Caregiver Archives - Washington Home Care Association

Tips for a Caregiver-Client Match Made in Heaven

The best caregiver-client matches take place when the client and caregiver easily form a bond based on their comfort in each other’s’ presence, along with shared interests, hobbies, and past times. The more you do proactively create lists and ideas of who the ideal caregiver would be.

Prospective agencies will be thrilled to review it during your in-home consultations because it’s a great cheat sheet for them to use as they choose potential “best candidates” for the job.

1. Meet with more than one caregiver before making your final selection

Often, families approach caregiving agencies in crisis – the broken hip just happened, the dementia diagnosis made late in the game, etc. – and they need immediate support. Even so, it’s worth taking a bit of extra time to meet with at least two or three different agencies before making your selection.

All of the agencies should offer free consultations, and all should use continuous background checks, DMV reports, and provide proof of continued education/training offered to employees. Even so, each has their own personality or feel, and being able to compare apples-to-apples lends more conviction to your final choice.

Bonus find: see if the caregivers are using current technology – like a web-based home care system. These systems allow access to real-time reports from the caregiver about the client’s wellbeing or temperament that day, services rendered, things that may require attention, etc.

2. Start with the broader categories of needs

Which services are the ones your loved one is looking for? In-home caregivers are humans, and we all have our strengths and weaknesses, right? And, since many caregivers have spouses or families at home – their preferred work days and times are typically prioritized by their household’s calendar and schedule.

· Do you need daytime or nighttime support?

· Part-time or full-time caregiving?

· Is it respite care only?

· Is it mostly for companionship and transportation, or will your parent or spouse require meal preparation and housekeeping, too?

Knowing which caregiving services are the priority will streamline communication with your caregiver agency. Of course, these services and hours will evolve, and that will be taken into the long-term care plan as well.

3. List the client’s favorite hobbies, pastimes, or regularly scheduled events

Does your mother attend religious services on a regular basis? Is your father a sharp card player? Does your loved one enjoy volunteering in the community or getting outdoors on a regular basis? Is there a pet or two that will benefit from attention and daily walks?

The more the agency knows about the things the client enjoys, the better chance they have of pairing your loved one with a caregiver who genuinely enjoys the same things. It’s hard to fake your love of Gin Rummy, and it’s not a good idea to learn a caregiver is allergic to – or afraid of – dogs during the first week on the job. Providing that list of “likes” – and “don’t likes” – helps agencies choose the right caregivers the first time around.

Are you ready to connect your loved one with a caregiver “match made in heaven?” Contact us here at the Washington Home Care Association. We connect people like you with vetted, experienced home care agencies in your area, and we’re the go-to resource for Washington home care agencies looking for employee education, training, connection and advocacy.

So, you’ve decided to enlist an in-home care agency to help your relative manage day-to-day tasks. If your loved one has been struggling, this is a great decision. But as the gatekeeper between the agency and your relative, it’s your job to make the transition easier and set the home care agency and their managed caregiver up for success. This generally boils down to effective communication.

Begin By Setting Clear Expectations

Sit down with the agency and discuss the type of care that’s needed from the agency caregiver. Will the caregiver be expected to be on call overnight? How many errands and outside tasks does your relative need done each week? And what type of medical considerations does your relative have that may affect the caregiver’s ability to complete these tasks? Line out each of these issues ahead of time so there are no surprises.

Create a “Personality Diagnosis”

Nobody knows your relative better than you. If your loved one is struggling with common issues like dementia or other types of mental degeneration, you’ll be well aware of how erratic their moods can be. Let the in-home care agency know about these issues ahead of time by creating a personality diagnosis for them:

· Pertinent medical issues;

· Day-to-day moods;

· History of depression, aggression, or confusion;

· Common problems that may trigger mood swings.

You won’t be able to predict everything, but this type of rundown can be a great way to prepare the agency and agency caregiver on what to expect.

Keep Information Readily Available

Naturally, you’ll want to keep all necessary information available to the agency so that they can communicate with the managed caregiver:

· List and schedule for medications;

· Standard and emergency contact numbers;

· List of food allergies, sensitivities, and intolerances;

· Medical providers and nearby clinics;

· Preferences for food or activities;

· Unique challenges or issues affecting your loved one.

Particularly in the early stages of your in-home agency and caregiver relationship, these resources will help get the agency and managed caregiver familiar with your relative and ease the transition for both sides.

Be Up Front About Your Concerns

You’re having some trouble caring for your relative, and that’s okay. It’s the whole reason you’re hiring in-home help, after all. But make sure you let the in-home care agency know about these concerns ahead of time—even if the concerns are about the caregiver him/herself!

Your goal is to make the transition as easy as possible for both your relative and the in-home care agency, a process that goes down much more smoothly when everyone is direct and asks questions as needed.

Document Everything

When working with in-home care agencies, it’s important to document everything that happens. Of course, this means documenting records of medication intake and schedules for when your agency caregiver is on call, but it also means documenting episodes of confusion, daily food intake, medical concerns from day-to-day, and any other information that’s out of the ordinary.

Above All, Listen!

Don’t forget to listen to the feedback your in-home care agency caregiver provides! This relationship should be a two-way street where you both feel comfortable sharing issues. After some time, you’ll likely find your agency caregiver has identified particular problems or day-to-day challenges that you didn’t anticipate.

Work with the agency and caregiver on these problems and try to improve your relationship every day. This is the best way to improve the quality of care for your loved one—and to ensure that you, your relative, and the in-home care agency and caregiver are all happy with your new arrangement.

Connecting Your Loved One With a Caregiver