A care home is a licensed institution that is meant to provide accommodation and the best care to individuals who are unable to look after themselves; mostly the elderly and the physically challenged. For a care home to be up and running, it must have qualified caregivers and members of staff. And just like any other job out there, there are some special qualities that will increase your chances of being hired as a caregiver.
If truth be told, working in a care home is not as easy as you might think. It takes a special kind of person to have the heart to look after the elderly, the sickly and people who generally can’t do anything on their own. With that in mind, if you have the passion to work in a nursing home, then this post is a good read for you.
For you to secure your chances as a Northcare caregiver, you must be;
- Caring and sensitive – For starters, you must understand that the residents are dependent on you fulltime. So, it is imperative for you to be caring, thoughtful and sensitive as you take care of them. Moreover, a sensitive person is one who shows awareness of other people’s feelings and a good caregiver should show exactly that.
- Compassionate and empathetic– This is more trying to put yourself in another person’s shoes, understanding the state that they are in and doing everything in your capability to make them comfortable, happy and relaxed. Being compassionate and empathetic means being loving, thoughtful, sympathetic, warm hearted, soft hearted and concerned.
- Patient – Are you able to tolerate delays without getting angry or annoyed? For example, old people tend to be stubborn and you might come across some who refuse to take a shower, eat or even take medication. You need to be patient with such residents and find a positive kind of reinforcement.
If you have the above-mentioned attributes, then go ahead and apply for a position as a caregiver in your preferred institution.Believe it or not, being able to do what you love – make a difference and make the lives of seniors meaningful, stress-free and enjoyable –will be the best thing you ever do. So, here is what to do:
- Draft a convincing resume – Just like it is when applying for any other job, your resume should be detailed with your background, academic qualifications and applicable skills. If this is your first time working as a caregiver, ensure that you convince the care home recruitment staff why you should be given a chance. For example, mention that you possess the three attributes discussed above.
- Show up for the interview ready – First of all, don’t be late for an interview. And make sure that you dress appropriately because the first impression says a lot about you. Even if your resume is convincing, you might kill your chances with a poor first impression. Finally, be yourself because personality is an important factor when looking for good caregivers.
Be ready to give nothing but the best –Last but not least, be dedicated to your duties and help in creating a cool, relaxing and comfortable environment for the residents.
