When a senior loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, the most important first step is to make sure that person is safe and well cared for. If your loved one lives alone, home health care may be necessary right away. Champion Home Health Care of South Florida is a great company to call because we specialize in providing excellent home care services for seniors.
We take great care in selecting our caregivers; they must pass thorough background checks and meet all state requirements. All of our caregivers are licensed and insured. Our home health care workers are also empathetic, trustworthy, and responsible, which are three of the most important characteristics a caregiver should possess.
1. Empathy
Finding a home health aide who can be empathetic is very important. Your senior loved one is probably dealing with a lot of mixed emotions due to their Alzheimer’s diagnosis. They are going to feel sadness, fear, anger, and perhaps even shame. An empathetic caregiver will be non-judgmental and will relate to your loved one’s feelings instead of trying to “fix the problem,” which no one can do anyway. The caregiver can express that although they are not in the same circumstances, they have experienced similar feelings and they are there with them to walk through this difficult time.
2. Trustworthiness
Your elderly loved one is going to need a trustworthy caregiver. Life is going to be different after Alzheimer’s or dementia sets in. There are going to be different people coming in and out of the house. Your loved one may have concerns for their possessions. Also, new problems may arise due to the disease. It may be necessary to have caregivers help with their personal hygiene. It can be a very stressful time for an elderly person and having someone that they can trust is imperative.
3. Responsibility
Responsibility is an important characteristic of your loved one’s caregiver. This includes having someone who will be on time. Oftentimes, especially when an elderly person is not feeling well or is lonely, they may be watching the clock waiting for their caregiver to show up. When that time comes and the person does not arrive, the elderly person might begin to worry or think that they have the wrong time. It can be equally disappointing to a senior when they’re expecting someone to show up, but they get a call that the caregiver is going to be late. It’s important for a caregiver to be responsible and prompt because the senior they care for is relying on them.
If an instance does arise where a caregiver knows they’re going to be late, they should call as soon as they know rather than waiting until the time that they’re supposed to arrive. If the elderly person knows the caregiver is going to be late, they have an opportunity to spend their time doing something else while waiting.
At Champion Home Health Care we have high-quality home health care providers who are not only empathetic but also trustworthy and responsible. Our home health agency has multiple locations so we can provide home care in Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and the surrounding areas. If you’re looking for senior helpers in North Palm Beach or Broward County, call Champion Home Health Care of South Florida. You will be glad that you did!
