6 Creative Ideas to Help You Care for Your Caregivers

Supporting your caregivers isn’t just an effective way to take care of them – it also makes business sense, as it may promote improved resident experiences.

According to research published in the International Journal of Nursing Studies, nurse burnout negatively impacts patient care. Although the research focused on nurses, similar effects are likely in other care settings, especially when dementia patients are involved. Workers at adult care facilities may suffer discrimination, racial slurs, and insults from the seniors they serve, adding to the regular stress of the job.

In worst-case scenarios, caregivers who are experiencing burnout may suffer from compassion fatigue. They may even decide to quit, leading to costs associated with hiring and training new workers.

However, these challenges are not inevitable. The following ideas will help you care for the caregivers at your assisted living facility and reduce the risk of caregiver burnout.

1) Give Your Caregivers the Space and Time to Refresh

Your workers need time away from work to refresh. This could involve anything from a full vacation to a mental health day or even a 15-minute break at work after dealing with a particularly challenging resident.

Create a relaxing breakroom and/or outdoor break space, stocked with soothing tea and healthy snacks. Consider using plants, lounge seating, and soft colors to create a spa-like environment that feels really different from the care facility space. In another area, consider adding games like checkers or ping pong.

In addition to giving workers the time off they need, encourage them to use it. Pew Research Center found that 46% of U.S. workers who receive paid time don’t use all of it. Some may feel like they have nowhere to go or nothing else to do, but everyone needs a break. Not taking time off can be detrimental to care providers’ long-term well-being. Consider posting a quarterly list of inexpensive staycation options or creating a raffle to give away some fun experiences.

2) Provide Benefits to Help Them Cope

Workers may need help learning how to deal with the stress of caregiving. The right benefits will provide this help.

• Offer telehealth counseling to allow workers to talk to someone if they need to. Since many people appreciate the convenience and discretion of virtual therapy sessions, this is a great addition to traditional in-person therapy sessions.
• Set up protocols recommending that team members enlist mental health support and take a day off when emotional situations occur, such as the passing of a beloved resident. This will help them understand that self-care is a normal and expected activity.
• Provide subscriptions to mental health apps like Headspace and Calm that help with stress relief, meditation, and sleep.
• Set up an employee assistance program (EAP) to support workers dealing with both work-related and personal challenges.

3) Host Stress-Busting Events and Activities

Staff events are a wonderful way to show appreciation. The right events will also help relieve stress.

• Set up an on-site chair massage clinic for the day.
• Host a meditation or yoga class.
• Organize a staff event in a natural setting, such as a potluck at a state park. According to Harvard Health, spending just 20 to 30 minutes in natural settings helps reduce stress.
• Organize walking breaks so caregivers can get outside and take short walks together.

4) Consider Other Life Stressors

It’s harder to cope with work-related stress when you’re also dealing with other challenges. Help your workers by relieving some of the other sources of stress in their lives. For example, if your workers are stressed about money, offer financial wellness perks like budgeting tools and financial coaching.

5) Be Intentional About Thanking Caregivers

Everyone likes acknowledgment for their hard work. By regularly expressing your appreciation of your workers, you’ll build a positive workplace environment where everyone feels recognized.

• When you see workers, thank them for their efforts, drawing attention to specific things they have done well.
• Use company social media platforms and newsletters as a way to thank your workers and spotlight individuals who have gone above and beyond.
• On special occasions – such as a workplace anniversary – a handwritten card is a meaningful way to show your appreciation.

6) Train Caregivers to Deal with Challenges Effectively

Although helping workers deal with stress is critical, it’s great if you can help them avoid stress in the first place. Ongoing training will equip workers with the strategies they need to handle challenging situations, such as dementia patients who are resisting necessary care or residents who are verbally abusive.

Taking care of your caregivers is a wonderful way to promote a positive environment for your staff and residents. Maintaining comprehensive insurance coverage for your adult care facility is also critical. Tangram provides residential care facility insurance through the Personal Care & Assisted Living Insurance Center (PCALIC). Learn more.