Taking care of elderly patients can include challenges like communication barriers and resolving conflicts. Caregivers who have just started out in this profession may face more challenges than those who are experienced. Over here we discuss a few useful tips to help new caregivers understand how they can ensure the elderly patients get quality care.
1. Patience
Having a clear communication plan is important in building a relationship with older patients. And it can take time and the caregivers have to put a lot of efforts. Patience while dealing with elderly patients is the key to building a good relationship with them. When communicating with the patients, the caregivers need to understand the multiple and complex barriers (such as noise level, language barriers, tone of voice and pace of delivery, and lack of time) that are preventing them to communicate properly.
2. Recreational activities to keep them busy
Participating in simple activities can boost the mood of elderly patients. This, sadly, is often overlooked by many caregivers who are relatively new on the job. When planning the daily routine of the patients, including time for activities such as baking, gardening, walking in the garden, reading, or playing cards – as these activities can work wonders for their mood and overall wellbeing.
3. Assisting frail elderly patients while maintaining their dignity
Frail elderly patients are at risk of falling; hence, the caregiver must ensure the patients have access to walking and balance aids and visual/hearing aids. If the patients can manage to do certain tasks independently, let them do the tasks. If they need assistance in doing certain activities such as walking or eating, then the caregiver needs to learn how to assist patients in such conditions without making them feel uncomfortable.
If you are a care home manager or owner and are looking for ways to help your staff focus on providing person-centric care, then reduce the repetitive manual tasks in your care home. One of the ways to do this is to replace the traditional MAR sheets in your care home with a smart alternative – eMAR. It saves your staff’s time in many ways. Learn the benefits of implementing eMAR in your care home here
