Family members are often the backbone of long-term home care for older adults, and being a caregiver can be incredibly difficult without the right skills. As a family caregiver, you need to constantly reevaluate every aspect of your loved one’s health and adapt to any issues you come across. Here’s a look at seven important skills every family caregiver should continue to nurture and hone.
1. Time Management
You may need to manage dozens of different tasks throughout the day. Without good time management skills, you could find yourself missing meals and running late to appointments. When you aren’t looking after your loved one, these skills can allow you to take care of your own needs without feeling stressed or out of time.
If you’re the primary family caregiver for an elderly loved one and need additional assistance providing high-quality senior care, Align Home Care can help. We are a leading home care agency committed to changing the way seniors age.
2. Ability to Follow Strict Protocols
Your ability to follow strict protocols can keep your loved one safe if there’s ever an accident or medical emergency. Depending on your loved one’s health, you might be given complex instructions regarding his or her medications, diet, or sleep schedule.
3. Organization
Staying organized can make your life much easier as a caregiver. Keeping a senior happy, healthy, and engaged requires an incredible amount of discipline, and you need to keep track of prescriptions, household chores, and much more. Organized individuals often thrive as caregivers because of how much time must be spent structuring and arranging each day.
If your loved one’s health has become too difficult to handle without professional expertise, consider hiring an in-home caregiver. For many seniors in Portland, ME, live-in care is an essential component of aging in place safely and comfortably. However, it’s important for them to have caregivers they can trust and rely on. At Align Home Care, we extensively screen all of our live-in and 24-hour caregivers and only hire those who have experience in the senior home care industry. Our strict requirements ensure seniors can remain in the comfort of home with a reduced risk of injury or serious illness.
4. Empathy
Some people consider empathy to be an inherent trait, but caregivers can become more compassionate over time. When caregivers are empathetic, they can predict the needs of their loved ones without being asked. Caregivers must also be able to navigate delicate situations without thinking twice.
5. Excellent Verbal Communication
Effectively communicating with someone from a different generation can be a challenging task. If your loved one has a mental or emotional disorder, your communication skills may be tested even further. Family members who care for aging adults have to communicate their thoughts in a clear and concise manner without overcomplicating the issues.
6. Patience
Much like empathy, patience is an inherent quality that can be enhanced with the proper attitude. No matter how much you care for your loved one, there may come a time when it feels almost impossible to communicate with him or her. Your patience can enhance your relationship and help you get through awkward situations.
7. Adaptability
Even if you do everything in your power to prepare for the unexpected, accidents, mishaps, and miscommunications could still happen. As soon as these issues arise, you need to adapt to the situation and come up with solutions. Your adaptability can come in handy when your caregiving skills are being put to the test.
The type of at-home care Portland, ME, seniors need can vary. Some need assistance a few hours a day, while others require more extensive around-the-clock assistance. At Align Home Care, we tailor our care plans based on each senior’s individual care needs, and the plans can be adjusted at any time. If you need compassionate professional home care for your loved one, call one of our friendly Care Managers today at (207) 835-3490.