There are three different types of caregivers around the world: caregivers who work with a caregiver agency and are assigned to various patients, caregivers who work on their own or independently, and caregivers who are not ‘professional’ yet who care for their own family members. Regardless of what kind of caregiver you are or would like to be, there are some essential traits and qualities you should have if you want to perform to the best of your ability and derive more meaning and reward from your work. Let’s have a look at these essential traits and qualities.
- Patience
When you provide care for someone in need, especially when they have difficulty performing ‘basic’ tasks such as taking a shower, eating, grooming themselves, and so on, you need to have patience. Patience is definitely a virtue in the caregiving field. You need to understand how the patient feels and have empathy for their situation. Your patience should extend to when things don’t go according to plan or when your patient is feeling irritable or agitated.
- Attentiveness
Another trait and quality you should have as a caregiver is attentiveness. You need to be observant – not just when it comes to your patient, but also when it comes to their environment. You need to know what your patient needs even before they say it or even when they cannot express themselves properly. If you are attentive, you will notice if your patient has any physical or emotional changes which may need to be addressed.
- Trustworthiness
When you are a caregiver, you are often placed in a position where you have access to your patient’s belongings or things. You should be trustworthy enough to understand that you need to show respect for your patient’s belongings, as a good caregiving agency like www.coriniumcare.com will confirm. As a caregiver, you should not take advantage of the vulnerabilities of your patient; breaching the trust placed in you is a complete no-no.
- Dependability
As a caregiver, you also need to be dependable. More often than not, your patients will need to be cared for on a regular basis. If you are not dependable, how can your patient rely on you? You should show up when your schedule requires it – your patient (and their family) is counting on it.
- Compassion
Compassion is when you have an understanding of what your patient is going through. In essence, you can put yourself in their shoes and feel what they may be feeling or have a good estimate and gauge of their difficulties, especially emotionally and mentally. Without compassion, you cannot be a successful caregiver – but if you genuinely care for your patient, the rewards are plentiful in the end.