Guest Post by Monta Fleming
Senior care is a difficult sector to hire for. Not only do prospective employees have to meet the educational and background requirements, but they also need to have a heart for the elderly. When conducting interviews for an open position, make sure you are looking for the following five qualities:
- Listens –It is very important that a caregiver listen to the seniors they are caring for. It has to be more than get in, get out, get on with the next person. A real caregiver wants to spend tie getting to know the seniors and supporting them physically and emotionally. Not having someone who cares to talk to is often one of the most comment complaints senior have.
- Follows Directions –You want to hire someone who can follow directions. Whether it is for a fire drill or just for meal times, they need to be able to understand, remember, and follow the directions that are given to them, even in a chaotic situation. A level head and a quick mind are very important.
- Knows the Rules – Not only should they be able to follow directions, they should also know the rules. From simple things like medication to more complex ideas like privacy issues, it is important that the caregivers understand and follow the guidelines set forth. Legal issues are a huge hardship on everyone involved. The more you can avoid, the better off everyone will be.
- Helpful –This is a no brainer. A caregiver should be helpful, above and beyond the call of duty. From sitting and talking to helping with physical movement to coming up with activities, a caregiver should always be willing to lend a hand and contribute to the community.
- Kind and Patient –There will be a lot of hard and boring times as a caregiver. They have to be able to handle slowing down and not push the seniors to move beyond their pace. A gentle spirit and a heart of kindness are also appreciated by everyone, seniors and co-workers alike.
Senior care can be a hard job to hire for, and is also a hard job to perform well. But there are candidates out there that meet all these requirements. All it takes is a little searching and an awareness of the qualities to look for. Finding one great employee is worth more than hiring three average ones.
Monta the mother of three children serves as an Expert Advisor on multiple household help issues to many Organizations and groups, and is a mentor for other “Mom-preneurs” seeking guidance. She is a regular contributor of “gonannies.com”. You can get in touch with her at montafleming6Atgmail dotcom.
Don’t miss a single issue of Senior Housing Forum, subscribe today. It is free! We do not sell or share your contact information. The posts are practical and never too long. Go to the main page of Senior Housing Forum and on the top you will see a place to enter your email to subscribe. You will receive notification when a new article is posted. You can unsubscribe at any time. Finally: If you know anyone who is looking at emergency call systems I would appreciate the opportunity to talk with them about Vigil Health Solutions.
From LinkedIn Groups
If you are asking me, then I would say maturity. Having said that, people often associate maturity with age. Although there is a strong correlation, there is much more to it. Maturity, in my mind, has an interesting make up. It is like a recipe. A pinch of responsibility. A table spoon of prioritization. Mix with empathy (which may be correlated to age, if age implies experience). Someone with maturity may be more likely to commit. With turnover being what it is, commitment is invaluable. So, quick answer: maturity.
Posted by Mark Goliger
From LinkedIn Groups
Group: Senior Living & Care Professionals
Discussion:What qualities do you look for in your caregivers?
Those five qualities are a great start. I would also look for someone with a calm demeanor and a cool head in a crisis situation.
Posted by Regina Ford, MBA, CAPS
One of the things I look for is a people pleaser. All people who want to be liked by others will do a good job for them, whether it is a patient, family member, or boss. All people pleasers smile more times than the average person. If a person smiles at least 5 times during a 30 minute interview they will always be a good caregiver..
From LinkedIn Groups
Group: The Resident Experience – Changing the Experience Across the Aging Continuum
Discussion:What qualities do you look for in your caregivers?
The five qualities that I would look for in a caregiver is 1. Being educated about what all goes into being a caregiver…..2. Compassion….3. Experience in being a caregiver….4. Empathy and understanding……5. Knows how to do CPR and such measures that might, at some time, be required while they are being a caregiver.
Posted by Connie Hower