By Jim Kordenbrock Jr., Gerontologist and Michelle Thomas
We want to let you in on one of the best kept career secrets about why paid caregivers love what they do! Caregivers use words to describe their job such as “meaningful, powerful, life-changing, positive impact, and rewarding.” So, what’s this great secret of being a paid caregiver? Here it is- the Caregiver creates a special relationship and bond with the older adult they help, sometimes becoming closer than any family member. Many families thank the Caregiver for being so kind and compassionate in giving so much to the older adult they helped. But, if we’re being candid, the person receiving the most reward is the Caregiver! The caregiver has spent weeks, months, and even years learning from the older adult they cared for at one of the most important times in their (end of) life.
Imagine the reward in helping to make an aging adult’s life better while allowing them to age with dignity and respect. It’s about providing a sense of comfort, safety, security, and independence to older adults while never allowing them to feel abandoned. Imagine being with an older adult at their end-of-life, and the relief of that special older person knowing that you were there for them until their final breath. As the great Harvey Mackay says, “the quality of your life is determined by the quality of your relationships.” This is a profession that truly comes from the heart. It doesn’t matter about your socioeconomic status, education, career, accomplishments, or life experience. You will succeed if you truly want to make a difference to an older adult. Caregivers are the few, the proud, the compassionate giants!
Several studies have shown the positive impact of being a paid caregiver. Specifically, improved physical health, a sense of purpose and satisfaction, leading to an increase in mental well-being, and enhanced social connections, reducing loneliness and isolation.
It doesn’t matter if you don’t have any experience. That’s right, you only need the heart and desire to help an aging adult. Most reputable agencies have wonderful training programs to teach you the best ways to support an aging adult, allowing you to gain the confidence and skills to become a successful caregiver as a client’s needs advance.
So, what does it take to be a great Caregiver? Here are some thoughts on the characteristics of great Caregivers. The chances are you already have many of these qualities!
- Character. Your DNA must be driven by a servant mentality characterized by compassion, empathy, and a powerful desire to serve others.
- Empathy. You must have the ability to understand the person you are taking care of, the impact of their life course on what makes them who they are today, what drives them, their personality, their idiosyncrasies, and their family dynamics.
- Patience. The biggest challenge is having patience and compassion while caring for an aging adult, especially those living with dementia, who at times express their frustration through actions and words that can feel cruel or hurtful.
- Dependability. You cannot be late for a client, not even one minute. The client is waiting for you and if it is an early shift, they will be lying in bed waiting for you to help them start their day.
- Adaptability. No two days are the same despite a lot of routine tasks. You must be able to think on your feet. You also must be ready for any type of curve ball that will come your way. The client may be talkative or want some quiet time- you must recognize that and adapt accordingly based on their needs.
- Anticipation. It is critical to be proactive and anticipate needs, look around, and always put the client first, based on what is important to them.
- Trustworthy. You must have their best interest at heart with the highest level of integrity. You may be exposed to some very privileged information, some of which no one else in the world may even know about. You may also be asked to help with their finances, paying bills or other sensitive information. The key is that the client must trust the caregiver.
The current growth rate of the U.S. population over age 65 is unprecedented, at 48% between now and 2050 according to populationpyramid.net, and thus the need for caregivers will continue to rise dramatically. We need compassionate, kind, loving caregivers who enjoy working with older adults. It takes a special person to be a caregiver, but the benefits are tremendously rewarding and healthy for you. Being a paid caregiver will likely be the most rewarding career you will ever have.