“To care for those who once cared for us is one of the greatest honors.” As Tia Walker, coach and author of The Inspired caregiver (Inspired Caregiver). However, for one reason or another, caregivers are often not valued enough by society or patients.
You can’t change everyone’s mind. But on the other hand, your job as caregiver will be much easier and more enjoyable if the person you care for respects you. But this cannot be done by snapping your fingers or by saying a few magic words. We’ve put together a list of three ways to make you more valued at work.
I work as a caregiver. Why doesn’t my patient respect me?
First, we need to understand that valuation is usually a two-way process. If you want someone to appreciate you, you must first give them a reason. Unfortunately, sometimes just doing your job well may not be enough. Being unappreciated is a common occurrence. If you do nothing to solve the problem, it can even lead to depression or burnout. However, with a little patience and the following advice, you may be able to improve the situation significantly.
1. Understand their point of view
If a person doesn’t say thank you every time you do something for them, it doesn’t mean you are not appreciated. For example, a person suffering from Alzheimer’s disease will concentrate mainly on their everyday problems. Unfortunately, some people with similar diseases can no longer think of expressing gratitude or behave inappropriately. Try to look through their eyes and remember that a lack of verbal gratitude doesn’t mean they don’t appreciate you.
If you notice a smile on their lips when you serve them food or feel them sharing more and more stories with you, be assured that you have made a connection. If you continue to build on that basis, you may start to get some verbal appreciation as well. But even if they don’t, remember that they certainly appreciate what you do for them.
2. Show appreciation through your behaviour
It is best to lead by example! Let the patient feel how nice it is to be appreciated. Thank them for every little thing. If they bring their plate into the kitchen or save you a second of work in any other way – thank them. By being overly affectionate, you may even make them uncomfortable enough to return the behaviour. But you have to mean it truly and seriously. There is a fine line between excessive politeness and passive-aggressiveness. And it probably wouldn’t go unnoticed if you crossed it.
3. Value yourself
You do important work that requires a lot of responsibility. When no one else is doing it, you should reward yourself! Your reward can be anything you enjoy. You can have a good cup of coffee, buy a tasty cake or anything else you like. If you are patient enough, you can multiply the rewards. Have you always dreamed of visiting Thailand or another country? Do your job for three months and then treat yourself with a vacation! Knowing that there’s a reward waiting for you when you’re done not only makes the time go by faster, it also makes you more productive.
Bonus tip – don’t do it alone!
We all know that the work of caregivers is often difficult. There are certain things that you can’t do on your own. That’s why it’s good to have someone you can turn to and rely on. In cooperation with Atena you’ll get much more than just appreciation. We will be there for you from the beginning to the end of the collaboration to make sure everything goes smoothly.
Do you use any of the techniques we mentioned? Is there anything else you usually do to feel appreciated? Share with us in the comments below.
