It can sometimes be hard to accept that you need a home care service, particularly if this need arises quickly. For Example - After a stay in hospital or an illness.
So having someone who provides your home care service that is friendly and familiar can go a long way to making it a good experience for you. Bringing strangers into your home might feel difficult at first, but you can build good relationships with your carers so that they become people you'll want to see every day, which can make it easier to accept the care you need.
Why build a good relationship with your carers?
Carers are often people you see on a daily basis, particularly if you need regular help like getting washed and dressed or preparing meals. In fact, you're likely to see them more often than you would your family or friends. Having a good relationship with your carers can brighten your day and bring a social aspect into your life that you might have missed before.
Building good relationships can also make some of the more difficult aspects of care such as having a bath or shower easier for you, and will help you to feel that you're amongst friends or family, rather than with strangers.
Help with domestic care such as cleaning will allow you to maintain independence and having someone who is in your home that you get on with and can have a good conversation with will help you feel at ease.
So how do you build good relationships with your carers?
The important thing to remember is that carers are human beings, just like you. A kind word and a smile go a long way too!
Find things you have in common. Just as you would a friend, even if a carer is younger or older than you, it's likely that you have some things in common. Tell us the things you enjoy doing and where possible we can match carers that share your interests so that you can build good relationships.
If your carer provides your care or domestic help in a way that doesn't feel familiar, or you prefer things done a different way, tell them. Communicating with your carer about how you like things done is really important as they will want to get your care right for you.