subject: Traits To Look For In Caretakers For The Elderly [print this page] As people age, there is the need for more attention and time. This is perhaps why this stage of life is also called second childhood. Old age is a phase which requires love, attention and special care. It is often insufficient to have only family members take care of the elderly at home. It is virtually impossible to give all your time and energy towards them, and it becomes necessary to engage someone dedicated totheir care.
When you hire a caretaker to look after an ageing family member, there are certain traits that you must look for in them. It is not as easy as looking for a baby sitter or part time help. When you have hired someone to look after the elderly, it is important to make sure that they are patient and indulging. With age, it is common to become difficult and headstrong. The caretaker must be able to tackle difficult situations without losing their nerve and still be able to accomplish what they need to.
Apart from health ailments, there is the compounded problem of lowered faculties in the elderly. This is typically manifested in memory loss, lowered motor control, loss of muscle tone and attention deficit.To keep the member agile and more responsive, make sure that your caretaker is able to engage in activities which are stimulating and rehabilitating. They should be able to conduct activities including games to improve co-ordination of the mind and body, word puzzles and crosswords to activate the mind and enhance memory, and also do some small physical routines which can help keep the body
movements fluid. This is therapy which is required for all old people, and not only those who suffer these problems.
Your caretaker must have presence of mind and be able to handle crises efficiently. While you may not be able to judge this until you have actually experienced a crisis, you should have a fair assessmentwhile screening before you hire. Try and hire individuals who come strongly recommended by previous employers or friends. Make sure that your caretaker knows resuscitation techniques and can administer first aid. This is very important when being around the elderly. The caretaker should also be in good
health themselves, and be strong and alert physically.
Something which is very important while hiring a caretaker is to ensure that they maintain a very high standard of hygiene. Much like children, the elderly are also prone to infections and contagious diseases more easily, due to lowered immunity levels. Make sure that the caretaker is clean and sanitized, and follows the same while taking care of the member as well. If the elderly member is invalid or has lowered control over body functions, this becomes all the more necessary.
