Bridgette Webber: Third Place
The Waters of Clinton
The relationship we build with residents and family members is very important. Due to this importance, it can take several years to completely understand the meaning behind the bond you create with these individuals who are trusting you to give your utmost support and care. The residents we are responsible for are someone’s parent, sibling, aunt, uncle, grandparent, spouse, or friend. They are people who have the same roles in life as those dear to us. Knowing this, we should always care for residents as we would want the people we care about to be treated. To build relationships with residents and their family members, it is important to show that you will care for them, not only through communication but also actions.
The family members of residents leave their loved ones with us hoping that the trust they put in us to give them our best care isn’t misplaced. There are several things you can do to reassure the family that their loved one is in great care. One thing would be to communicate well through a discussion with the resident and/or family members about the things that the resident enjoys most, what they dislike, what they prefer to wear, or anything they feel like you should know about the resident. Discussions like these will also greatly improve the relationships you have with the family members and the resident. Oftentimes, family members are in the room as we care for their loved one and they will want to participate in the cleaning of their family member. Again, communication is important in the instances when family members participate, they will ask for guidance and several other questions. It is necessary to answer these questions in the most appropriate manner possible, and if you cannot answer a question it is best to kindly refer them to someone who can.
Remembering that our residents are people as we are and loved by people who wish them the best care, we need to make sure that we are respectful towards them and that we do what we can for their needs. When you enter a resident’s room, you are entering their private space. This room is their home, the least we could do is knock before entering to show respect for the people we care for. The behavior in which we carry ourselves is pertinent. The resident and their family members will see every action you make and the way you do it. If you show yourself in a bad mood, with slumped shoulders, or smirking then you will not build a good relationship with them. Even if you don’t say anything negatively, the actions will say it for you. So, it is best to smile and communicate positively through your actions. Family members want to know that their loved one is being taken good care of by someone who actually cares about them enough to be kind and understanding. Keep your standards as high as you would want them to be for your own loved ones and care for them as you would your own.
In conclusion, it is not an easy job but it is an important one. A good relationship you build with residents and their family members is necessary. When you are thanked for just washing someone’s face, it makes the difficult job worth it, knowing you’ve helped a family. All of these people have someone they are important to just as you and I do. One day, I could be in the same situation, hoping that there will be someone with a good heart to take great care of me. To be treated well and taken care of with kindness, that’s enough for me.
THCA/TNCAL’s Convention & Trade Show is the association’s signature event of the year, a time when Tennessee’s long-term care professionals can come together for education, networking, and a true sense of community. This year, however, the COVID-19 pandemic has created challenges unlike any our industry has seen before. THCA’s Board of Directors and staff have been considering the feasibility of holding a major event amid social distancing recommendations, restrictions on large gatherings, and the particular dangers of the virus to the elderly population.