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More than 125,000 Canadian seniors live at home. More than 80% of seniors over the age of 65 have chosen to live out their golden years in the familiar surroundings of their home, close to loved ones and the security of being surrounded by familiarity. Because less than 3% of Canadian seniors live in residential care facilities, there is a significant demand for caring, compassionate, and skilled, in-home caregivers. But with such high demand also comes multiple people looking to fill paid caregiver positions. What are some things you can do to set yourself apart from the rest?
Be Compassionate
When families consider hiring an in-home caregiver for their senior loved one, they want someone who cares for their loved one in the same way they would. This means showing you are a caring and compassionate person who truly cares for the health and well-being of their loved one is a vital component of your skillset that you want to showcase when applying for and interviewing for a position as a paid caregiver. It is also essential to show that you are an empathetic person as well. Remember, compassion and empathy are similar yet different characteristics of a good caregiver. Empathy means you can see feelings and struggles from the perspective of the senior and their family. Compassion means you are a person who wants to and is willing to help.
Be Reliable
As a paid caregiver, you are being paid for the time you dedicate to helping someone else. Although the seniors you help may spend most of their time at home, they still have a schedule they want and need to follow. As their caregiver, who likely helps with important elements of their day such as medication reminders and personal hygiene tasks, it is vital to ensure they keep to their schedule. Being punctual and completing your tasks in a timely manner shows that you are reliable and respect the schedule needs of your client.
Respect Your Clients Privacy and Dignity
Acknowledging that you need help is difficult for many seniors, especially if they have been living independently for many years. Hiring a caregiver is often the last thing they want to do. For some, it is an acknowledgment of "getting older," whereas others may struggle with the idea of bringing a stranger into their home. Regardless of why they seek the help of a paid caregiver, they are still adults who must maintain privacy and dignity as a person.
Be Kind and Positive
We have all talked to someone who exhibits a negative or "off-putting" demeanor. As a paid caregiver, both when working with a client or during the interview process, it is vital to be a kind, positive person. When families are looking for the ideal candidate, they want someone who not only cares for their loved one but is the type of person who can be uplifting and friendly. Many seniors who are confined to their homes struggle with isolation and loneliness. As a caregiver, you are helping to reduce these struggles. Someone who is negative or hurtful does not provide the emotional support many seniors and their families seek.
Personal Hygiene is Important
As a caregiver, you are helping your client maintain their health and wellness in their home environment. A significant factor in your responsibility is ensuring your client maintains good personal hygiene. This may include helping with bathing, dressing, mouth care, and other self-care needs. If your (individual) personal hygiene is lacking, it will be difficult for your client or their family to trust your skills to take care of their loved one. This may be even more critical if their loved one is severely mobility-limited and requires more hands-on care from a caregiver. Be sure to arrive at your interview and at your client's home for each shift in a manner that shows how you will care for their loved one.
Remember, You Are Working in Their Home
Even though you have been invited into your client's home to provide care, it is vital to remember that the environment in which you work is still a private home. The objects, possessions, and surroundings house years of memories and are your client's personal property. There may be things they prefer you do not handle or items they do not want to be moved. Trustworthiness and respect are essential characteristics of a caregiver. Your client and their family must be able to trust you in their home. Also, it is vital to respect their home as their safe space and remember that although you are paid to be there, you are still a guest, companion, and friend.
Support Family Too
Your client's family members may struggle with many emotional ups and downs related to watching their loved one change. Their loved one may be declining or struggling with a difficult time in their life. Although you are there to support your client, you are a support system for the family too. They may look to you for information on how their loved one is managing or as a sounding board concern or worry. It is important to show (while on the job or while interviewing) that you have the emotional and personal flexibility to listen and hear the emotions of everyone involved in your client's care.
Be an Effective Communicator
As a senior caregiver, you will be expected to communicate with many people. It will be important to "hear" the things your client is telling you about how they feel and relay those to family or medical providers. It will also be essential to listen to the things medical providers say at appointments so you can relay the information to your client's family members if necessary. Effective communication skills are vital in your working environment and must be displayed as part of your interview process.
Be a Cheerleader
Senior care jobs can be emotionally challenging sometimes. There will inevitably be days where you feel down and struggle to present with a happy, personable demeanor. Your client and family will have similar days as well. As a paid caregiver, it is important to be a strong personal support system and cheerleader for your client and family during challenging days. In many cases, seeing happiness and satisfaction on your client's face may help turn your day around as well!
Be Flexible
When providing in-home care for your client, you should expect things to change. Not every day will feel or look the same. Flexibility is a vital component of the in-home caregiver role. You must be quick to adapt and make changes to your anticipated routine if necessary for your client's happiness, health, and safety. When interviewing for a caregiver role, family members are likely to address this crucial element of your caregiving skill set.
In-home caregivers play a vital role in helping millions of Canadian seniors remain in their homes. As a paid caregiver, you can offer the assistance and companionship many seniors and their families need to ensure staying at home is a safe and viable option for many years to come.
