Being a new caregiver can be tough. There are so many things to learn and so much responsibility.
But with the right tools and support, you can be successful in this role. Here are some secrets to success as a new caregiver that will help you get started on the right track.
Thank you for choosing our home health care agency as your source of support! We know that you will make great strides in your career as a caregiver with our help.
1. Learn that it’s okay to ask for help
This is the first secret to success that new caregivers need to know. It can be overwhelming to be faced with all of your responsibilities and not feel like you have the resources needed to fulfill them properly.
That is why we are available around the clock, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year with support when you need it most! We are here for you in every step of the way to make sure your loved one gets everything they require in terms of caregiving.
You may think this means grabbing another person off the street who has not been screened or trained in our system, but doing so will only cause more problems in your home environment.
Our caregivers are fully screened, highly trained and experienced in senior care. You can trust them to fulfill your loved one’s needs without causing more stress or hassle.
2. Stay positive
It’s so easy for new caregivers to suddenly let all of the pressure pile up on their shoulders until they are carrying it all around like a heavy load.
By allowing yourself to become overwhelmed by life as a caregiver, you risk becoming negative about what you consider an unpleasant situation (even though providing care to your loved one is ultimately serving them).
you feel that way, vent to someone who will listen! Your spouse or family members should make excellent sounding boards for concerns like this. But if no one is available, call our hotline .
We are always here with top-notch customer service to listen to your concerns. You can also consider our blog , where many common questions are answered for caregivers like you, every single week!
3. Don’t try to do it alone
Unless you are a super hero with abilities that go beyond the average person’s, don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it .
It is not a sign of weakness or laziness to make use of the various tools at your disposal – quite the opposite! If there was no such thing as senior home care, providing bedside assistance and nursing would fall on each family member who has their hands full already.
With an aging relative in the mix, getting time away for yourself is tough enough let alone figuring out how to take care of their every need. Try to remember that it is okay to ask for help and you will see yourself progressing in your new role far more quickly than if you tried to go at it alone.
4. Keep good records
The next secret of success as a new caregiver (and one that all caregivers should follow) is to keep good records . Being organized helps take the stress out of the situation because you can see everything in black-and-white laid out in front of you.
It also gives us caregivers the information we need about your loved one to provide them with proper care while keeping your family member’s personal health details confidential.
We would never work with any clients without ensuring confidentiality so please know that our records are always locked away where no one but you can access them.
5. Give your loved one their space
Last, but certainly not least, the secret to success for new caregivers is learning how to give their loved one some space .
Some people see this as a negative outcome of hiring a caregiver and may even speak negatively about it in an attempt to convince you otherwise!
However simply having someone there to help at all times does not mean that your loved one will be forced into a situation where they do not have a choice in what they do or when they do it.
You would never want to force your aging parent or grandparent into anything against their wishes so why should we treat them any differently?
They appreciate being treated with respect which means giving them choices when possible about how they would like their care provided. We are only there to help, not take over .
Interested in finding out more about our senior home care services? Please feel free to contact us at your convenience so we can answer any questions you may have!
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