iSavta | 21.03.2021

Caregiving can be considered a form of art. You need to be creative, compassionate, and insightful to offer effective and efficient care for your patients. There are instances when caregivers are having a harder time with soft skills instead of hard skills. Soft skills like listening skills, breaking the ice, building rapport, and establishing a positive relationship with your patient can often be more challenging.

Follow this short guide to ensure that you and your patient will have a good relationship.

 

Know What to Say and Not to Say

To prevent that much dreaded awkward silence between you and your patient, you should learn how to break the ice. How do you do that? For instance, try to compliment them about something like their clothes, jewelry, hairdo, or anything else. You can also take interest in topics that they love or enjoy. Make sure that you also ask good and right questions.

 

Be Personal and Professional

It can sometimes be tricky to know what you should and shouldn’t share with your patient. While you will spend most of your time with your patient and even befriend them, it is equally important to maintain professionalism and boundaries.

If you end up sharing too much information, you might compromise your professionalism. Some of the things that you can share include your name, why you joined the field and how long you have been part of it, your interests, and your hobbies. Meanwhile, things you should never share include your address, your personal health issues, and your personal family or relationship problems.  

 

Be a Good Listener

Another important soft skill that you need as a caregiver is the ability to listen effectively. By actually listening to your patient, you can learn some personal and deep aspects of their lives. It doesn’t only establish a positive relationship with your patient as it also helps you become more aware of potential signs of distress. To be a good listener and build a good rapport with your patient, make sure you maintain eye contact. Adjust your body like you were looking at a mirror. Nod your head, maintain an open posture, pay attention, clarify and ask relevant questions.  

 

Be Respectful and Courteous

Be courteous, it means you should be considerate in manner, polite, and respectful. A professional caregiver must have all of these. It means that unless they tell you it is fine, don’t forget to take off your shoes at the door. Don’t put your feet up on the coffee table, leave dishes out, or do other discourteous things. Remember that you are not in your own house. Always treat it like your work areas since it is. Make sure you are also courteous at all times.  

 

Be Positive

Staying positive is a better way to work with your patient. It makes the environment more enjoyable for you and your patient. No one would like to be around a person who is always complaining. So before you complain or criticize someone, there is always the chance that you will do the same thing if you were in that person’s shoes.