Caregiving isn’t an exact science. Likewise, in-home caregiving services aren’t all the same.
If you’re weighing your options, it’s important to remember that every caregiver takes their own approach. The critical part of the process is to keep communication lines open both with your caregiver and with the in-home caregiving staff.
We find the mistakes people complain about the most can usually be cleared up with a quick conversation.
Multiple Caregiver Confusion
If you use round-the-clock care, you’ll have several caregivers providing for your loved one’s needs. Each caregiver will have their their own approach, and it’s natural to prefer one over the other. The key is ensuring they all provide what’s needed the most in a way you desire. So how will you keep all caregivers on target with needs? Who will be the point person for ensuring everything is completed according to the client’s needs and desires? When in doubt, ask. And find a solution both you and your caregiving service can adhere to.
Punctuality
Occasional lateness is human – we all get stuck in traffic once in a while. But continual tardiness can be an inconvenience and have a huge impact on caregiving needs. Instead of silently fuming, address lateness the moment it happens. You can get a pretty good feel for punctuality after a few days. If it appears to be a problem, discuss your concerns with the staff.
Inconsistent Care
We know a lot of caregivers haven’t received the same levels of training. Some in-home caregiving services are merely looking for an individual they can send out on a job. Other services spend the time prequalifying potential caregivers using many different criteria. How is the service you’re considering evaluating their caregivers? Do they update their skills? Do they require further training? It’s okay to ask what skill sets a caregiver has and how they approach further advancement.
Cultural Differences
We all have certain ways of saying things and different standards for cooking our meals. It’s a family thing. It’s a cultural thing. And sometimes caregivers do things their way – it’s what they’re used to. Staying silent only exacerbates the situation. If you have needs and desires, voice them from the beginning.
In-home caregiving is more than just caregiving; it’s the start of an intimate relationship. And like any relationship, good communication is mandatory.
Are you thinking about using in-home caregiving for your loved one? The best place to start is with a complimentary consultation.
1 thought on “Is Your In-Home Caregiver Making These Mistakes?”