Success as a caregiver is a combination of elements that involve the best care for others and yourself. When you develop best practices that become rituals, everyone wins. These include communication, time management, self-care to avoid burnout, patience, compassion, and more.

<p>Success as a caregiver is a combination of elements that involve the best care for others and yourself. When you develop best practices that become rituals, everyone wins. These include communication, time management, self-care to avoid burnout, patience, compassion, and more.</p><h2>1. Communication</h2><p>As a caregiver, you are in someone’s home, immersed in their life and the lives of their family. You may be communicating with family members about the participant’s care, and it is crucial to be approachable and listen. This could be a trying period for family, and knowing they have you as a resource can be very comforting. This also builds up trust and mutual respect.</p><p>As we know, family can be overwhelming, however, this is about their loved one, and as the caregiver, you can provide support and put everyone at ease. When communicating with a participant who may be elderly or sick, eye contact, speaking slowly, and using easy-to-understand language is essential and creates a positive patient experience.</p><h2>2. Time Management</h2><p>Managing time professionally and personally is a large piece of the success puzzle. As a caregiver, you have an extensive to-do list, which may include meal prep, errands like stocking the fridge and picking up medications, housekeeping, personal care, and more. There is also part of the day you should set aside for conversation and companionship.</p><p>To avoid being overwhelmed, create schedules that allow everything to get done as best as possible. You could do all your errands in one day or make a laundry schedule while your participant is napping. That said, be practical and willing to change at a moment’s notice. As with anything, things change, and you must act accordingly.</p><p>Even though you spend much of your time caring for someone else, you also have your own life and family to manage. Self-care definitely becomes more difficult, but it is imperative.</p><p>Always schedule moments for yourself, whether you enjoy walking with friends, having a family dinner, or whatever helps you relax and feel ready to conquer your days.</p><p>Balancing your personal and professional life can be challenging, but success is around the corner when you concentrate on staying organized. Being organized with your day, trying to plan out what it looks like, and knowing to expect the unexpected can give you a realistic view of when and how you can get things done.</p><h2>3. Patience</h2><p>Patience is a must. It can be challenging to maintain tolerance when yours is tested daily. When working with an elderly participant, it may be hard for them to give up control of what they cannot do anymore. Tasks will take longer, and explanations may be confusing and need to be repeated. Give them the time and space they need, along with compassion. Someone who is patient and understanding will create a better atmosphere, preventing everyone from being overwhelmed.</p><p>It is imperative not to take things personally. If a participant is frustrated because they are struggling with basic everyday functions that used to be easy, allow them to feel how they feel. They may take their frustrations and anger on you, which can be tough, but unfortunately, it is a reality. Maintaining your composure, showing empathy, and understanding their emotions, will show you care.</p><h2>4. Training and Support</h2><p>To provide the best care to participants, constantly keeping up with training and education is paramount. Cross Country Workforce Solutions Group offers initial and annual training that is conveniently online and available in four languages.</p><ul><li>Topics such as safe lifting, infection control, and how to use our internal scheduling software are addressed in training.</li><li>After hire, site coordinators support caregivers by matching them to participants based on their skills and preferences and checking in on those assignments to ensure it’s a good fit.</li><li>Caregivers can also contact their site coordinator for support regarding difficult conversations with family members or advice on handling participant behaviors.</li><li>Cross Country hosts caregiver appreciation events so they can feel connected to the staff and other caregivers.</li><li>Cross Country partners with local organizations to offer caregivers specialized training free of charge.</li><li>Alzheimer’s LA offers Los Angeles area caregivers classes on recognizing and handling the changing behaviors of participants with Alzheimer’s or dementia.</li></ul><p>As shown below, all new hires and current in-home caregivers require specific certifications, testing, and training.</p><p><img src="https://cdn.builder.io/api/v1/image/assets%2Fec23c65f480b4f8699dc832816bf2973%2Fc06b1900f7824010930a877b08c7de21" width="100%"></p><h2>5. A Positive Attitude</h2><p>Each time you walk into a new participant’s home, there is a different atmosphere to learn and adjust to. You may be walking into confusion, sadness, discontentment, and family tension. Positivity is a necessity. As you start and build your relationship, your participant and family members look to you for answers and a friendly smile.</p><p>There will be days filled with frustration where you feel anything but positive or much like smiling, however, just like a child is always watching a parent’s behavior and reactions, this situation is similar. Feeling defeated can be normal, but positivity breeds positivity, even on the most demanding days.</p><p>If you are new, you will quickly learn how to balance your caregiver job and personal life. If you have been in the role for a while, you know what works for one participant, family, and household, may not work for another.</p><p>These practices will help you thrive at your job and give yourself the attention you need.</p><p><a href="https://workforcesolutionsgroup.com/caregivercareers/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Click to learn</a> more about becoming a home caregiver or exploring available openings.</p>

5 Best Practices of Highly Successful In-home Caregivers