Adapted from Episode 5 of The Caregiven Podcast
If you’re considering extra care for your aging loved one, one of the first questions you should ask is “What makes a great caregiver?”
Finding the right caregiver is the most important piece of the puzzle when it comes to in-home care. This week we wanted to give our opinion on the 5 most important traits a caregiver should possess.
Compassion
Compassion is the most important trait every caregiver should have. This is a non-negotiable if you’re evaluating a new caregiver. We encounter so many challenging situations where we as a caregivers need to have grace. Compassion ensures that we can provide unconditional love to those we care for.
Grit
Grit can be the biggest tool for a caregiver. Some days are just tough and there’s nothing else but pushing through that you can do. It’s crucial that we as caregivers practice our mental toughness and become calm even under the most stressful situations. Even when most would throw in the towel, a great caregiver preserver through any challenge.
listening
Listening is what sets apart the good from the great. Most can argue that without being a great listener, it’s impossible to achieve compassion. Either way, being able to listen to someone’s story or understand their pain can help inform them as a caregiver. Many times, you can tell when someone they’re caring for is off or acting strange just by listening to how they talk. This can be their best friend as your problem solve throughout your day.
Compartmentalizing
Compartmentalizing will need to become second nature. Being able to leave work at work and home at home is the only way to be present both with their patients or clients and with their family. It’s easy to blend the two and use them as fodder for small talk but blending these two worlds can quickly turn into feeling as if they are always working and never “off the clock”. Be sure they have routines that reset them mentally before you come home and before they get to work.
big hearts
Having a big heart is the foundation of caregiving. Having enough love for everyone is what makes caregivers truly unique. It’s not easy for everyone to give as much of themselves away as caregivers do. If a caregiver only thinks about what’s in it for them, chances are they aren’t going to provide the level of care that their patient or client needs.
While there are many other traits a caregiver should possess, this is a good starting point when determining if your caregiver is the right fit for your loved one.
Do you have other traits that you look for? Share with us in the EPAGA Care and Share Group with the things YOU look for in a caregiver.