Carers who provide homecare should be punctual and consistent. They should also be able to keep their residents’ information confidential.
A great carer will be observant and notice anything out of the ordinary for their client. Being able to recognise early warning signs is invaluable and has saved lives on many occasions.
Positive Attitude
Maintaining a positive attitude is essential for caregivers. Caregivers with a positive attitude are generally in a happier mood and can put their service users at ease. They will smile and be cheerful, and they will treat their service users with dignity and respect.
Negativity can be a result of fatigue, stress and burnout. Caregivers can combat negative feelings by ensuring that they get enough rest and exercise. They can also seek out a support group or family and friends who lift them up, rather than bringing them down.
The MHN’s unconditional positive attitude, empathic understanding of the caregivers’ internal frame of reference and trusting relationship helped them to place their negative experiences into perspective. This allowed them to regain their sense of control and self-worth as significant people.
Respectful of the Customer
Homecare is a service business and satisfaction with the customer is key. Satisfaction leads to loyalty, recommendations and even a willingness to pay more. Carers often work with a client at their most vulnerable, so it’s important that they are respectful and kind. They must also be able to empathise with their clients’ needs, fears and concerns in order to offer the best possible service. This requires patience, a caring nature and a personality that complements the client’s.
Reliable
Carers are responsible for a customer’s wellbeing, so they have to be reliable in everything that they do. This includes being punctual, maintaining a consistent presence and providing unwavering support to their customers.
A good carer will also be able to pick up on the little things that can indicate something is wrong with their customer. For example, if they seem to be repeating themselves, moving gingerly or even appear withdrawn, then this should be reported and followed up.
Large homecare agencies like Nurses Group Homecare will have processes in place to deal with emergencies, demonstrating their reliability. They will also have a local presence and reputation to protect, which will build trust with their customers. This is especially important when dealing with vulnerable people who rely on others for their daily living needs.
Compassionate
A true carer will be empathetic towards their clients and show they have a genuine interest in them as individuals. This is important as a carer may be spending long periods of time with their clients and will need to be able to understand them on a personal level.
They will also be able to recognise when they have made a mistake and will try their best to rectify it. This is especially important in a caring profession where it’s essential to be honest with customers so they can feel valued and respected.
A trustworthy homecare agency will also ensure that all of their employees are well-trained and have the skills required to handle any unexpected situations that arise during their shifts. This will also provide a high level of satisfaction for their clients and help them to trust the agency.
Dedicated
A dedicated carer is someone who is devoted to their aims and vocation, like the dedicated volunteers at an animal shelter who work hard. They also have a strong sense of commitment to their job and are always present when they say they will be – which is important because many service users need consistency.
Carers often find themselves dealing with customers who are at their most vulnerable, and they need to be able to handle situations calmly while respecting the customer’s dignity. They need to be observant and be able to pick up on the little things that might indicate a problem such as repeating themselves, moving gingerly or seeming withdrawn. This means being able to speak up if they notice something that is not quite right.Trusted & reliable Carers