Handling Challenging Behaviours and Improving Care Worker Skills

Working in a care home can be demanding, both mentally and emotionally. Two key skills are learning positive ways to handle difficult behaviours, dealing with difficult situations from residents and prioritising your self-care. Both are essential for being an effective, compassionate caregiver and improving your care worker skills.

Handling Challenging Behaviours Constructively

Some elderly residents exhibit challenging behaviours like aggression, wandering, or inappropriate actions. While frustrating, it’s important to respond calmly and with empathy.

Understand Root Causes

Reflect on what factors may be influencing the behaviour. Consider causes like dementia, mental illness, chronic pain, discomfort, stress, poor eyesight or hearing, etc. Understanding the root issues helps guide your care approach and improve your care worker skills.

Watch for Early Warning Signs

Learn to recognise subtle early signals that a resident is feeling distressed or agitated, like tense body language, pacing, or irritability. Intervene early to prevent escalation into more challenging behaviours and improve your care worker skills.

Listen Actively

If a resident seems upset or combative, actively listen to their concerns. Allow them to express their feelings in a judgment-free zone before responding calmly and empathetically.

Validate Their Feelings

Acknowledge the resident’s feelings and perspectives, even if their behaviour seems irrational. Comments like “I know this is frustrating” demonstrate empathy.

Speak in a Reassuring Tone

Use a gentle, compassionate tone of voice and relaxed body language when responding. This prevents escalating the situation. Avoid seeming impatient or exasperated.

Distract Positively

For dementia residents, try redirecting to a pleasant activity like a walk, snack, music, pet therapy, or reminiscence. Shift the focus away from distress triggers.

Modify the Environment

Reduce overstimulating noise, clutter or other stressors in the resident’s surroundings. Create a calmer atmosphere conducive to relaxation.

Provide Comfort

Assess if there are any untended needs causing discomforts, like hunger, thirst, laundry or toileting needs. Gently attending to needs can improve behaviour.

Review Care Plans

Ensure care plans for residents with behavioural challenges are up to date. Identify triggers and outline positive response strategies customised for that individual.

Seek Input from Loved Ones

Ask family members for guidance in soothing their loved one, like favourite snacks or music from their past. Incorporate their tips into care routines.

With patience and compassion, you can learn to defuse rather than escalate challenging behaviours. This promotes a more harmonious care environment.

The Critical Importance of Caregiver Self-Care

Self-care is vital for avoiding burnout and having the capacity to provide compassionate care day after day. Prioritising your well-being benefits you and your residents. levelling up your care worker skills in this area will also help your day to do work.

Take Time Off

Make use of your allocated time off each week to fully disengage from work. Protect this time to recharge your mental and emotional batteries.

Foster Work-Life Balance

Set boundaries and avoid letting your job become all-consuming. Make time for family relationships, hobbies, exercise, nutritious home-cooked meals and rest.

Practice Relaxation Techniques

Try simple mind-body relaxation practices like deep breathing, meditation, yoga or visualisation. Even 10 minutes of relaxation can alleviate stress when dealing with dealing with difficult situations. It can even support your development and care worker skills.

Connect With Community

Spend time nurturing personal relationships and a support network. Confide in trusted friends, join community groups, or volunteer for a cause important to you. When dealing with difficult situations

Seek Counseling if Needed

If you’re experiencing prolonged grief, trauma, or lack of fulfilment at work, consider consulting a therapist. Getting help is courageous.

Maintain Physical Wellbeing

Make your health a priority by eating a balanced diet, exercising, and getting enough sleep. See your doctor regularly. Being well-rested lets you give more at work. Particularly when difficult situations arise; you need all your faculties and wits about you.

Engage in Self-Reflection

Reflect on what called you to caregiving and the moments at work that feel most meaningful. Reconnecting to your purpose provides motivation.

Acknowledge Your Limits

You alone cannot fulfil every need. Recognise when you need to ask for help or shift gears. Setting realistic expectations prevents resentment.

Identify Stressors

Notice which workplace factors leave you feeling most anxious or overwhelmed. Brainstorm tweaks that could help, like adjusting schedules or daily routines.

By modelling self-care, you inspire residents in your care as well. You cannot pour from an empty vessel – caring for yourself allows you to better care for others and improve your care worker skills. Are you ready to progress in your role in healthcare? Chat with our team at Cucumber Recruitment to learn more about dealing with difficult situations.