VISITING ANGELS FARMINGTON, NM 505-516-1150
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5 Skills Every Caregiver Should Have

5 Skills Every Caregiver Should Have

There are a lot of qualities that make a successful caregiver, such as kindness, compassion, and empathy. These are innate qualities that an individual either has or doesn't. But there are learned skills caregivers should also possess, such as communication, leadership, patience, attention to detail, and problem-solving. 

Communication

Communication is how well you share information so others can easily comprehend it. Good communication skills are also about how well you express your emotions and de-escalate tense situations.

There are two important lines of communication in caregiving that you need to keep open. The first is with clients. When you start working with a client, strong communication skills will help you get to know them and build a trusting relationship. But the communication doesn't stop there. As you grow with your client, you want to continue practicing good communication skills to help them understand how certain care services can benefit them or why you're asking them to do something like exercise or eat healthily. The more you effectively communicate with your clients, the higher the quality of care you can provide. 

The second vital line of communication as a caregiver is your communication with the office staff. Team members who work in the office need to know how care plans progress with each client. Therefore you need to keep good notes, write any required reports, and share necessary information with the office. 

Leadership 

Leadership is about your confidence in your work and how you set an example to inspire others to reach their potential. You want to help your clients make healthy decisions about their lives to continue to live safely at home. If you're a good leader, you can help clients understand why eating healthy food or decluttering their floors is essential for their health. But more than helping them understand, you can inspire them to take action. 

Leadership also puts trust in your client about your ability to provide care. Your client wants to know that they can trust you to help them groom or drive them to appointments. If you're a strong leader, they'll feel comfortable letting you in their life to help them. 

Problem-Solving 

Problem-solving is how well you can find practical solutions in challenging situations. When you're working as a caregiver, you won't have a manager on location to guide you on what to do and how to do it. If a problem or challenge arises, you need to know how to think quickly and find a solution. 

Not only is it vital to solving problems, but how you solve something. You should always remain calm and positive, even if you're feeling frustrated or overwhelmed. Taking control of your emotions at the moment helps your client stay calm and can lead to a more productive outcome. 

Attention to Detail 

Having solid attention to detail refers to your observation skills. When working with a client, do you notice if they're eating or pushing food to the side? Are you observant of small changes in their personality or how they communicate? Have you seen signs of neglect, or are you concerned they may have fallen at home and hid an injury out of embarrassment? All this attention to detail can make a difference in your client's life, especially if you can take the observation and problem-solve to help your client.

Patience

Patience is your ability to problem solve in stressful or challenging situations without getting upset or angry. Patience is also about how you make others feel in those situations. If you're a patient person, others don't feel rushed or overwhelmed but instead have the comfort of working through a challenge.

In caregiving, you'll likely experience moments that will test your patience. Clients may push back on receiving help, need time to process information, or require more assistance than the original plan. Instead of getting frustrated in these challenging situations, practice patience. Your patience shows respect and kindness for your client and keeps positive energy to encourage your client. 

We'd love to connect if you'd like to learn more about caregiving opportunities with Visiting Angels. Our Farmington office hires full and part-time caregivers to serve clients in Farmington, Aztec, Bloomfield, Navajo Dam, Flora Vista, and the surrounding communities. If you'd like to learn more about career opportunities with Visiting Angels, you can send us an online application or call us at 505.516.1150.

Serving Farmington, Aztec, Bloomfield, Navajo Dam, Flora Vista and Surrounding Areas

Visiting Angels FARMINGTON, NM
1515 20th St #F
Farmington, NM 87401
Phone: 505-516-1150

Serving Farmington, Aztec, Bloomfield, Navajo Dam, Flora Vista and Surrounding Areas

Visiting Angels FARMINGTON, NM
1515 20th St #F
Farmington, NM 87401
Phone: 505-516-1150