When you take on the role of a caregiver for an elderly adult, there are several things to consider.
To effectively care for your patients as a caregiver, it is essential for you to be knowledgeable about the actions you should and should not take at work. The responsibility can appear comprehensive, so it might be helpful to break it down into a simple list of suggestions.
To assist you, Teman Malaysia, a safe and personalized care companion service provider serving Kuala Lumpur and other local states, has put together a quick run-through list of the dos and don’ts for elderly care.
What You Should Do?
As a caregiver, you must be dependable in all manner of ways. The key to demonstrating your level of dependability in your caregiving work is to keep in mind the following reminders:
Educate Yourself
It is essential for you to always learn about the physical and mental conditions of the elderly that you are caring for. Especially for elderlies who are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or some other form of dementia.
Talk and get consulted with your care recipient’s family and other health professionals involved in your elderlies’ treatment and care for information.
It is much better for you and your care recipients to be able to anticipate demands rather than attempting to respond to them without knowledging their backgrounds.
Be Respectful
You must always respect the confidentiality and privacy of your care recipients. This can be achieved by simply doing what makes them feel comfortable, such as shutting the doors when getting dressed, allowing them to decide what to eat, or listening to their worries.
Carry A Positive Attitude
Having positivity in yourself can influence how you approach everything you do. Although you may not have control of what happens to you, you can adjust how you react.
Keep in mind that you are there to make their lives better and less difficult. Never forget to brighten your care recipients up by beaming them with your smile.
Be A Companion
You’re not just there to help your care recipient with daily chores of household and hygiene but also there to give them company.
Be more than what is required of you by your responsibility. Be down to earth, gentle, and offer an ear to listen more than you do. Take note of their actions to learn what they enjoy and what they do not. Try to be more than a caregiver.
With this, it will establish a swift and understanding relationship with them.
Establish A Routine
Elderlies tend to recall events from decades ago but are unable to call back what just happened a minute ago.
Set up a routine that includes grooming, taking prescriptions, dressing, eating, and other activities like taking a walk, listening to music, or having them listen to reading materials. Familiarity can lessen confusion, diversion, and frustrations.
What Should You Not Do?
Caregivers should take responsibility for protecting and maintaining the care recipients’ social, emotional, and physical well-being. And by that you should be mindful with everything that you do and avoid the following mistakes:
Leaving Them Alone
Accidents may occur anytime at any place. This is why you should never leave your care recipient all by themselves. You should remain by their side and watch them closely.
Do Not Go Beyond the Boundary
As a caregiver, you must be aware of your limitations. Your care recipient’s family concerns are insignificant to you. Never ignore their requests for privacy.
You must always stay out of their personal or family affairs since they are none of your concerns. It protects you from a lot of unanticipated problems.
Using Physical Force
You might find yourself in situations where your patients are being tested in certain circumstances as a caregiver. These are the circumstances where your care recipients refuse to cooperate while you are doing your responsibilities.
They might find it difficult to understand you as their caregiver. You must remain calm and maintain your composure when you ended up in these situations and make sure that no verbal or physical force is used.
Being Quickly Provoked
You should be prepared for the time when you will encounter a difficult patient who will refuse or ignore your aid. You must learn how to take control of the circumstances and think of alternative ways to convince your patient to accept your assistance.
Do Not Argue with Your Patient
An elderly diagnosed with dementia can make the situation become unpredictable. Something as petty as a misplaced item might be resolute to rage, violence, and irrational emotional swings.
Although it may be tempting to equally respond to the care recipient’s rants, it is one of the worst things you can do as a caregiver.
Backing away from the situation can save you from unnecessary troubles. To be fair and firm, you must stand your ground if the safety of the care recipient is at risk.
Conclusion
In order to effectively care for the elderly as a caregiver, it is crucial for you to be aware of the workplace behaviors you should and should not engage in.
It is important for you to be knowledgeable about your care recipient’s conditions, and how you can engage them correctly in certain circumstances while taking your responsibility as a caregiver.
There are also things you should avoid when caring for your care recipient as there will be challenging times and situations where your composure and integrity are tested.
