Making a difference with the right Caregiver

When Natalie switched careers to join the Right at Home team, she soon found that she was making a huge difference in improving her clients’ quality of life.

 

The Importance of Companionship

Unfortunately, loneliness and isolation amongst the elderly continues to be a prevalent issue. There are around 1.2 million chronically lonely people living in Britain, and the number only continues to grow. According to one report by Age UK, around half a million older people don't speak to another person for around 5-6 days each week. This shouldn't be the case.

Companionship is essential to emotional and mental wellbeing, and it establishes a sense of belonging. It keeps the mind active and helps to avoid feelings of loneliness and isolation. Home companionship care is also a fantastic way of maintaining independence for the client. This empowers them to continue living life on their terms. It also has many mental wellness benefits, such as memory stimulation through activities like reminiscing, and stimulating positive thoughts and interactions.

Companion carers are also a new, friendly face around the house. The bond that forms between the carer and client is a fantastic way to increase a client’s confidence and comfort. They spend time together playing games, going for walks, and enjoying fun outings.

In short, companion care is rooted in the idea of helping someone to elevate their quality of life, preventing loneliness and making a difference. A companion carer is there to be a true friend, sometimes by even just sitting and enjoying the others company. Studies have shown that older adults who remain socially connected tend to experience improved self-esteem and overall mental well-being.

 

Matching the Right Carer to the Right Client

When Mrs D’s family first got in touch with us, they said that she was sceptical of care, and reluctant to engage with anyone new. This all changed when she met Natalie. For well over a year, the pair have become fast friends. As the pandemic hit and their hours increased, and they found new ways to fill their time indoors, scrapbooking it as they went. They played lots of board games, like Connect 4 and Scrabble, with the long-running joke that Natalie was cheating, as she wasn’t playing the way Mrs D wanted!

Since restrictions have eased, the pair are getting back to the outdoor activities they enjoy the most. These include going to the lakes to feed the ducks, to the Natural History Museum in Tring or the local garden centres and sitting in the café for a cup of tea and ice cream. Knowing that Mrs D loves flowers, they even managed to take a day trip to Kew Gardens!

With her patience and he support of Right at Home, Natalie helped bring Mrs D out of her shell more and more with each visit. At Christmas, Mrs D presented Natalie with her own ‘N’ mug, and she now seems to be like one of the family.

Natalie and Mrs D are a great example of how matching the right Caregiver to suit the clients’ needs makes a huge difference in improving the their quality of life.

 

 

If you’re looking for support for you or your loved one, or are interested in a career in care, then please get in touch to find out more.

• 01462 559159
• [email protected]