Improving Patient – Caregiver First Impressions

Getting a caregiver for your ailing loved one is a significant undertaking. You require a lot of preparations to ensure that everything goes smoothly. And that includes helping loved ones get accustomed to a home health caregiver. That can be one of the more challenging areas, as there will always be some form of resistance. For that, providers of home health care in California give a strategy guide on how you can effectively get them closer to their caregivers. 

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Understanding Why Patients Resist Home Health Caregivers

To be clear, not every patient is resistant to external caregivers. Some can even adapt to them right on the first day. However, some patients can be at least hesitant about the arrival of a new caregiver in their homes.

Understanding where this hesitation and potential resistance come from will help you plan out better how to introduce the caregiver to them. Various reasons may lead to this, with the following being the most common. 

Anxiety 

One thing that has always worried patients, especially seniors, is their loss of independence. They can take the entry of an outsider caregiver as a sign of that. Often, they fear that the caregiver would be more strict than their family members. 

On the other hand, they might also be worried about burdening their loved ones. They might perceive the entry of the caregiver as their loved ones asking for help because they can’t do it anymore. Because of that, the patient might attempt to show that they can take care of themselves. 

Pride

More than an issue of independence, some patients might take it as hitting their dignity. That is particularly the case with senior patients who will be cared for by younger people. After all, they have spent their lives taking care of their children. For them, the role reversal might look like a sign of weakness in front of their children.

Mental Health Issues

The above two reasons are normal behavior that you can readily resolve. However, the resistance to a new caregiver might be due to a mental condition that patients might be suffering from. These situations will require greater attention on your part to help 

Alzheimer’s and dementia are of particular note here, especially when dealing with older patients. Due to their inability to retain short-term memory, they might have a hard time trying to recall the names of people they encounter. That can make it harder for them to connect with a new caregiver. 

Depression is another common mental disorder that can affect how well a patient connects with a new caregiver. This is the case if the patient experienced a major life event, such as the loss of a relative. They will often become unmotivated and withdrawn from social life. 

Home Health in California FAQ

How You Can Effectively Introduce A New Home Health Caregiver To Your Loved One

Based on the above reasons, you can determine what approach would best suit your introduction to the new caregiver. Here, your goal is to break the initial ice between your loved one and the caregiver. 

In this case, you would want to bring in the topic of a new caregiver to them even before the latter arrives. Find a time when they are most relaxed and begin the discussion. Start by asking what their preferences are when it comes to caregiving. That helps them feel more in control of their situation, lessening their resistance to the new caregiver. 

However, you should also manage their expectations. Consider what type of care your family and the provider can deliver. Compare it with the above expectations. You can then explain what is happening and what they need to expect. Be patient here, as your loved one might become uneasy when they find out that there might be changes. 

Meeting The Caregiver

Once you have talked to your loved one about the situation, it is time to meet their potential caregivers. Many providers of home health care in California like Amavi let you do this as part of the consultations before the service starts. 

Use this opportunity to see if the would-be caregiver and your loved one can hit it off. A short conversation will help both sides to gauge that. You can also talk more with the caregiver so that they have a better understanding of your loved one’s condition and preferences. 

You can also request a trial run from the provider. In this case, the designated caregiver will stay for a few days with you and assist with the caregiving work. Once your loved one gives the go signal, you can then have the caregiver come in to assume full responsibility. 

Ensuring A Proper Transition

Whether this is the first time your loved one will be under the care of an outside caregiver or switching caregivers, you need to ensure a proper transition. With the latter, you should overlap the old and new caregiver services for the first few days. 

Here, the original caregiver will handle most of the duty, while the new caregiver just visits. As the days go on, there is a gradual witching until the new caregiver is taking the lead. Be sure to inform your loved ones about this so they will not be confused. 

Improving Patient-Caregiver Relationship

Introducing your loved one to a new caregiver is just the start. You also need to make the effort to get both sides closer to each other. Observe how they interact during the first few weeks and note any activities they both like to do. 

Meanwhile, observe potential areas of friction. Talk to both your loved one and the caregiver to determine what might be causing the issue. Helping both sides remedy this will contribute to strengthening their relationship. 

Treatment of Elderly Sickness Hospice

Give Your Loved One The Best Home Health Care Services In California

Changing to a new caregiver is not an easy period. But with the right approach, your loved ones can quickly get accustomed to their new companions. And with the best home health care services in California, they can feel more secure. Contact us today for consultations. 

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