Friday, February 22, 2013

Characteristics of Good Senior Home Care Providers


Home care providers and home health care are a unique breed. While training is needed to meet job requirements, home health care providers must also possess other innate qualities that enable them to compassionately perform job functions, as per patient wishes and the wishes of their families.These special qualities are what make all the difference between average home care and excellent senior care providers. This article examines caregiver characteristics that are necessary for providing invaluable services within homes and communities everywhere.

Senior home health care providers must be able to perform all of the following job functions, including:

  • Assisting clients, seniors, and care recipients with daily living activities.

  • Preparing meals for clients.

  • Any necessary assistance with ambulation.

  • Light housekeeping tasks, cleaning, laundry, trash removal, tidying up.

  • Attending to all safety needs, ensuring a safe environment for patients and care recipients.

  • Effective and compassionate communication with patients, family, coworkers, and all interested parties.

  • Confidentiality, as per the wishes of family and patients.

  • Understanding and following through on all requirements for the care of the patient or senior loved one, including special needs and patient wishes.

Beyond those basic functions and responsibilities lie the real substance of a home health care provider's role; that of the compassionate personal attendant. Caregivers must go beyond handling the needs of care recipients and responding appropriately to certain job situations, but demonstrate compassion, love, caring, and thoughtfulness. When those qualities are present, you'll know you have a caregiver who not only loves their job, but love those they provide care for. Caregivers, home health care providers, and senior caregivers are dedicated individuals who have a passion for helping people, and are selfless in their desire to improve the quality of life for senior loved ones. Home health providers work as facilitators to achieve a better quality of life for elders in need of support.

Other characteristics of exceptional home care providers include:

Commitment and dedication. Families and elderly individuals in need of home care should rely on workers to be available when needed, honor their commitments, and carry out all job related responsibilities in a highly professional manner. When a family chooses to bring a home health care provider into their environment, the caregiver should be respectful of the situation, as well as any hardships the family or patient faces on an everyday basis.

Creativity. Great home care providers are always thinking of new activities and ideas to introduce to clients, designed to better their quality of life or improve a situation, helping them gain comfort and independence. Additionally, they should focus on creating new ways elderly individuals can carry out tasks and learn new skills.

Judgment. Home health caregivers should always exercise good judgment, and maintain confidentiality, but not when a patient or client is in danger.

Senior home care find their careers very rewarding, and perform invaluable services in homes and communities everywhere. A home health care provider with willingness to help elderly patients and loved ones in need and a caregiving individual who chooses to make themselves available as relief for families is invaluable.

Home care is an excellent option for seniors who wish to continue living in their community and home to feel secure, despite difficulties they may be experiencing. Home care and assisted living providers work with you and your loved one to create a specially tailored plan to meet the personalized needs and services required-and this plan can be adjusted at any point in time to ensure the proper care is provided, as conditions can change. Learn more about home health care services and find out if that type of support would benefit your loved one and improve their safety, health, and well being.

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