Ottawa Senior Home Care in Ottawa
Creating a meaningful bond between caregiver and client
Home care is such an intimate experience as a senior. You are inviting a stranger into your home to assist you with the most intimate aspects of your life. The beginning stages of home care can be awkward and uncomfortable for all those involved, but as the relationship develops the caregiver coming in to provide home care can start to feel like family. There are some tips to help create that meaningful bond;
CLEAR COMMUNICATION
Communication is key and the stepping stone to any relationship. In home care you can experience some hurdles in communicating in certain situations such as language barriers, symptoms of Dementia/Alzheimer’s and hearing issues. It is imperative to have patience, be clear with your words and be active in your listening. This might mean to always communicate face to face while providing home care and not trying to speak from a distance or another room. Be aware of your tone and their mood, it may not be the best time to have a specific conversation that can wait until later.
ACTIVE LISTENING
Accepting home care is not a simple decision. Having someone in your home is not always ideal. This is where active listening becomes so important; to listen to them and their desires. Home care can be so beneficial for the aging senior, but it is important to ensure they are comfortable in their own home. Actively listening to their thoughts, concerns and desires rather than dismissing them will help create that meaningful bond that beautifully blossoms in this environment.
PROMOTING INDEPENDENCE, DIGNITY & RESPECT
Being accepting of home care as a senior is a difficult process that comes with many emotions. It is important as someone providing home care to understand your clients physical limitations but not to focus on their ailments, but rather on them as a multi-dimensional human being. Patience is key in allowing them to still do the things they are able to with little to no assistance to allow them to maintain some control in their life and home. While you may not always be able to follow through with their wishes, such as enforcing medications or going to appointments, it must always be done with kindness and compassion. Allowing them to express their emotions and apprehension and having conversations on the importance of such things to keep them as healthy as possible. Giving them time and explanations will show that their home care provider is giving them love, respect and understanding.
OBSERVE & LEARN
The best way to create a meaningful bond as a home care provider is to get to know your client! Learning more about them will create connection and help you drastically on more challenging days. Home care observations can be vital in identifying new issues and challenges in their physical and mental health as well as what they can accomplish on their own. Knowing how to soothe and redirect your client during challenging times can be extremely beneficial in the client and home care provider bond. Coming with solutions and suggestions you know they will enjoy and be open to show your client your continued support and compassion and encourage their feelings of being loved, understood and respected.
Providing home care for seniors requires patience and compassion. Communicating clearly, practicing active listening and getting to know your clients can ensure a meaningful bond is created where the client feels heard, understood and supported entirely. This bond will ease their stigma of asking for help when they need it now and in the future. As a home care provider, you are often accepted as part of the extended family of the client you care for especially the longer your relationship spans. The initial interactions are imperative to fostering this relationship which will continue to grow in connection, respect and admiration.
OTTAWA RESOURCES
The City of Ottawa has programs and online tools to give you access to relevant information for yourself as a home care provider and for the seniors in your care.
The Royal Ottawa provides counseling services for family and caregivers alike and has many tools and resources to assist with you and your clients emotional well-being.
https://www.theroyal.ca/patient-care-information/family-caregivers
Western Ottawa Resource Centre offers virtual weekly support programs for all different types of caregivers.
https://wocrc.ca/program/caregiver-support/
Ottawa Public Health has a vast array of services and supports to assist you as a homecare provider as well as information and advice for seniors in your care.
https://www.ottawapublichealth.ca/en/public-health-topics/being-a-caregiver.aspx