Whether the person in your care is a patient or a family member, the importance of compassion cannot be overstated. Compassion is the cornerstone of quality care, especially in home care environments.
Showing empathy and understanding for patients in their own homes leads to dramatically better health and well-being outcomes.
The role of a caregiver goes beyond providing the physical necessities. It’s about providing emotional support.
Learn why showing compassion has such a significant and positive impact and how you can be more compassionate.
What is Compassion?
With respect to home care, compassion is best defined as the act of showing empathy. It’s showing that you’re invested and genuinely care about the patient or family member’s wellness.
Both the American Medical Association and Canadian Medical Association have listed compassion as one of their core virtues that should be exhibited by every ethical physician and caregiver.
Why Compassion Matters
Research is available correlating compassion, or lack of it, to quality of care. A study published in BMC Palliative Care shows that home care patients whose caregivers showed compassion reported higher quality of life and reduced medical symptoms.
By contrast, patients whose caregivers lacked compassion had higher instances of complaints and adverse medical events.
3 Ways to Show a Compassion
Here are simple yet profound ways to be more compassionate towards someone in your care. Make these routines habit for maximum effect and improved patient/caregiver relationship.
1. Respect Personal Spaces
Being assigned as someone’s caregiver doesn’t give you the right to intrude into that person’s personal space without permission. Here’s how you can be considerate of personal spaces:
- Always knock before entering a bedroom.
- Don’t rummage through personal belongings without first asking.
- After cleaning up, put items back exactly where they belong.
2. Mind Your Body Language and Mannerisms
Patients will know through gestures and tone of voice whether you’re truly compassionate or merely doing your job. Keep these body language points in mind:
- Refrain from passive-aggressive body language, such as crossing your arms and putting your hands on your hips.
- Make eye contact when speaking to the person in your care.
- Remember to smile every now and then.
- Upon arrival, ask “how are you today?” or other conversation starter.
- Avoid a monotone voice; this suggests disinterest.
- Remain patient; seniors may take longer to respond to your cues.
3. Engage in Casual Interaction
Take the time to do something with the patient outside your normal obligations. Do something that the patient wants to do, or you can even suggest an activity. Examples include:
- A tea-time conversation
- Playing a board game
- Watching a movie and discussing the film
- An afternoon stroll in the neighborhood
- Looking at old photographs and recounting stories
Whatever the activity, there should be plenty of opportunities for open conversation.
Watch Out for Compassion Fatigue
While compassion is an important part of the job, don’t forget to show compassion for yourself. Compassion fatigue is real and is the result of losing your ability to show compassion due to having to be compassionate around the clock.
One meta-analysis revealed that compassion fatigue rates in nursing and home care were as high as 52.55% in 2021.
Whether by profession or caring for a family member, always set time for yourself. Partake in a hobby in your free time, or take up journaling.
Practicing mindfulness or meditation can also help clear your mind. Being compassionate doesn’t have to come at the expense of your own mental health.
Read also: 4 Reasons Why Respite Care is Important for Caregivers
Compassion is Among Our Core Values at Home Instead
If you are looking for compassionate and professional in-home care for a senior loved one in the Lafayette area, Home Instead should be your first call.
As a leading home care provider in Lafayette, LA, Home Instead caregivers are specially trained to provide both physical support and emotional comfort to seniors.
Our thoughtful and respectful caregivers can assist with activities of daily living, provide companionship through conversation and shared interests, and help seniors maintain their independence in their own homes.
Contact Home Instead today for a free Care Consultation or to learn more about our personalized home care services and how we can support seniors in living their best lives.
