"Hiring a professional caregiver to cater to your loved one’s needs can make a marked difference in their life. Knowing they’rebeing cared for results in peace of mind. However, it may seem stressful in the beginning, and you may not know your role or how to interact with the caregiver. Yet, it’s essential to start things outright. By supporting and partnering with your loved one’s caregiver, you can ensure they’re providing the best care possible.
It’s important to remember that a caregiver cannot perform their best if they don’t understand your expectations. Going into the relationship having clarified duties and expectations will lead to a more positive outcome. For example, suppose one of the caregiver’s responsibilities is preparing meals. In that case, you must tell them how many meals are expected per day and whether your loved one has any special dietary needs.
In addition to current expectations, it’s also essential to discuss future expectations. Your loved one’s needs and health may change as they age, and they may require more help. Knowing what to expect when the time comes and setting clear expectations is an excellent way to avoid mishaps or miscommunication in the future.
If the caregiver is doing a great job, it’s important to mention it. However, if you’re unhappy about their methods or if there’s something wrong, talk about it openly. This way, the issue will be resolved immediately and won’t become an even bigger problem in the future.
In addition to keeping the lines of communication open, it’s also critical to know communication preferences. For example, you should discuss whether you’d like updates via phone calls, text, or in-person meetings. Your loved one’s caregiver should also know which family members need to be kept abreast of news and developments and which family members must be called in case of an emergency.
That being said, you know your loved one best. Work together with your loved one’s caregiver and combine your knowledge and expertise to develop a viable solution. For example, if your loved one isn’t eating enough, a caregiver may know ways to encourage appetite, but you can help by discussing your loved one’s favorite foods and their meal preferences.
While this is always a good idea, it’s especially critical if your loved one requires memory care or suffers from Alzheimer’s, dementia, or another form of cognitive decline. Understanding your loved one’s emotions, history, and preferences can allow the caregiver to customize care to fit your loved one’s unique needs. In the case of cognitive and memory decline, it’s a good idea to discuss events your loved one frequently recalls and important memories with them.
In-home caregivers can give you much-needed peace of mind and ensure your loved one’s safety while helping them age in place and maintain their independence. Interim Healthcare’s experienced and fully vetted professional caregivers can help your loved one during their golden years. We offer personal care services, respite care, Alzheimer’s and dementia care, and more. Call us at (636) 717-9292 or reach out to us here to learn more about our various senior care options."
How to Help Caregivers Optimize Senior Care
Building a relationship with your loved one’s caregiver and working together with them can ensure your loved one can age in place happily. Patience, communication, and mutual respect play a huge role in this process. The following are some tips you can use to collaborate with your loved one’s caregiver and optimize their senior care.Set Clear Expectations From the Beginning
With in-home caregivers, you can choose the level of care required. Whether your loved one only needs help with the basics or requires help with many daily living activities, clarify the caregiver’s role from the beginning. Setting expectations from the start will ensure future surprises are avoided and will make sure you have a smooth relationship with your loved one’s caregiver.It’s important to remember that a caregiver cannot perform their best if they don’t understand your expectations. Going into the relationship having clarified duties and expectations will lead to a more positive outcome. For example, suppose one of the caregiver’s responsibilities is preparing meals. In that case, you must tell them how many meals are expected per day and whether your loved one has any special dietary needs.
In addition to current expectations, it’s also essential to discuss future expectations. Your loved one’s needs and health may change as they age, and they may require more help. Knowing what to expect when the time comes and setting clear expectations is an excellent way to avoid mishaps or miscommunication in the future.
Know That Communication Is Key
The best thing you can do for your loved one is always be open with communication. This includes communication about both the good and the bad. An open line of communication prevents assumptions and ensures everyone is on the same page.If the caregiver is doing a great job, it’s important to mention it. However, if you’re unhappy about their methods or if there’s something wrong, talk about it openly. This way, the issue will be resolved immediately and won’t become an even bigger problem in the future.
In addition to keeping the lines of communication open, it’s also critical to know communication preferences. For example, you should discuss whether you’d like updates via phone calls, text, or in-person meetings. Your loved one’s caregiver should also know which family members need to be kept abreast of news and developments and which family members must be called in case of an emergency.
Discuss Your Loved One’s Preferences
Your loved one and their caregiver will be spending a lot of time together. The caregiver may even be responsible for household duties and meal preparation. In this case, it’s essential to discuss preferences. If the caregiver has your loved one’s preferences in mind, it will make the transition much easier and avoid conflict. This includes personal habits, activities they enjoy, how they like their house cleaned, or even food choices. Whether it’s removing shoes before entering the home, preferring towels folded a certain way, or wanting the blinds to be left open or closed, verbalizing these preferences is a must.Stay Flexible and Be Open to Their Suggestions
Professional caregivers have years of experience and expertise in senior care. Sometimes, a situation may be new to you and your family, but your loved one’s caregiver may already have experience and know how to best handle it. In this case, it’s important to trust the caregiver and be open to their suggestions.That being said, you know your loved one best. Work together with your loved one’s caregiver and combine your knowledge and expertise to develop a viable solution. For example, if your loved one isn’t eating enough, a caregiver may know ways to encourage appetite, but you can help by discussing your loved one’s favorite foods and their meal preferences.
Share Your Loved One’s Personality With Them
In-home senior care is personal, and sharing stories about your loved one or discussing their past can help strengthen the bond between your loved one and their caregiver. In addition to ensuring their health and safety, they’re there to provide companionship. Knowing more about your loved one’s personality will help them better engage with them and also give them more topics to explore and interests to discuss.While this is always a good idea, it’s especially critical if your loved one requires memory care or suffers from Alzheimer’s, dementia, or another form of cognitive decline. Understanding your loved one’s emotions, history, and preferences can allow the caregiver to customize care to fit your loved one’s unique needs. In the case of cognitive and memory decline, it’s a good idea to discuss events your loved one frequently recalls and important memories with them.
Trust Interim Healthcare With Your Loved One’s Needs
Trusting your loved one’s caregiver and keeping an open line of communication with them is essential to optimizing their care. While it may be difficult at first, it’s always important to remember that both you and your loved one’s caregiver have the same priority – the health and safety of your loved one. Thus, partnering with them results in the best outcome for your loved one and their needs.In-home caregivers can give you much-needed peace of mind and ensure your loved one’s safety while helping them age in place and maintain their independence. Interim Healthcare’s experienced and fully vetted professional caregivers can help your loved one during their golden years. We offer personal care services, respite care, Alzheimer’s and dementia care, and more. Call us at (636) 717-9292 or reach out to us here to learn more about our various senior care options."
