“There are four kinds of people:
those who will become caregivers,
those who are caregivers,
those who were caregivers,
and those who will need caregiving themselves.”
– Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter
More often than not, the people who do the behind-the-scenes work are overlooked. They are the ones that hold the pieces together and make things look like they’re going to be fine. In the case of Assisted Living, Caregivers are these people. They are the ones that hold it together for the families and residents that they serve. They are the ones that pour their heart and souls out every day to make sure everyone is taken care of.
We want Caregivers to know they are greatly appreciated. November is National Family Caregivers Month, but we want to remember to appreciate them daily. As we take time to appreciate them, we also want lend a hand and give them some advice when it comes to becoming a new Caregiver. Here are three tips that can help a Caregiver get started:
- Learn about the person’s medical condition or diagnosis:
When you are first becoming a Caregiver, you want to learn as much as you can about someone’s diagnosis and/or medical condition. This will better equip you to take care of them and also equip you for any future situations. Above all, you will be able to help the family understand the diagnosis. The families learn to trust you when you are spending time with their loved ones. They want to rest assured that you are knowledgeable about their loved one and their family.
- Invite family and close friends to come together and discuss the needed care:
Everyone wants to be involved. The family wants to know that they are taking the right steps when it comes to their loved one’s best interest. The best thing you can do is to keep them in the loop and teach them everything they might need to know. You may even to have them present when discussing their loved one’s needed care in order to keep them informed. These are big decisions, and oftentimes, they will want to feel included. This can be the most crucial part of your job. This makes family feel important in their time of uncertainty and heartache.
- Take care of yourself:
Most importantly, you have to take care of yourself FIRST. You cannot take care of someone else effectively if you have nothing to give. Make sure your cup is full before you spend time pouring it out. If you have an empty cup, spend some time refilling it and taking care of yourself. Caregiving can take a toll mentally and physically. Try your best to establish healthy boundaries and make time for yourself. These people want the best care for their loved ones, and that begins with you taking care of yourself above all.
Caregiving takes a special person. Caregivers are people that are willing to give up time with their own loved ones to take care of someone else’s. They are the ones that spend the most quality time with your loved one listening to stories and being there for them when they are needed.
Thank you to all of the Caregivers out there. We want you to know that you are appreciated and valued. Your hard work does not go unnoticed.