Best Practices for Caregivers

Whether you stumbled into the family caregiver role or are in pursuit of becoming a professional caregiver, it’s important to know and follow best practices. Best practices generally refer to the methods or techniques that have been accepted as superior in an industry because they produce the best or safest results. When it comes to providing care for another individual, not only is the relationship important but keeping the care recipient healthy is of the utmost importance. Visiting Angels Kilmarnock is happy to share our top three best practices. These practices allow our own caregivers to provide the best care possible, keeping our clients healthy and safe.

Proper Hand-washing

With the recent COVID-19 pandemic, hand-washing has been at the forefront of everyone’s minds. Regardless of the time of year, hand-washing is our first best practice. Proper hand-washing stops the spread of germs and is the first line of defense when it comes to infection control. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offer the following guidelines for proper hand-washing techniques. Wet hands with warm water, apply soap and scrub for at least 20 seconds. Then, rinse suds off and dry hands on a clean towel. Use a towel, paper towel, or elbow to turn off the running water so that you don’t re-contaminate your hands. Develop the habit of hand-washing to prevent spreading germs to the one whom you are providing care. Wash your hands upon arriving at their home, after grooming, bathing, or assisting them with the toilet, before and after meal preparation, after handling dirty laundry, or whenever your hands are visibly soiled.

Be Aware of Caregiver Stress

Being a caregiver is an important job, but it can also be a difficult one. It’s important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of caregiver stress and burnout. Many family caregivers may feel angry, frustrated or even helpless. There are many ways to reduce or prevent caregiver stress. The number one thing you can do is ask for help and find a support system. Asking for help and making time to care for yourself can mean the difference between burnout and a healthy lifestyle. It is also a great practice for caregivers to connect with other caregivers so that they can encourage one another. Eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly can also aid in fighting against caregiver stress and anxiety.

Remain Professional

The job of a family caregiver can be more demanding and frustrating than most. When your workload becomes difficult or your aging loved one doesn’t cooperate, it’s important to remember to remain professional. Try not to take your aging loved one’s behavior personally. Instead, practice empathy, recognizing that everyone is entitled to a bad day now and then. Being a caregiver is more than just providing care, it is an opportunity to improve someone’s quality of life.

Visiting Angels Kilmarnock wants to take a moment to applaud all family caregivers who are giving of their time and energy so that their aging loved ones can remain safe at home. We recognize the challenges of being a family caregiver, especially during a global crisis. We also understand that being a family caregiver can be a burden, even for those who have the best relationship with their aging loved one. We are here to support you now and in the future. We offer respite care services, so that family caregivers can take a much needed and deserved break. We can also come alongside family caregivers, giving them a consistent break on a weekly basis in order to prevent caregiver burnout. Don’t wait until this global crisis is over to start receiving the help that you need. Please contact us today by calling 804-435-2229.