How to Communicate with Your loved one’s Caregiver
When you have a professional caregiver assisting your aging parent at home, communication is key. After all, your parent is one of the most important people in your life. Leaving him or her in someone else’s care can be stressful.
So how do you make sure your parent is getting the care he or she deserves without ruffling any feathers? Follow these tips to help build a relationship with your loved one’s in-home caregiver, and give you peace of mind.
Help Her Get Started
When your parents’ at home caregiver first arrives, help get her started by suggesting that your parent take the caregiver through the house. Your parent can point out the kitchen, where the food is stored, explain which bathroom is used, and go through a list of favorite foods the caregiver can prepare.
Before your caregiver arrives, set aside time with your parent to plan for the caregiver’s arrival. Make a list of all the doctors your parent might need to see. Write down upcoming appointments in a calendar, and encourage your caregiver to use it too. Make copies of all important papers, and show your caregiver where they are. Make a copy of your loved one’s daily medication list to share with your caregiver. And don’t forget to share your loved one’s favorite activities, foods and TV shows!
By preparing for the at home caregiver this way, you’ll make her feel appreciated and expected, and at the same time, you’ll ensure she’s prepared to take care of your loved ones as well as possible.
Be Open
You want the caregiver to feel comfortable communicating with you. Start by being communicative yourself. It’s important to be upfront and honest about your hopes and wishes for your parent’s care. Share specific concerns about your loved one’s health or behavior, so your caregiver will know what to expect. Provide multiple ways your caregiver can get in touch with you to encourage her to communicate back.
Be honest: If you’re uncomfortable with something your in home caregiver is doing, let her know. By being positive, and not placing blame on your caregiver, you’ll help keep those interactions as comfortable and productive as possible. On the flip side, always let your caregiver know if you have anything positive to say about her work. A little appreciation goes a long way.
Give Her Space
Be respectful of your at home caregiver. Remember that she has a life and responsibilities outside of her work with your loved one. If you’d like to talk to her, ask her for a moment of her time, or ask when would be a convenient time. This choice of words let her know that you respect her work and realize that her time is valuable.
The more respectful you are of your caregiver, the more likely that she’ll reciprocate, treating you and your loved one with respect in turn.
An in home caregiver can be a wonderful part of your life; helping to reduce your stress and ease your mind. For the most productive relationship, communication is essential. With the right attitude, you and your caregiver will build a great relationship, and you’ll be confident that your loved one is receiving the best care possible.
If you are have a hard time getting through to your caregiver. Please call our office. We have a great surpervisory staff that will assist in the communication. We will have someone come over to the home, go through a list of duites to be performed and follow up to see if it’s been completed. Some people feel uncomfortable telling someone that things are not being done correctly. That’s our job and we do it well. We also have a history with our employees and know how to best approach them.
We at Fairfield Family Care can assist in your search for proper homecare for you or your loved one or respit relief for family caregivers. We provide top quality caregivers trained in Dementia and Alzheimer’s care to assist you and your family members in day to day living with safety and comfort as our #1 concern. Our caregivers are insured, bonded and go through strenuous background checks process to ensure the most reliable care possible. We make it our mission to assure that our caregivers will be the best fit in the home.
Fairfield Family Care has a growing database of over 900 top quality and experienced caregivers to choose from. All of our caregivers go through extensive screening. We only hire the very best, that have years of experience, have passed an extensive background check and have tested negative for TB. We at Fairfield Family Care find it important to assure that our clients will be matched with a diligent caregiver that will fit their needs and personality..
For more information on in home care please call Fairfield Family Care 203-295-3477 or email us at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
Information Provided By:
Fairfield Family Care
2009 Summer St Suite 204
Stamford, CT 06905
203-295-3477
www.fairfieldfamilycare.com