Elderly Caregiver Communication: As a caregiver, you need a wide variety of skills when caring for others. One of the most important skills that you will utilize is clear communication. Communication lays the groundwork for all the tasks you will complete as an in-home care service provider.
Communication – Providing Care to Elderly Family Members
When you are caring for family members, you may find that your communication is different when you communicate with others. It’s important to think about how you communicate with family members and how that may affect how you care for them.
Tips for Communication with Family
Listen.
To be able to properly communicate, you need to know what you are responding to. Don’t assume things about your parents or family members because you have known them for a long time. Taking the time to listen to what they say and what their concerns are set you up to provide proper care.
Be Open.
Family members can have varying opinions on different matters, which makes communication difficult. Ensure you don’t shut down opinions just because you don’t agree with something. In providing care, you need to be open to what your recipient of care feels. If you aren’t, you risk having your care recipient keep important health or other concerns from you.
Respect Opinions.
It’s easier to get angry or frustrated with family members when communicating than people outside the family. This is because we are more comfortable with our family members. But as a caregiver, you need to recognize that your family member deserves respect and their opinions must be heard just as much as anyone else’s.
Communication with Other Professionals
As a caregiver, you will constantly come in to contact with others that will work in tandem with you and your recipient of care. Caregiving involves many different people coming together. Because of this, it’s necessary for you to communicate effectively with the professionals around you. This will make it so that your recipient of care receives everything they need from outside parties and that you make your daily tasks efficient. Proper and clear communication with the professionals you come into contact with will ensure everyone can execute their assigned tasks effectively.
Tips for Communication with Other Professionals
Ask Questions.
Often, we accept what other people say when we perceive them to have some authority. But in certain situations, it is appropriate for you to ask questions to make sure that your recipient of care is receiving what they need.
Keep a Journal/Place for Notes.
Many different tasks, reminders, and appointments will come up in a caregiver’s day. Writing a daily journal of what was done or what needs to get done helps you in executing tasks and helps in providing crucial information to others who also care for your recipient of care.
Why it Matters to Home Care Powered by AUAF
At Home Care Powered by AUAF, we want our caregivers to provide quality care. Quality care comes from mastering various skills, one of which is communication. Communication lays the foundation for all other tasks to be accomplished properly and enhances long-term care. We value being a senior care agency that enhances the quality of life for our care recipients.
Communication is an Essential In-Home Care Skill
Clear communication is one of the many skills you must utilize throughout your time as a caregiver. It will enrich interactions with your care recipient and other in-home care professionals. There won’t be a day when communication isn’t an important aspect of care. That’s why it’s necessary to practice good communication habits and know how to communicate appropriately with different people. If you have any questions at Home Care Powered by AUAF, call us at 773.274.9262.
