Enhancing carer-patient-family communication in homecare
As a carer, you need to communicate with everyone, from clients to their families, co-workers, healthcare professionals, friends, and insurance companies - it can be tiring. Constructive and effective communication is the key to success as a carer. You are more likely to be heard and to receive the desired response if your communication skills are explicit, assertive, and constructive.
There are many different types of effective communication skills that are required for a carer's job, including verbal and written communication skills, interpersonal skills, and crisis management. A carer should first understand that everyone is different, and the sooner you understand this, the more effective you can be in providing care to others.
In this article, we will be explaining what the role of effective communication skills in homecare is and how this is important in maintaining a healthy relationship with clients and their families.
General communication skills when speaking with a client
Here are some basic, effective communication skills for homecare carers:
1. Start with a smile:
The most effective way of communicating with a person is by starting a conversation with a smile. A smile is contagious, and it can reduce stress levels. This will bring ease to the client and yourself, helping you both feel comfortable and start a productive conversation.
If you are meeting a new client, you can start by introducing your company, the various services offered, and a brief personal introduction.
2. Be assertive, honest, and transparent:
One of the most important communication skills required is being honest and transparent, especially when making changes, providing important guidance, or handling a crisis. This will give the client an exact picture of their care-receiving process and allow them to adjust to the changes accordingly. While being transparent with the client, make sure not to give too much information at once and to answer their queries and concerns promptly.
3. Respect the feelings and rights of others:
Don't say something that will hurt the feelings of another person. Always remember that even they have the right to share their feelings and thoughts.
4. Be clear and specific:
When engaging in a conversation or explaining something to a client, be clear and specific so that the patient knows exactly what you are trying to communicate. When both parties are straightforward, the chances of reaching a mutual understanding are higher.
5. Create a trusting relationship:
This is another important aspect of effective communication in homecare. When a carer establishes a trusting relationship with clients, they will be more likely to openly express their needs and wants. Another way to strengthen your relationship is by listening actively—not just listening but also understanding what they're asking for. By listening to them, carers can better understand the client's needs and help them reach their goals. When communicating with clients, it is essential that both parties feel secure and understood. Through this, you can create a strong bond with clients and increase their trust in you as a carer.
6. Respect their privacy:
To be a compliant homecare provider, you should respect your client's privacy and not share their personal and private information with others, especially if they are not part of their family, without permission. This value is especially important in this digital world, where it is often possible to capture and share personal information using mobile technology. This includes publicly sharing information like addresses, phone numbers, and social media profiles.
As a carer, you should also keep in mind that some clients might be hesitant to share such personal details with you as well, especially those with dementia and other cognitive impairments. They might be worried about how their carer might use such information and fear that their carer might take advantage of them financially or exploit them otherwise.
7. Maintain professionalism:
The very first step in effective communication is maintaining professionalism. Your clients will know that they can trust you and be confident in your homecare services. This may seem easy, but it is not, as carers mostly forget the importance of being professional when they are in the midst of caring for their clients. However, when carers remember that professionalism is an essential factor in their job, it becomes easier to effectively communicate with clients. Professionalism here doesn't mean speaking in a monotone voice; it means showing empathy and understanding to clients.
8. Set boundaries where needed:
Setting boundaries is the most effective communication skill required in homecare, as it will define what they can expect from your homecare service and what you expect from a client. When you are on a homecare visit, there are times when your client requires more support from you than you can provide. This is the primary reason why an appropriate and well-rehearsed backup plan is in place in case something goes wrong, if you need more time to support your client, or if the situation becomes too difficult for you to handle alone.
9. Don't take things personally:
When you are working with a client, it's easy to forget that they are not always right. Clients are not permitted to act or speak in a manner that makes a carer uneasy and elicits a response from the carer in return. This can lead to conflict, which will not benefit both parties. Rather than going with the flow of emotion, take a step back and discuss with your manager how to improve effective communication in homecare.
Effective communication skills when speaking with family members
Here are some specific effective communication skills and tips when conversing with family members and their loved one:
1. Be a good listener:
Remember, listening is the most important aspect of effective communication when providing homecare services to someone.
2. Talk openly about fears, worries, and needs:
Be sure questions are clear, understandable, and cannot be answered by a simple "yes" or "no". This will lessen the chance of confusion and enhance clarity, so you truly understand their concerns.
3. Be sensitive:
When homecare professionals discuss with families a loved one's health condition, be sensitive and show empathy. Typically, caregiving occurs after a medical emergency, particularly heart disease and stroke. The entire family might be reeling, so as a carer, try to be patient. A family member who has never adapted well to a crisis will likely not be able to handle this one either. Allow everyone time to adapt independently.
Effective communication skills when providing homecare
Effective communication skills require practice and development. Here are 6 communication skills carers require:
1. Allow enough time to hear, understand, observe, and take action where appropriate.
2. Make sure the environment is appropriate for communication.
3. Judge correct body proximity and allow personal space.
4. Demonstrate listening and understanding at the moment.
5. Use of appropriate non-verbal communication like eye contact, head nodding, and touch.
6. Explore other communication methods appropriate for each client's needs.
Nurses Group Homecare is aware of the significance of effective communication skills when caring for patients. We believe in building a strong relationship between clients and their families and thus train our carers to advance their communication skills.