Professional and good caregivers do more than just care for your elderly parents or loved ones. They also become almost part of the family. Elderly caregivers nurture, care for, interact, and bond with the elderly as well as their families.
Now, if you’re one of those in need of a good caregiver, taking a look at these qualities may help you make up your mind.
Top 10 Qualities of a Good Caregiver
- Empathetic. Caregivers must not only understand the patient, they must also put themselves in their shoes. A good caregiver must try to understand what their patient is going through.
- Patient. Dealing with an elderly can be challenging. A good caregiver can be a blessing, but most of the time, it’s about them handling the many challenges of elderly care and succeeding with patience and understanding.
- Flexible. A good caregiver must allow himself or herself to adjust to the different needs and moods of his or her charge.
- Attentive. He or she must listen and watch out for cues to see what the elderly needs and then respond promptly.
- Dedicated. Caregivers who are happy and passionate about their job are dedicated. They will not balk at challenges but instead face them with a positive disposition.
- Creative. Engaging the attention of the elderly to keep their minds sharp is important. A good caregiver can think of many ways to do this and come up with many activities that empower and interest the elderly.
- Putting the patient first. He or she knows that the needs of the elderly patient comes first and ensures that these are met.
- Dependable. The elderly and family can count on a good caregiver to be there whenever he or she is needed. This gives the family peace of mind that their elderly loved one is taken care of the way he or she should be.
- Trustworthy. This is an indispensable quality in a good caregiver as he or she is entrusted with the care of the patient’s health and safety and is there in the home with the patient.
- Physically fit. A good caregiver takes care of his or her own health. Caring for the elderly can also be physically demanding so he or she should have the stamina and strength to meet the demands.
A good caregiver, simply put, must be professional and is able to accept whatever comes with the job while still treating elderly patients with the dignity and respect they deserve.