, patient, and compassionate caregivers can give that little extra that makes your loved one feel like they are not only getting the help that they need, but have gained a close friend in the process.
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