How to Trust Your Caregiver

Full Transcript

So, one of the barriers we all face when bringing a caregiver into our home is trust.

Putting the care of your child, or spouse or parent, in the hands of someone who, for all intents and purposes, is a stranger, is a big step.

For some, it can be a leap of faith, especially if you’re way too analytic and meticulous like I am.

I have to be honest. I’m never really 100% confident ALL the time that Ben is OK with his caregiver. It gets really close to 100% but it’s never quite there. How could it? They’re not there 24/7 like I am.

But do I worry that something “bad” could happen? Definitely not.

So is it a question of trust? Sometimes … because everyone can have a bad day. And everyone comes with some baggage.

So why do we leave Ben in the care of others? Well, for lots of reasons.

First, he doesn’t want me or Jan in his face all the time. He’s an adult now and no adult wants their parents in their space much of the time. Even if he were younger, he deserves his freedom and independence just as much as anyone. There is no difference there.

Second, because Jan and I can’t do it all the time. It’s not good for us physically or emotionally and as we get older the body doesn’t respond like it used to and there’s not much we can do about that. Ben needs people around him to be bringing their best and if we’re exhausted, that can’t happen.

And, if nothing else, Jan and I need to continue to develop our relationship. We need our “alone” time to go out or get away for a few days. Whatever it happens to be. Everyone does.

Ok, so if it’s good for Ben and it’s good for us to have a caregiver in our life, what’s the issue?

In Ben’s case, there are many details to know and follow so not everyone is suited, and since Ben is non-verbal, this adds another layer of complexity to his care and support. For other families, it could be complex medical needs or behavioural issues.

But if you assume you could find someone to meet your needs, how do you get to the point of trusting them to do all the things they’re supposed to, especially when you’re not there? This is what we’ve learned on how to get there …

1 – Before you make a hire, do thorough reference checks. In fact, you should ask for 4 references. That may stump some people but the reality is that every reference an applicant provides will usually only have great things to say. So the fourth reference can often provide you a different perspective.

2 – Once you’ve made the hire and the honeymoon period is over, observe your loved one’s reaction when your caregiver is around. Watch for any changes in behaviour. Get more in tune with how your loved one especially if he/she is non-verbal or shy.

3 – Look for sincerity and authenticity in the words you caregiver uses and how they interact with your child. Authenticity is the biggest must have for me. You don’t need to be paranoid or suspicious but over time you will get good at seeing through any phony words or actions.

4 – Install webcams in your home. Really good ones, that are secure and can be accessed from anywhere. Of course, make sure your caregiver knows about them. Don’t be sneaky. Webcams are there for their support if they need help and can give you the ease to “check in” whenever you need. They’re not for spying but they can allow you to see how things are.

5 – Check in frequently with your caregiver. Maintain a regular, daily conversation whether in person, by phone, or by text. Also, have family members stop in occasionally as a resource to your caregiver and as another way to check that things are going ok.

Trust is not automatic. It takes time. But once it’s there, you will feel energized and freer.

We can help you bring a great caregiver into your life, one you can trust and is authentic. We’ve developed a formula that shows you step by step how to get there. It’s called the Caregiver Support Formula.

To learn more about it, go to CSFProgram.com.

Or you can send me an email at [email protected] and let’s talk about your caregiver needs. That’s why we created Soaring Families. We want to help you be successful and achieve that freedom you deserve.

Take care and keep soaring!