Choosing a caregiver for a loved one is a big responsibility. You’re entrusting that person with the care and safety of someone very important to you, and it only makes sense that you want to find the best possible person for the role. Being a caregiver is a challenging job that requires a combination of key skills and personality traits, and not everyone is cut out for this role. This is why you want to choose carefully after assessing candidates to see if they’re a good fit. We asked doctors for their advice on the most important qualities to seek in a caregiver, and here are their top answers.
Qualities of a caregiver
1. Certifications and official requirements (if applicable)
Any official credentials or certifications that might be required will depend on the specific situation and your location. “To start, your caregiver should meet some basic criteria including having a caregiver certification, which requires a certain number of hours of training and other prerequisites which vary state to state,” says Dr. Terrell Smith, MD, resident physician at the University of Virginia and the Director of Clinical Health at Spora Health, a telehealth platform specifically designed to address the needs of people of color. Assuming you have verified that caregivers possess any required credentials, you will then move on to evaluating other critical qualifications.
2. Compassion
This is a non-negotiable requirement for anyone in this role. Someone who lacks compassion and empathy will likely not treat your loved ones with the gentle care and support they deserve. “A compassionate person is motivated to help and alleviate suffering,” says Dr. Amy J. Goldberg, MD, FACs, Interim Dean and Professor of Surgery at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University. “During my time being a caregiver for my own mother, I have come to learn that a qualified caregiver is important,” says Dr. Smith. “It is equally as important to have someone compassionate who can relate and comfort your loved one. One of the most important factors is that personal match—make sure it is someone you would trust in both the highs and lows of your loved one’s health journey.”
3. Patience
“When it comes to caregiving, plans can change on a dime, or things may take longer than originally anticipated,” says Dr. Smith. “It is important for your caregiver to be patient and not get easily upset should something not go according to plan right away. Those in the caregiving field echo this point, especially in the case of clients with conditions like dementia or Alzheimer’s. “When you work with an individual with a cognitive impairment, the days are incredibly long, just because of all the repetitiveness that the individual has, and also how difficult that is to complete tasks,” says Nicole Clagett, Director of Community Development and Caregiver Support at Duke Homecare and Hospice. “So patience is super key for a caregiver.”
4. Trustworthiness
It takes a big leap of faith to entrust your loved one to someone else, and you want to feel confident that the caregiver you choose is worthy of that trust. “It is crucial that your caregiver will not breach your trust by taking advantage of the person they are caring for, so asking for references is going to be crucial to understanding how they have operated in the past with other clients,” says Dr. Smith.
5. Good communication
“Being an effective communicator is another characteristic to observe,” says Dr. Goldberg. “The caregiver will need to articulate how the patient is doing and advocate for the individual under their care.” You want someone who will communicate important updates—and who is observant enough to notice those details. “If they are always in a rush, it is going to be easy to miss things that a patient caregiver would otherwise see,” says Dr. Smith. “For example, a change in the bowel habits, sleep habits, and ability to converse/communicate. These key changes are examples of information patient caregivers can relay to family and healthcare providers, which could be the difference between outpatient management of infection versus the need for admission to a hospital.”
6. Appreciation for the client’s personality and interests
Clagett adds one more suggestion: “Someone that really gets to know that individual," says. “When we work in the medical profession, we often focus on the diseases of that individual versus all the things that individual is besides their disease. If we really take that time to get to know that person and incorporate who they are into the provision of care, it really creates a bond between that individual and that caregiver.” She continues, “So if you learn that Suzy Smith used to be an avid gardener, even though she’s now not able to get in on the ground on her hands and knees to put her hands in the dirt, maybe the family can create a raised flower bed and we can do flowers together. Or maybe we can do potted plants in the house. If you can find a caregiver like that, you know that that person will be a rock star.”
How to find well-qualified caregivers
It can be challenging to determine whether a potential caregiver possesses these ideal qualities simply by reviewing a resume. That’s why you should ask to speak to current or former clients (although obviously, the caregiver would need to obtain permission from those people before divulging their information). This is also where an agency can be valuable. “You’re really not going to be able to tell a lot of these things unless you actually do check those references,” says Clagett. “I highly recommend using an agency because you’re really opening yourself up to a lot of issues when you’re finding an individual on your own. Plus, the agency takes care of things like taxes and background checks, and if the person is a no-show there’s backup for someone else to be caring for your loved one. Also, I don’t think a lot of people consider the liability risk because there are a lot of injuries to people providing the care, especially back injuries.” If you’re not familiar with local agencies, try a nationwide agency like Senior Helpers or ask your local Area Agency on Aging for recommendations. Next up, get tips on caring for the caregiver.
Sources
Amy J. Goldberg, Interim Dean and George S. Peters, MD and Louise C. Peters Chair and Professor of Surgery at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, and Surgeon-in-Chief for Temple University Health System.Nicole Clagett, Director of Community Development and Caregiver Support at Duke Homecare and Hospice.Terrell Smith, resident physician at the University of Virginia and the Director of Clinical Health at Spora Health
