Aged care workers play a critical role in the healthcare industry, providing essential care to elderly individuals who require assistance with their daily activities. However, this profession comes with unique challenges that can affect the health and well-being of the care worker and the elderly person they support.
In this blog, we will cover some of the challenges that aged care workers face and provide solutions for overcoming them.
Challenges That Aged Care Workers Face And To Overcome Them
Client Resists Care Provided By The Worker:
Building trust with your clients is a crucial aspect of your role as an aged care worker. However, it’s common for clients receiving home care or assisted living for the first time to hesitate or resist your care. It may be due to a fear of losing their independence or general discomfort with receiving care from someone new.
In such situations, reassuring your clients and finding ways to accommodate their preferences around your care tasks is vital. An excellent way to handle this challenge is by pursuing aged care courses that equip you with the necessary skills to establish a rapport with your clients, communicate effectively, and provide personalized care.
If your client resists care, remaining calm and empathetic is crucial. Taking the time to talk to them and asking how you can help with their needs is an opportunity to validate your position and responsibilities as a care worker. It is also a chance to reassure your client that you support them and that their comfort and independence are your top priority.
Managing Irregular Shift Hours:
Time management is an essential aspect of being a care worker. As a care worker, you must organize your time efficiently to attend all the necessary care visits in a single day. Since many clients need care at varied hours of the day, working longer shifts and irregular hours, including weekends, is common. As a result, balancing personal responsibilities around work can be challenging for care workers.
To effectively manage your time, plan at least two weeks, with a month preferable, while allowing for some flexibility. In addition, independent care workers spend a lot of time on the road, so it’s crucial to factor in travel time when planning your schedule.
In addition to professional responsibilities, it’s crucial to save some time for personal activities. Care workers can maintain their mental health and spend quality time with their families by allocating a few hours daily to activities unrelated to work.
Arranging Transport For Appointments
When it comes to being a care worker, many roles require you to have your means of transportation. However, having your car can make your job much more comfortable, allowing you the flexibility to manage your travel without relying on public transport.
However, if you don’t have private transportation access, coordinating your schedule can be more challenging. It’s your responsibility to ensure you can get to your client’s location, so it’s best to plan your days to work out your route between each care call and source the necessary transport. Depending on the locality of your clients and the accessibility of the area, you may be able to walk between calls on some occasions.
Regardless of how you plan to travel between calls, it’s essential to work out how long it takes so you can arrive on time. In addition, if applicable, you must account for heavy traffic to arrive at your clients’ location on time.
If you can’t drive, it doesn’t mean you can’t pursue a career as a care worker. It may require more planning and coordination, but with effort and dedication, you can still provide excellent care to your clients. Pursuing a course in aged care can equip you with the skills to manage your time effectively and navigate the challenges of being a care worker without private transportation.
Coping With The Declining Health Of Your Client
It is natural for aged care workers to develop strong relationships with their clients, which can make it emotionally distressing when their health declines. This is especially true for older or very ill people. Coping with these situations can be challenging and may affect your ability to perform your other duties as a care worker.
While it’s natural to feel upset or worried, it’s crucial to maintain professionalism and continue to provide the best care possible for your clients. Remember, feeling emotional when your clients’ health suddenly declines is okay.
It shows how much you care about your clients. However, maintaining a professional demeanour and providing the best possible care is crucial in these situations.
Final Words
Aged care workers face various challenges in their roles. Pursuing further education and training, such as a Certificate IV in Ageing Support or other aged care courses, can equip workers with the necessary skills to overcome these challenges and provide the best possible care for their clients. By continually improving their knowledge and abilities, aged care workers can have a successful and fulfilling career while positively impacting the lives of those they care for.
