Qualities and Skills of a Successful Caregiver
Visiting Angels Living Assistance Service
Mar 17, 2023
Colorado - Western Slope
Caregiving is a growing career option for many Americans looking for rewarding work. It gives people a sense of purpose and lets you see your work’s benefits in real-time. While there are many perks to working as a career, many qualities and skills set successful caregivers apart.
Qualities of a Successful Caregiver
A few innate qualities most caregivers tend to have that help them have a successful career include compassion, empathy, dependability, and drive.
Compassion
One of the top qualities we look for in caregivers is compassion. Compassionate people go out of their way to physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually support others. Someone with compassion is also sensitive to others’ needs and knows how to make people feel comfortable in any situation. As a caregiver, you must put your clients’ needs first and do what’s required to ensure they receive the proper quality care they deserve.
Empathy
Many challenges come with aging; as a caregiver, it’s important to practice empathy when working with clients. There may be days when clients get frustrated with themselves for not being able to do something they once did, and they may take that frustration out on you. Try not to take reactions personally. Instead, put yourself in your clients’ shoes and let them know you understand where they’re coming from and that it’s okay to feel emotional about aging. Sometimes, that small act of empathy is enough to turn the situation around.
Dependability
As a caregiver, you must be dependable. You are responsible for showing up to shifts on time and performing all tasks to the best of your ability. Clients rely on their caregivers to help with daily tasks such as showering, dressing, grooming, and meal preparation. If you are not reliable, your clients likely won’t feel comfortable with you caring for them and may refrain from asking for further assistance when they need it. However, showing up on time and providing quality care builds respect and trust so your clients can feel safe and comfortable in their homes.
Drive
Caregiving is a unique job in that you’re responsible for your work without direct supervision from a manager. When you’re working, it’s only you and your client. You need to have drive and take the initiative to complete your work. You should observe your client and step up and offer assistance without waiting for them to ask or for a care coordinator to ask you.
Skills of a Successful Caregiver
Qualities of a successful caregiver are often something people have or not. The skills of a successful caregiver are learnable and tend to improve as you develop in your role. A few essential skills of a successful caregiver include time management, leadership, and communication skills.
Time Management
One of the benefits of working as a caregiver is the flexibility in scheduling. However, if you have a flexible schedule with non-traditional work hours, you must have good time management skills to ensure you are at each client’s home on time. You also need to utilize your time management skills while working with clients. If you only have a few hours with each client, you should understand how to prioritize tasks and get everything completed in the given time frame.
Leadership
Leadership is about your ability to influence others. As a caregiver, part of your job is helping seniors make healthy and safe choices. If you have good leadership skills, you’ll have an easier time convincing clients to eat more nutritious foods, be more active, or ask for help if they need it. Good leadership skills also help you build trust with your clients because they’ll see you as an expert in their care and feel confident in your ability to help them.
Communication
Communication is about how you share and receive information. As a caregiver, you need to communicate with your clients effectively so they understand your role in their life. Strong communication skills also play an essential role in building relationships. The better you communicate, the easier it’ll be to connect and make a connection with your clients.
Getting Started with Visiting Angels
At Visiting Angels Grand Junction, we’re always looking for compassionate, dedicated caregivers to join our team. We’re hiring part-time and full-time positions to help seniors in Grand Junction and the surrounding communities. A job with Visiting Angels comes with competitive hourly pay, paid training, flexible scheduling, bonus opportunities, and one-on-one client interactions. If you’re interested in starting your caregiving journey, send us your application online or call 970-254-8888.
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Veteran Services 2809 Bunting Avenue Ste B, Grand Junction, Colorado, 81501Visiting Angels is the nation's leading, nationally respected network of non-medical, private duty home care agencies providing senior care, elder care, personal care, respite care and companion care to help the elderly and adults continue to live in their homes across America.
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