When you hire a home health provider, you are asking a stranger to come into your home, to help you or a loved one with intimate tasks.
That’s a hard thing to do.
And it is also why having good communication from the start is critical.
Relationships matter – and they really matter with your home health provider!
We get it; not every relationship is going to work and sometimes a home health provider isn’t a good fit for whatever reason. But we believe that good communication can prevent most issues – and get you the care you need.
So, what can you do? Here are a few things to consider.
- What makes a good relationship with a home health provider? A good relation in this case relies on empathy, compassion, respect and an environment of openness. Clients need to talk about their needs and caregivers must learn to respond adequately.
- Set expectations. You are inviting a stranger into your home and it is critical to set expectations from day 1. This means speaking openly about your preferences, habits and routines so your care can be customized. Also, you and your provider need to be patient with one another to build trust.
- Get family on board. Many times, the relationship with the caregiver and client is good – but family members may not have the same rapport. Family members need to be engaged and build their own relationship with the caregiver.
- Watch out for misunderstandings. Mistakes and misunderstandings happen. We are all human! Offering constructive feedback and speaking openly in a collaborative way can help smooth over any bumps. If there is conflict, asking to speak to a supervisor is always a good plan – they are there to help too!
It takes time to build an effective relationship with a home health provider. But with clear communication and respect, it can be done! A good relationship can improve the outcomes and experiences for our clients, and it also provides a positive workplace for our staff – so we are invested in the process.
HealthPro Staffing and Homecare
HealthPro is a leading medical staffing agency providing exceptional medical staffing services throughout Ohio. We have also been providing home health care services for patients in Central Ohio for more than 20 years.