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As your elderly loved one ages, the idea of getting a helping hand to assist with their in-home care becomes more and more appealing. Having a professional by your side can give you the reassurance that you are doing your best for your older relative.
But you might be wondering, how can they help? And what does a senior care service worker actually do day in, day out?
Tasks a Senior Care Worker Can Help With
When considering care for an elderly loved one, there is a gray area surrounding the tasks a senior care worker can actually help with. Whilst you want to get the best possible care for your nearest and dearest, you also don’t want to overstep the mark and appear overly demanding.
In order to achieve a balanced working relationship with the care worker you hire, you need to know what they can help with. Here are the typical tasks a senior care service worker can carry out.
Personal Care
A sensitive topic, but one that is an important issue as we age. Personal care includes bathing, incontinence/ toileting, and dressing, and is not a task that all elderly individuals feel comfortable entrusting to family members. This is where a professional can step in and help, minimizing embarrassment with a kindly, tactful approach.
Mobility
For some, getting around the house safely is as much of a challenge as navigating the outdoors. If movement, walking, and even getting out of bed and chairs are a problem, a senior care service worker can physically support the individuals. They are trained to safely lift and move elderly people to reduce the risk of trips, slips, and falls.
Companionship
Senior care isn’t just about assisting with physical problems. There are emotional and cognitive issues that need addressing as we age. Your elderly loved one may find themselves increasingly restricted to their home, or their circle of friends is becoming ever smaller. A care worker ensures they do not feel isolated and get the mental stimulation they require.
Encourage Independence
Feeling alone can have an impact on our mental and physical health, but also losing our sense of independence can have an adverse effect too. A care worker is not there to do it all for an individual, but more to assist with daily tasks and support an elderly person living independently in their own home.
What Skills and Qualities Do Care Workers Require?
Now that you are aware of what a senior care service worker can do, you are ready to make the next step in the hiring process. But what skills and qualities should you look for in a care worker? Carers should demonstrate the following competencies and traits.
Communication Skills
Being able to strike up a rapport with the care receiver and their family is an important quality. After all, care should be personalized, and a clear channel for communication needs to be established in order to ensure it stays that way.
Understanding
Having an empathetic nature is an essential attribute for someone working in the care sector. Seniors needing care are often vulnerable and require a tactful approach and a good level of understanding. Along with being understanding, a carer should be patient and calm.
Observation and Awareness
A carer typically spends many hours of the day with the person being cared for, and so are the first port of call, should anything go awry. By possessing keen observation skills and demonstrating awareness, the initial signs of a health problem can be spotted before the issue escalates. Carers also keep a record, noting down any significant changes or areas for concern.
First Aid Certification
Being a certified first aider is a basic requirement for carers, and can be invaluable in case of an emergency. Should your elderly loved one have specific health issues, you may want to consider a carer who specializes in that type of care. For example, a specialist in-home dementia carer can better understand the needs of a person with dementia.
Organization and Time Management
Running a home can be a considerable undertaking and requires on point organization and time management skills. Therefore a carer should be able to self-manage their daily tasks in order to successfully care for your loved one.
How Senior Care Service Workers Make a Difference
Senior care service workers can make a big difference when it comes to the relationship between a care receiver and their relatives.
Enlisting the help of a care worker can take the pressure off. This means that you can spend quality time with your elderly loved one, chatting and enjoying the moment, without rushing around to manage their daily care.
By allowing a care worker to take the reins, both you and your loved one can benefit from complete peace of mind. No matter how much you love them, nothing quite beats the professionalism and expertise of professional care.
