Caretaking can be one of the more emotionally difficult jobs in society, but it also can be one of the most rewarding. Good caretaking takes immense patience, hope and love. A good caretaker must have much faith in his patient and be the patient's eternal optimist when the patient is having a bad day. For some, caretaking is a natural-born talent, and for others it is an acquired skill. But every caretaker can benefit from practice, an open heart and open ears.
Listen to your patient
Your patients are always giving you clues as to how they are feeling both physically and emotionally. These clues may be spoken or given through body language. Always pay attention to the way your patient acts. Many patients have routines. They want their food and water at a certain time or given in a certain way. Patients who have always had a voracious dinner appetite but suddenly are not hungry this night may be experiencing pain or discomfort of some kind. They may be feeling sad or lonely. Always maintain an open relationship with your patients; make sure they feel safe talking with you and that they can trust you with their health. By being attentive to your patients' words and habits, you will form a strong bond and trust.
Be aware of the patient's dignity
It is easy on a busy day to rush through your patient's needs. But when you are rushing, your patient may feel less like a human. He may become angry with you and lose faith in you. No matter how busy you are, never make your patient feel like a burden. Smile and quickly but gently help your patient with daily activities. Kindly tell your patient you are very busy. Ask him to help you as much as possible. This will make your patient feel more in charge and on your level.
Always talk with your patient as you would with any friend, especially while helping with more invasive tasks such as dressing or perineal care. A patient is at his most vulnerable during these tasks, and the last thing your patient wants is someone he does not know very well seeing him in his most private state.
Maintain your patient's independence
The more independent a patient is, the less susceptible she is to depression and therapeutic regression. If a patient is able to do something herself, no matter how slow she is or how much she struggles, always let her do the task on her own. Never dress a patient that can dress herself. She will lose confidence in her abilities, feel like a burden, and her dignity will disappear. It may seem like a small thing, but to a newly dependent patient, a little bit of control can go a long way.
Tags: your patient, patient feel, your patient feel, feel like, feel like burden, like burden