Tag: caregivers

Caregiver Advice

Top Tips for Caregivers in Homecare

5 tips on finding the right homecare provider

Top Tips for Caregivers in Homecare

Being a care worker means more than just playing an important role in the lives of those being cared for—it is also very rewarding. It involves providing social and health services to elderly people and those with disabilities. This can include helping them with daily activities such as bathing, grooming, dressing, general errands and medical issues. There are times when it can be a demanding role, requiring both empathy and technical skill to provide effective support for those who rely on it. To make this responsibility easier, the following top tips for caregivers in homecare will help them provide excellent quality of service as well as allow them to feel supported and capable.

Did You Know?

Figures published today by the CSO from the Irish Health Survey 2019 estimate that 1 in 8 people in Ireland aged over 15 are family carers. 

Set realistic expectations

Setting realistic expectations for yourself and your loved one or client is crucial. It can be challenging to navigate the uncertainty that comes with caregiving, and without proper expectations, it’s easy to become overwhelmed or disappointed. The correct expectations allows everyone to remain happy and this can be done in a number of different ways:

  • Assess your loved one’s or client’s condition and identify their needs. This can include speaking with their doctor or family members. Ask questions: How serious is their illness? What medications are they on?
  • Create a plan of action that takes into account your own capabilities and limitations. How often can you visit? What physical tasks can you perform?
  • Communicate these expectations so you both know what to expect and everyone is clear about how the care will be given. Make time to sit down and discuss everything.
  • Because it is a fast moving industry where safety is vital, continuously upskilling is a must. At Myhomecare, our Care Academy provides a range of courses for those working in this industry. The Care Academy’s focal point is on improving the quality of existing staff by providing upskilling opportunities.

The Care Academy allows those who sign up to work with us the chance to advance their career in healthcare an advantageous starting point.
It guides them and helps them advance in their career aspirations.

The Care Academy and Top Tips for Caregivers in Homecare

Remember that caregiving is a process that requires patience and compassion. By setting realistic expectations and approaching your role with a positive mindset, you can do this in the best possible way.

Establish a support network

Establishing a support network for yourself will provide you with the emotional and practical support you need to navigate the ups and downs of caregiving. Caring for a loved one or client can be fulfilling but it can also be challenging and stressful at times. They are depending on you and there is a lot of responsibility involved in this. At Myhomecare, we ensure everyone feels supported and accommodated which is evident from our client testimonials.

Narrow down the resources that are most relevant to your situation. Your support network can include family members, friends, neighbours, and professionals such as social workers or counselors. Look for resources in the form of support groups, online forums, and educational materials that offer practical advice and emotional support such as the following:

  • The HSE: Provides health services directly and funds voluntary organisations to provide support and services to individuals and their Carers.
  • Care Alliance Ireland: The National Network of Voluntary Organisations supporting Family Carers.
  • Government: Offers a Carer’s Support Grant as an annual payment.

By reaching out to others for help, you can reduce your own stress levels and improve your overall well-being, which in turn can benefit both you and the people you care for. Remember that you are not alone and with the right support, you can navigate through your work with more ease and confidence.

Take time for self-care

It can be easy to lose track of your own needs while focusing on the needs of those you care for. Taking care of yourself is just as necessary as taking care of others as it can be a demanding and emotionally taxing experience. One way to make this happen is by setting aside time each day for personal self-care with the below actions.

  • Take a warm bath with Epsom salts which help to ease muscle pain. Especially effective after a long day of physical activity.
  • Wake up 15 minutes earlier to meditate or do some gentle yoga which can clear your head and prepare you for the day.
  • Read a book to help to relax the mind.
  • Make sure to eat well and get quality sleep so that you can feel at your best and stay healthy.
  • Meet up with friends and remember to stay involved in outside activities such as hiking and sports activities on your days off.

It may be challenging to find the time to take care of yourself, however, prioritising your own needs will ultimately create a better work environment as you will have the energy and mental clarity to give more.

There are a range of benefits while working with Myhomecare. With the option of flexible working hours that suit you and excellent rates of pay, it is a truly fulfilling profession.

Following these top tips will ensure the correct care is given and the process is not so daunting or stressful, but rewarding and enjoyed. This type of career is a one‐of‐a‐kind experience with loved ones and clients receiving the very best of care, in the right place, their home.

Get in touch wit us today to find out more about our support and upskilling courses at The Care Academy.

The Care Academy

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Caregiver Advice

The National Homecare and Assisted Living Conference 2015

Home care in Ireland Is a rapidly growing service within our communities, with many more opting for this type of service for their personal care as opposed to hospital or nursing home services commonly used in the past. Considering the rapid expansion and demand in this sector it comes with a range of changes, challenges and guidelines being developed annually to ensure optimum service to the end user. CMG Events in Association with myhomecareie.wpengine.com have gathered an expert line up of presenters to address some of the most topical issues in the home care sector including;

  • How to meet the requirements of our Ageing Population.
  • Are we HIQA prepared?
  • How Best to develop relationships between nursing homes & homecare provisions.
  • Dementia Supports available to Homecare providers to name just a few.

Opening remarks from Conference Chairperson

Speaker: Dr Mary Rose Day, Midwife & Public Health Nurse, UCC

The role of HIQA in monitoring and regulating health & social care services

Speaker: Vicky Blomfield, Head of Programme, Corporate Projects. HIQA

  • The legal framework
  • Regulating and monitoring
  • Standards and Regulations
  • Registration and enforcement
  • The inspection process
  • Key findings so far
  • Getting ready for inspections

Supporting the Continuum of Care – Meeting the Requirement of our Ageing Population

Speaker: Tadhg Daly, CEO, Nursing Homes Ireland

  • Ageing Demographic
  • Demand for residential care exceeding supply
  • Development of ‘continuum of care’
  • Role of nursing home sector in complimentary services(homecare / day care / meals on wheels)
  • Nursing homes a hub of community services?

Primary Care

  • Independent living – care communities
  • Cohesive national strategy
  • Implications of inaction

The Single Assessment Tool (SAT) – HSE national implementation of a standardised comprehensive care needs assessment for older people

Speakers: Dr Natalie Vereker, Services For Older People, HSE / Linda McDermott-Scales, National Education & Development Manager, Services for Older People, Social Care Division, HSE

  • The benefits and requirements for a Single Assessment Tool (SAT) in assessing older persons’ health and social care needs
  • The implementation by HSE of SAT to replace current variable care needs assessment practices with a standardised SAT for entry into
  • Nursing Home Support Scheme (A Fair Deal), Home Care Package Scheme (HCPs) and thereafter to Home-Help provision.
  • The SAT uses an internationally recognised assessment system known as the interRAI™ system. The interRAI™ explained
  • The national implementation of SAT to date

Advance Care Directives in the Community

Speaker: Kayla Rumack, Medical Student, University College Cork

  • Relevance & Benefits of Advance Care Directives in the Community
  • Knowledge, Opinions
  • Completion Rates and Factors Influencing Engagement – Ireland and International
  • Theory of Planned Behaviour – Can we influence Advance Directive Completion?
  • Research & Developments to expect in the future

Case Studies – Early Intervention and Integration of Community & Acute Care

Speaker: Dr. Elizabeth Weathers, PhD, BSc, PGCTL, RGN, Research Support Officer, Centre for Gerontology and Rehabilitation, University College Cork @St. Finbarr’s Hospital

  • Community Assessment of Risk and Treatment Strategies (CARTS) Project – Link between frailty and risk of hospitalisation, institutionalisation, or death/predictors of frailty
  • Risk Instrument for Screening in the Community (RISC) and Community Assessment of Risk Instrument (CARI)
  • Importance of caregiver network and family support networks
  • Training of Public Health Nurses
  • Screening currently underway in Cork/Kerry HSE Region and implementation of Intensive Home Care Packages
  • Future developments and plans for wide scale implementation
  • Geriatric Database Project
  • Work to date on the development of a geriatric computerised database for people with cognitive impairment
  • Integration of community care and acute care

Dementia Supports available to Homecare providers

Speaker: Dr Dermot Power, UCD School of Medicine and Medical Sciences

  • Insights into the level of home care service for users with Dementia in Ireland
  • What supports are being developed
  • The use of technology to support older patients with dementia in their own homes

Top tips on how to care for common illnesses with our ageing population service users

Speaker: Dr John Doherty, Consultant Physician, Aged Related Health Care (ARHC) unit, Tallaght Hospital

  • Alzheimer’s
  • Senile patients
  • Rapid weight loss
  • Diabetes
  • Cardio problems
  • Malnutrition

Closing remarks from Dr Mary Rose Day

Not included in videos:

Community / Public Health Nursing & Developing relationships between nursing homes & homecare provision

Speaker: Anne Lynott, DPHN, Public Health Nursing Department, Dublin West, Cherry Orchard Hospital

The Future of Home care & staffing In Ireland

Speaker: Cora Murphy, Clinical Director, The Care Team

Family Caregivers and the wider community based supports – vital improvements needed for home care services

Speaker: Andrew McFarlane, CEO and Co-Founder of CareZapp

With special thanks to Sarah Flynn, Events Co-ordinator, CMG Events and The Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire. For further info please contact Sarah on sarah@cmgevents.ie or call 01 293 4764.

 

Caregiver Advice

Caregiving, recognising signs of depression and how to cope with it.

While in the process of providing exceptional care to others, many caregivers fail to provide themselves with proper care. Providing proper care for others is oftentimes all-consuming, especially if the person receiving the care suffers from Alzheimer’s or is incontinent.

If you are an otherwise healthy and capable person but lately you’ve not been feeling “right,” the stress of your job may be taking a toll. Depression may be setting in, especially if you find yourself crying for no apparent reason, and/or feeling tired, angry, frustrated, anxious, or alone. Pay attention to these feelings; they’ll likely get worse if you don’t take action.

Here are some tips for avoiding the depression that often accompanies caregiving:

Take time out for Yourself
Caregivers rarely take time for themselves. If you’re not taking time to rest, eat well and exercise moderately, you will suffer. Maybe not today or next week, but it will happen. It really doesn’t take long to plan and prepare nutritionally-balanced meals and snacks. Doing so gives your body the fuel it needs to perform all the tasks you ask of it. You’ve got to get uninterrupted rest, too. Get exercise any way you can: gardening, housekeeping, going up and down stairs, walking the aisles of the grocery store, playing your favorite sport, even pushing a wheelchair can get your heart beating and your blood flowing.

Do things at your own pace
Do what you can, when you can. It may help to prioritise your caregiving duties. Focus on those daily tasks that absolutely must get done. Schedule the other tasks when you have time. Once you start to prioritise your work, you’ll notice that you actually get more accomplished.

Ask for Assistance
Speak with your family members about your need for help, and together, figure out when others can come in so you can have a break. If you have no family members, you’ve got to hire in-home help, or make arrangements at a senior day care facility. Do whatever it takes to get time off. YOUR health depends on this.

Put a Moratorium on Guilt
No one gains from feeling guilty, in fact, guilt is an immobilising emotion. Let it go and you’ll feel better instantly.

Have Some Fun
Keep social events on your calendar and your health will benefit. Get out to the movies, have coffee, – do whatever it is that you enjoy – in the company of others.