Being a carer is more than just a job; it requires a combination of skills, qualities and personal traits that are essential to flourish in this profession. In this blog, we will shine a light on the qualities that make an excellent carer.
The qualities of an excellent carer
1. Empathy
The dictionary defines empathy as the ability to share someone else’s feelings or experiences by imagining what it would be like to be in that person’s situation.
Being able to see the world through someone else’s eyes is an essential skill for a carer, as it helps clients feel heard and understood, and it ensures the carer is delivering a high standard.
A good example of empathy in action is a carer noticing signs of loneliness in someone they are caring for and taking time to chat, listen and connect with them to make them feel less alone.
2. Communication
Being a clear communicator is essential for a carer. A huge part of the job is being able to connect with individuals and their families, and being able to clearly explain what it is they are doing and how they are helping someone.
This helps to build trust between the carer, the individual and their loved ones, avoiding any misunderstandings, as everyone is clear about what is involved in the care required.
3. Reliability
As a carer, it is incredibly important that you are a reliable individual because the people you are caring for need your support, and so it is vital that you are a constant figure in their lives.
Being reliable helps to build a routine, so the individual being cared for (or their family) knows when to expect you and can count on you to be there on time. This, in turn, helps to build trust and confidence in you as a carer in their eyes, helping to convey emotional safety as you are someone who is consistent and they can rely on.
At Hamill Homecare, as a family-run care provider, we prioritise the relationship between our carers and the people we support. We match the people we care for with a small team which helps to forge a bond, resulting in better, more personalised care. If carers change frequently, individuals can find this unsettling and anxiety inducing, so this is something we do not do at Hamill.
We also pride ourselves on the fact that we schedule our visits for a minimum of 45 minutes, as we believe that care should never be rushed, giving our carers time to do their job well, all while building a relationship with the person they’re caring for.
4. Patience
Being a carer is a hugely important role to have in someone’s life who requires care and support to be able to live comfortably and independently and this should not be underestimated.
Being patient and calm while under pressure is a key trait of an excellent carer. This comes in particularly useful when helping with challenging or even repetitive tasks, such as supporting an individual with dementia without trying to rush them or getting frustrated should they be repeating themselves. Having patience and compassion is key to be an excellent carer.
5. Respect
Showing respect is another vital quality to have as a carer.
Many individuals requiring personal care will require dressing assistance, hygiene support and continence care, among other areas. It is essential that as a carer, you are able to uphold someone’s dignity throughout all of these interactions, as it is a vulnerable place for an individual to be in.
Additionally, it’s important that an individual feels respected and not simply like a task on a to do list. Personal care is built upon trust and respect, and where possible, at Hamill Homecare, we like to let our clients lead on their care, with our carers empowering them to do so. This helps to build up feelings of respect in the individuals we care for.
6. Adaptability
As a carer, it’s vital to be able to adapt and react to the situation presented to you. There is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to caring for someone, as circumstances can change.
Carers need to be attuned to the individual’s needs and ready to adapt care where medically appropriate. For example, if someone is in distress, a good carer will assess the situation and react in accordance with what is required to make the individual feel as comfortable and at ease as possible to be able to best administer care.
7. Discretion & confidentiality
Being discreet is essential for a good carer, as the person who is being cared for has a right to privacy.
Whether this is in relation to personal care routines, medical information or when having conversations with family, discretion builds trust and reassures clients that their dignity and autonomy are respected, helping them to feel like a real person.
8. Initiative
The best carers don’t just follow a checklist; they are observant and take note of small changes in the person they are caring for. The more a relationship is built up between the carer and the individual, as we do here at Hamill Homecare, the easier it becomes to notice when something is different in a person.
This allows a carer to adapt how care is provided, thinking ahead to prevent problems or mitigating issues before they become bigger, ensuring someone’s health, comfort and safety and providing the best possible care. This is also reassuring for both the person being cared for and their family.
9. Resilience
Being a carer can be an emotionally demanding job as you are working in close proximity with individuals who may require a large degree of support to live as normal a life as possible in their own home.
Being able to stay calm, grounded and composed, even when challenging moments arise, is an important skill for a carer. It’s also important not to swing too far the other way and become emotionally detached from what you are doing, as caring is very much about personal connection.
By having stores of emotional resilience built up, carers are able to provide the support their clients need while still protecting their own well-being.
10. Teamwork
Teamwork is vital, as carers form part of a bigger picture when it comes to fulfilling the needs of an individual’s health and wellbeing.
It’s important to be able to work with wider family members (who can sometimes be emotional due to the nature of requiring a carer for your loved one), GPs, social workers and others, to ensure the care being provided is consistent and meets the full range of needs of an individual to live as happily and as healthily as possible.
Conclusion
The caring profession is all about people, relationships and forming a connection. Therefore, the human qualities and traits discussed in this blog are vital and are what set outstanding care apart.
At Hamill Homecare, we employ carers who not only have all the necessary qualifications (that is, of course, a given), but we look for carers who display the character traits outlined above, as we believe that is the standard of care people should be receiving.
We support and empower our carers to reach their full potential and fully develop these skills, which we believe to be so integral to excellence in home care.
If you have any specific questions about what we do at Hamill Homecare, or you are seeking a carer for a loved one, please contact our team today and we’d be happy to have a chat with you to see how we can help.