Introduction
Hiring a maid to take care of elderly family members can be a challenging task. The maid needs to have the right skills, experience, and temperament to provide the best care possible. Here are some characteristics to look out for when selecting a maid to care for an elderly person:
Patience
Patience is one of the most critical characteristics a maid should possess when taking care of the elderly. Caring for the elderly can be a challenging and time-consuming task, requiring patience and empathy. She should be able to listen, understand, and communicate effectively with the elderly, even in difficult situations.
Communication issues are common, so the maid will need to have the patience to slowly but surely identify what the elderly requires or wants. It is also important to state clearly to the maid if the elderly person tends to be naggy as the maid will be dealing with it throughout the day. Employers should be as honest as they can during interviews to best understand if the maid is suited to manage and take care of your elderly family member.
Physical strength
Taking care of the elderly can be a physically demanding task, especially if the elderly person has mobility issues. The maid should have sufficient physical strength and stamina to help the elderly with Activities of Daily Living (ADL) such as bathing, changing clothes, diapers, transferring/carrying, feeding and getting around.
The maid’s weight or height can give an indication of her physical strength. If your elderly family member is 70kg and 180cm tall, regardless of how many years the maid has with taking care of the elderly, you may need a maid with a similar physical stature.
Empathy And Compassion
Helping the elderly requires more than just providing physical assistance. It requires emotional intelligence and empathy to understand and respond to the feelings of your elderly relative. The maid should be able to put themselves in the elderly person’s shoes, understand their feelings and needs, and respond with kindness and compassion.
Prior Knowledge And Experience
The maid should have prior knowledge and experience in taking care of the elderly, be it with their own family members or for another employer. The maid should have a basic understanding of common age-related health issues, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, and how to manage them. If necessary, the employer should educate the maid with basic first aid procedures and also how to contact or seek medical assistance or services when the need arises.
Some maid may have experience working as a nurse in a clinic or a hospital, or have eldercare certificates. You can consider sending your maid to hospitals for training so that they can be better at handling and managing the elderly.
Trustworthiness And Reliability
Trustworthiness is critical trait when hiring a maid to take care of the elderly. She should be honest, reliable, and accountable, and someone you feel you can trust to care for your elderly relative. They should also be reliable enough to manage medications, medical appointments, money, etc. As the majority of elderly people are required to consume medication at specific timings of the day, it is very important for the maid to be able to identify the correct medication and time to consume it.
Language Proficiency
Language proficiency is also essential when hiring a maid to take care of the elderly. The maid should be able to communicate effectively not just with the elderly person but with the family members as well. If the maid is not able to converse with the elderly person or family members, it will be challenging to provide adequate care or to meet the needs of the elderly person. In rare cases, some maids have the ability to speak in Mandarin or other dialects such as Hokkien, Cantonese and Teochew. Such maids often have prior work experience in Hong Kong or Taiwan.
Hygiene And Cleanliness
Hygiene and cleanliness are critical factors when taking care of the elderly, especially if they have health issues. The maid should be able to maintain a clean and hygienic environment, including the elderly person’s living space, bedding, and personal hygiene. The maid should also have knowledge of basic infection control practices to prevent the spread of germs or viruses.
Employers should also create household rules and practices to ensure that the maid maintains her cleanliness when handling the elderly. For instance: Washing or sanitising hands before feeding the elderly and taking a shower during the middle of the day.
Emotional Stability
Taking care of the elderly can be an emotionally demanding task, requiring emotional stability and resilience. The FDW should be able to handle difficult situations or behaviors, such as dementia or agitation, with composure and patience. Some elderly people can also have naggy or difficult personalities as they age. The maid should also be able to manage their own emotions and stress levels and know how to seek support when needed. It is important for employers to playing the support role in this regard to support the maid mentally and emotionally when they are going through difficult times with dealing with the elderly.
Conclusion
Hiring a maid to take care of elderly family members requires careful consideration and evaluation of the maid’s best-suited characteristics and attributes. Ensure you evaluate their suitability by asking good questions during the interview, such as “What would you do” questions to gauge their response towards certain scenarios. After you hire them, you should then share your expectations/guidance on how they should respond. This can help you ensure that your elderly family members receive the best care possible.