Good caregivers have essential qualities that provide job satisfaction and other rewards in equal proportion to the positive impact they have on clients, an increasingly important equation as demand for in-home caregivers accelerates.
A story in The American Prospect cites a 2020 report from the National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA) saying demand for in-home care will increase by 46 percent by 2030, when one-fifth of Americans will be 65 or older.
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Caregivers on the Benefits of Working for Homecare Choices
So what qualities make a good caregiver, and what are the rewards of caregiving that make it a fulfilling job?
In many ways, good caregiver-client relationships thrive on the same qualities that provide the foundation for any healthy and positive relationship. These include:
- Mutual respect
- Trust
- Good communication
- Establishing preferences, priorities, and goals
Personality characteristics that successful and fulfilled caregivers share include:
- Having compassion and being caring
- Being dependable and trustworthy
- Having patience and being respectful
- Listening well and actively engaging
- Being attentive and supportive
- Being creative and cheerful
- Being observant and willing to be hands-on with clients’ needs
As for the rewards of caregiving, our caregivers are buoyed by the affirmation of knowing how greatly they are appreciated, and feel the deep satisfaction of making a significant difference in the lives of clients and their families. Strong bonds form among the caregivers, clients, and families, and often our caregivers end up feeling like part of the family, a reward in itself.
“It really is rewarding to be helping people on a daily basis,” Nancy, one of Homecare Choices’ caregivers, said in a blog post, while Marilyn added, “You cannot give personal care and go into someone’s home without really connecting with them. You get back so much more than you invest.”
In one of his columns for AARP, clinical psychologist, family therapist and healthcare consultant Barry Jacobs described how caregivers, aides, and clients can build bonds by writing about his mother and her caregiver, Mary.
“It wasn’t just my mother who was so touched by their relationship,” Jacobs wrote. “Two years after saying goodbye to us — and seven months after my mother died — Mary recently called me out of the blue to share her thoughts about my mother. ‘She was my best friend,’ Mary said.”
Compensation for Homecare Choices’ caregivers begins with a starting wage of $16 an hour. Our staff members who work a regular schedule of more than 30 hours per week also have the option to receive benefits such as health, dental, and life insurance.
Homecare Choices offers a retirement savings option for all employees, and there is a tuition reimbursement plan that can help a dedicated caregiver to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).
Additionally, as part of the North American Family Institute (NAFI), a highly respected nonprofit human services agency, Homecare Choices is able to provide caregivers with an extensive range of valuable resources and opportunities.
“Homecare Choices is uniquely positioned to offer caregivers the personal rewards that come from providing compassionate care that enriches the lives of seniors, as well as the potential for growth, in part through our affiliation with NAFI,” says Homecare Choices Executive Director Peter Carey.
Anyone with questions about becoming a caregiver may email him at petercarey@homecarechoices.com, or call 508-313-2529. Meanwhile, learn more about Homecare Choices’ culture on our website, where you can also find a link to begin the application process.