Letting someone into your home (or the home of a loved one) is a big leap of faith. You have to develop strong communication and trust, gradually building a routine and relationship that offers peace of mind. It should simplify and enhance your weekly schedule—not add stress to it—and be something your entire family feels good about.
At Living Assistance Services in Toronto, we have a strict hiring protocol that ensures we only send the very best Personal Support Workers (PSWs) to your loved one’s home. There are many qualities that make a great caregiver and today, we’d like to offer an overview of some of the things we look for. If you have any questions or would like to arrange a personalized consultation and quote, please contact us—we’d be pleased to hear from you.
The right skills
A great caregiver has to have the right skill set for the job. This means being able to provide knowledgeable, gentle personal care to seniors while assisting them with mobility, bathing, dressing and more. They should be able to assist with feeding if needed, always treating the client with dignity and respect, and know how to safely deal with falls and other challenges. Being a great caregiver means knowing how to appropriately and effectively support individuals with dementia or other cognitive issues as well as identifying when medical attention is required. For example, a great PSW will be able to recognize the signs of a stroke, viral illness or UTI—all common problems faced by seniors—and contact your family and/or your loved one’s healthcare providers as needed.
Kindness and compassion
When caring for seniors, a PSW’s temperament is just as important as their technical skills. A great caregiver will be consistently kind, compassionate and respectful. They’ll provide joyful companionship, engaging conversation and emotional support, ensuring that your aging loved one feels comfortable communicating their feelings and needs at all times. These exceptional caregivers often feel like a supportive friend or extended family member—someone your loved one can trust and depend on.
An ability to take cues
While some seniors enjoy lively conversation and personal interaction, others are more private and prefer a little space. Our caregivers are trained to take cues from each client, respecting their boundaries and personal preferences. Of course, these boundaries may change from day to day—we all have times we feel more social than others!—and our PSWs follow each client’s lead as needed. The same practice applies when considering issues around bathing, dressing, feeding and other acts of personal care. The goal is to make each client feel comfortable and at ease while being cared for, but what creates this comfort is unique to the individual. Understanding verbal and visual cues is part of what makes a caregiver truly great, and we value this skill in our hiring process.
Contact us to learn more about in-home caregiver services in Toronto
If we seem choosy about the caregivers we hire, it’s true—and we’re proud of it. Living Assistance Services has a dedication to quality and reliability, and that means taking on only the best. If you’re interested in learning more about in-home caregiver services in Toronto and the surrounding areas, please contact us. We’d be pleased to answer your questions, offer personalized guidance and provide a quote. Thanks for reading—we look forward to hearing from you!