Whether families hire a caregiver privately or through an agency, Kayla Cook, owner and director of Caring Excellence at Home, says they need to let their expectations be known from the first. Do they want the caregiver to engage the client with games and conversation? Do they want the caregiver to ensure the loved one gets some basic exercise? It is critical for families to convey their expectations in order for caregivers to meet those expectations.
Families should also be direct about how often they want communication, in what way (text, flow chart, phone call), and how often. Kayla says families often hire a respite caregiver to take the load off a family member who has been serving as a primary caregiver. “We don’t want it to be a constant barrage of questions and information that’s weighing down that daughter and son down again,” she says. “We want to take the load off the responsible people as much as they want us to.”
By Carrie Vittitoe
P.S. Play a game!
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