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Skills For Caregivers

Caring for someone, at home or in a facility, can be an overwhelming job, an enormous responsibility and a rewarding experience. Caregivers require the necessary skills for care-giving in order for them to provide the best possible care and attention to the parent, spouse, friend or resident. At-home caregivers should also attend to their own needs in order for them to be mentally alert and physically well and able to care for someone else.

  1. Communication and Social Skills

    • Caregivers need to remember that the individuals they are caring for can, in many cases, still see, speak, hear and feel. The tone and volume of the caregiver's voice can play a large role in how they are heard and perceived. Eye contact is very important when speaking and listening to someone. Since communication can be both verbal and non-verbal at the same time, and our words form only about 30 percent of our communication, the signals given by our bodies can tell an entirely different story than our words. Touch and gestures are also equally important when care-giving as most people respond well to gentle, nonaggressive, non-threatening gestures.

    Safety Skills - Physical Aspects

    • Caregivers should have skills in lifting, moving, carrying or supporting individuals who are not mobile. Learning the correct way to transfer someone from a bed to a wheelchair can prevent serious injury to both yourself and the person for whom you're caring. Knowledge of wheelchairs and lifts is also essential. Learning how to properly bathe someone with mobility problems can reduce the risk of hospitalization for chronic sores and infections. For individuals who are cognizant, caregivers can assist and supervise them in performing everyday tasks such as washing their hands, holding eating utensils or dressing themselves.

    Knowledge of Diseases and Illnesses - Emotional Skills

    • Caregivers should have very good knowledge of the various illnesses and diseases that affect the individuals in their care. Individuals suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's disease experience frustration and grief as they struggle with gradual loss of function and fading memory. Caregivers must be able to cope with caring for these individuals in an understanding, caring and nurturing way. They should also acquire techniques and the necessary skills to manage the ongoing behavioral difficulties of those in their charge.

    Life-Saving Skills

    • Caretakers should take training and be certified by the American Red Cross or other reputable organizations in first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other life-savings skills. Their training and certificates should also be current and kept up-to-date. They should be able to recognize life-threatening emergencies such as choking, cardiac arrest or a heart attack and be able to respond quickly and effectively to such emergencies. They should also be knowledgeable about burns, cuts, bruises or the many accidents that may occur at home or in a care facility.

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