Qualities of a Caregiver: What to Look for in Home Healthcare Providers

There are thousands of healthcare providers out there providing care for people in facilities, people at home, or with loved ones. These people can become like part of the family. When looking for one for yourself or for family, the qualities of a caregiver are important.

When you have an entrusted caregiver, you just know there is something about them that makes them special. You feel good about having yourself or your loved one in their care and you know you’re well taken care of.

What caregiver traits make these people so irreplaceable? We’ve rounded up some caregiver qualities that truly set these healthcare providers apart.

Here’s everything you need to know about choosing a home healthcare provider and what traits every great caregiver posses.

How to Choose a Healthcare Provider

The best healthcare provider is one who treats their patients with the same care they would want for themselves or their own family.

According to Healthy People 2020, 23.5% or 98 million people in the United States alone will be over the age of 65 by 2060. This is a huge population that will need quality healthcare in the years to come.

If you’re looking for a healthcare provider there are a few questions and considerations to take into account.

If you’re looking for yourself it may be different than helping another relative. Try and think of the patient and what he or she will need out of a person.

You will also need to factor in whether or not you need care in a home setting, a facility, or with a relative. Personal preference, care needs, location, and budget can all play a role in this decision.

Your decision will often depend on a couple of these factors and there is no right or wrong answer for anyone. Before you begin your search, do your homework, and make a list of values and traits that are most important to you.

Patience

Anyone who is caring for other people needs patience. Patient caregivers know that the only constant in life is change. Changes in schedules, medications, plans, and care can and will happen all the time. A patient caregiver will roll with it and understand.

It is also important for a caregiver to know that their patients may not always be up for these changes. While they may be met with resistance, hesitation, and anxiety, patient caregivers don’t let this shake them.

Attentiveness

Attentiveness is one of the most important parts of being a caregiver. You want a caregiver to give the same attention to your loved one as you would.

A great caregiver will notice little changes in their patients both mentally and physically. You need to know that your care provider will see something that isn’t right and alert you or your doctor or address it.

Attentiveness also means being present emotionally for whatever the person in their care needs. Sometimes this can mean engaging with them a lot or even giving them space if they need it.

Compassion

Compassionate caregivers are crucial. Great caregivers will have empathy for what the patient is going through and will want to help them through hard times. Having compassion means taking the time to really care about what they need.

If accidents happen, hard times, or emotional outbursts, for example, a good caregiver understands this is part of their care and is compassionate even through the rough patches.

Trustworthiness

A caregiver is often in a place or position where they are left alone with your loved one or left alone in a home. You want to make sure you are comfortable with this and also comfortable leaving this person alone in a home with your loved ones, for example.

If you can’t trust that your caregiver won’t steal from you, this isn’t a person you want at home with your family. Valuables and personal information should be respected and safe.

You are trusting this person with a life that is important to you. You not only need to trust that they won’t steal from you, but you also want to make sure you feel confident that your loved one will be safe.

You want to be sure your family is in good hands both physically and mentally. There should be no doubt that your family is in danger or at risk of being hurt.

If your loved one lives in fear, this is something that should be brought up to the police or the healthcare company immediately.

Dependability

A quality caregiver is one you can count on no matter what. This person is someone you are trusting your loved one’s care and time with. If they aren’t dependable, you won’t feel like your family member is being taken care of.

An unreliable healthcare provider leads to a stressful environment for all involved. You want to trust that you can count on the person taking care of your family.

Someone who isn’t dependable might be late all the time, not show up at all, miss deadlines, or forget important aspects of care.

You need to trust that your caregiver is giving medications on time and administering care properly. If they are always forgetting this, you may not feel you can depend on them and that’s a big problem.

Qualities of a Caregiver You Can’t Live Without

You and your family need care you can all rely on. You want to make sure you are getting the care your loved one needs.

Buffalo News explains how proper healthcare in someone’s home can really enhance their quality of life.

There are certain qualities of a caregiver you can’t live without. Reliability, dependability, and compassion are just some of these traits. You want your family in the best care possible and choosing the right healthcare provider will help ensure this.

If you’re ready to work with a healthcare provider for your family member or yourself, fill out the new patient assessment form to get started on this important journey.