Naoma Passenger: Second Place
Woodbury Health & Rehab
Some say that relationships are built on trust and respect. This is true, however that is not all that you will need. Especially when it involves a relationship between a caretaker and their residents. So, you may be wondering, what does it take to build a relationship with your residents.
I believe that the relationship between a caretaker and their resident plus the families is built on several factors. The first one I think of would be respect. Respect is very important because when a resident feels as if they’re being respected they are more likely to feel at ease with you and build trust with you. On the opposite side, if you were to not respect your residents then it is likely that they will have little to no trust with you.
The second thing would be trust. When a family feels as if they can trust you to do anything that they may need for their loved one this will likely put them at ease. This will allow for the families to begin building a relationship with you. It is also equally important to have trust in your resident and their families. Having trust on both ends allows for a much easier process of building a relationship.
Next would be compassion. This is also very important for building a relationship. This is because without it we cannot understand how they feel, which would also make it harder to understand what we can to do help them when they’re upset. When you take your time to sit and understand what is going on in your resident’s day or what is making them upset, you are showing them that you care about them. This can also be applied to the families. If you take the time to listen to any concerns they might have this will show them that they have someone who cares about them as well. Another one is listening. We as caregivers know it is beneficial to know why their loved ones are the way they are. Listening helps us to navigate around certain triggers to give the best care.
Being a CNA has given me a chance to learn more about our seniors. As for how I feel about the relationship between a CNA and the family members, it can be described as rewarding and an adventure. It has been proven that if there is a good relationship between any staff and the resident’s family they are able to better communicate their concerns. When there is a lack of understanding or a possible issue between caretakers and family members it can hinder the abilities of the caretaker.
Without trust, respect, understanding, compassion, listening, and talking, no relationship will work out. If any of these things are missing, problems can and will occur. If you can, imagine how it would be like to be in a place where everything and everyone is new to you. It would be very scary and overwhelming. That is where trust and compassion comes in. We need as CNAs to be there for the resident. All these things work better for everyone in the long run.
So let me tell you about something I have learned since becoming a CNA. I would not change a thing. When I take care of a gentleman or a lady, I learn about who they are and where they grew up and what they have been through. Their stories are like listening to history. It is wonderful. It is very rewarding to be able to learn about them as a person and all the achievements they made in their life.
For example, there was a lady who basically raised her brothers and sisters when their parents passed away. Another example is a gentleman who met his wife two weeks before leaving for the army. The couple came to stay here with us. There are so many more wonderful stories. The residents look at us as friends and sometimes they see us as a part of their family, too. I know that I feel like they’re my family.
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.