Roughly 70% of people will need some form of long-term care during their lives. When your loved ones become part of that majority, making sure they receive the best quality of care possible is your priority. Caregivers—whether they be family caregivers or professional caregivers—are perhaps the single-most important factor in quality of life considerations.
If your family member is looking to receive residential care or in-home care services, prioritize the following qualities that a great caregiver should possess.
What are the 7 Most Important Qualities of a Good Caregiver?
The best caregiver skills may vary depending on a care recipient’s specific needs. That said, the following qualities are generally ones to look for in someone providing caregiving services.
1. Communication Skills
Effective communication skills are an absolute must-have for any potential caregiver. Good communication skills can mean a caregiver truly listens to the person receiving care and can adjust care plans based on changing needs and expectations.
Good communication skills include:
- Active listening, the art of giving a conversational partner full, undivided attention and respect.
- Body language, as certain nonverbal cues can communicate confidence and care while complementing verbal communication.
- Feedback, as communication is a two-way street that sometimes requires clarification and resetting expectations and boundaries.
- Empathy, as empathetic caregivers can understand the emotional needs of their patients.
2. Empathy
Empathy is more than just a part of effective communication; it’s an essential quality you need to put on your checklist when looking for caregivers.
Compassionate caregivers are the difference between good senior care and great senior care. No matter our age, we human beings are emotional and social by nature. That need for emotional support does not decline as we age; in fact, if we need care, that need can increase! That’s why empathy can be a deal breaker when looking at potential caregivers.
Empathetic caregivers can not only attend to your loved one’s medical conditions and personal care needs, but their emotional and social needs as well.
3. A Positive Attitude
One of the most essential qualities of a truly outstanding caregiver is a positive attitude.
It’s no secret that caregiving—both paid and unpaid—can present physical, emotional, and financial challenges. When a job presents challenging situations as often as caregiving does, it’s critical to have a positive outlook to fight caregiver burnout and provide quality care even while under significant stress.
4. Problem-Solving Skills
Difficult situations and caregiving can go hand in hand. A caregiving client’s needs are constantly changing and, if the person has Alzheimer’s disease or similar condition, he or she may become combative. In order to meet the constantly changing unique needs of care recipients, great caregivers must have robust problem-solving skills.
Think of it this way: if an emergency happened with your loved one, wouldn’t you want a caregiver present who can navigate the situation rationally and can take steps to address it, even if the situation is one in which he or she has not personally encountered before?
5. Trustworthiness
Someone might outwardly display all the hallmarks of a good caregiver, but something just doesn’t feel right to you or your family. In these cases, it’s best to trust your gut and choose a caregiver that you trust implicitly. After all, the health and wellness of your loved one is on the line.
You can vet your potential caregivers with a background check of your own or hire from a company that makes them part of their hiring process, like Avista Senior Living.
6. Practices Self-Care
Quality of life for the care recipient is obviously important. An often overlooked part of the caregiving equation, however, is the emotional well-being of the caregiver. A caregiver who values his or her own mental health and practices self-care is one who is more likely to hold off dangerous caregiver burnout and can provide service with a positive attitude.
When vetting potential professional caregivers, you can ask what their hobbies are. Ones who have active hobbies and passions are likely engaged outside their caregiving duties and may practice self-care, helping them have a more holistic and positive outlook on life and their caregiving duties.
Family caregivers who need a break from their caregiving duties may find that respite care is part of their self-care routine. Respite care is senior care that trained healthcare professionals provide in a safe environment, such as a senior living community. It’s ideal for caregivers who need time off from their duties for vacation, healing from an injury, work, or simply a mental health break.
7. Competency
Prior caregiving experience, training, and/or certifications are all important factors to consider when choosing a caregiver for your relative, especially if your loved one lives with a disability or memory loss. A person may be compassionate and trustworthy, but if he or she cannot perform certain caregiving tasks, this person is not a good fit for a caregiving role.
As you search for the right caregiver for your loved one, keep these seven qualities in mind. They can help you sort out the good caregivers from the great caregivers.