It’s a fact of life; nobody can get along with everybody. So how can you achieve a high level of compatibility with your new home caregiver?
Start By Building A Good Foundation
We think it’s important to start off on the right foot. That’s why we offer an introductory first meeting with a caregiver called a “meet & greet”. This is usually an in-person meeting, although we also provide these meetings by Facetime or Zoom. The introduction is a great way to test your comfort level of having another individual in your home, and your compatibility with your possible new caregiver. During this introduction, it is important to establish your expectations. Our company provides certified nursing assistants (CNAs) and home health aides (HHAs) that assist with the activities of daily living (ADLs) such as hands-on or stand by assistance with bathing or showering, dressing, toileting, ambulation, transfers, grooming, feeding; medication reminders; light housekeeping and laundry; errands; driving to appointments; and meal preparation. There may be services on this list that you feel more comfortable having a specific caregiver perform for you more than others. For example, we have come across past female clients who prefer a female caregiver to assist them with showering and dressing.
Communicate
Communication with Collier Home Care is critical, as it helps us in finding the best possible caregiver to match your needs. Do you use a CPAP machine or an oxygen tank? Do you suffer from Parkinson’s Disease or Alzheimer’s Disease? What are your challenges during the day or evening? What personality type do you feel more comfortable around? Do you prefer someone quiet and reserved or someone who likes to converse? Make sure you let our office know so that we are sending you a qualified caregiver who can confidently and adequately take care of your or your loved one’s needs. If you like the caregiver, chances are he or she will feel more appreciated and comfortable in your home. When this occurs, we often find that clients are more receptive to the care provided.
Communication between client and caregiver is also a great way to establish rapport and build a strong partnership. In the event that a client feels there is an issue, we encourage the client to talk to their caregiver in a calm, gentle manner, discussing what they felt was done wrong, and how it can be avoided in the future. As many of our clients or their loved ones are initially hesitant about home care, we try to express to them that mistakes will occur, but that giving constructive criticism instead of negative remarks can build a positive relationship that lasts years to come.
Be Respectful
It is very important for a caregiver to respect their clients. This includes respecting their privacy and their homes. It is equally important for clients to respect their caregiver(s). Caregiving can sometimes be a thankless job, and it is important to show your appreciation for people that show so much care by going the extra mile every single day. Let us know when your caregiver(s) has done something great and has gone above and beyond. This gives our office a chance to reach out to your caregiver(s) and tell them what a wonderful job they are doing, and even show our appreciation for their work.
Additionally, be aware that although your caregiver is devoted to you or your loved one’s care during their shift, remember that your caregiver does have loved ones themselves, and should not be expected to answer unnecessary calls or text messages off-hours.
Should there be an emergency, Collier Home Care’s administrative staff is on call 24/7 to help by calling our main office line (239) 920-3902.
Collier Home Care strives to provide excellent service to all of our clients, and we are elated when we are able to help foster a relationship between our clients and caregivers that last a lifetime. Call our office today at (239) 920-3902 to see if we can help you find your perfect match!