LET’S look at how Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs relates to many things in life but most definitely within caring roles; for example, domiciliary caregiving which Home Instead East Northants delivers to our clients.
Let’s look at each level:
Physiological
Before our caregivers can even start to look at fully caring for the client we need to make sure that the client’s home environment is adequate; food is provided regularly and they have warmth and running water. Contact to a doctor, dentist and any other services they might need to get to or come into their home.
Safety
It is important to ascertain the level of support from immediate family, the level of health, how safe is the client in the dwelling so as not to hurt themselves within their own home. For example, all our caregivers are fully trained to move, feed and give medication safely.
Love/Belonging
Do our clients have family, if so do they visit them and support them? If they do not, can we arrange volunteer visitors just to chat to them in their home or take them out if they are physically able to, as well as our caregivers going in? As well as actual caring for them, our caregivers will sit and have a cup of tea or maybe play a card game with the client if they have time at the end of their shift.
Esteem
Our clients are always treated with respect and dignity; they should be made to feel important whatever their physical/mental ability. Senior citizens should have respect from their youngers and families and they deserve to be looked after and made to feel special. Making sure that they have help in bathing and washing their hair if needed, clothes that look smart and fit properly. Perhaps a lady might need help with make-up or a gentleman with shaving.
Self-actualisation
All people need to be able to accept their own boundaries, some will need help and support in doing this. Each of us has different skills and as we grow older we lose some skills and we keep some to acceptance of physical and mental boundaries are important. Our caregivers will support and help our clients understand these and support them to do so. Occasionally, families need to be advised on the boundaries of their loved one and, theirs as carers so they do not get run down and ill either.
At Home Instead we believe that all these points are very important; when doing induction training all these specific points are included. We pride ourselves on being at the top of our “Triangle” in all that we do.
This then leads on to other organisations and places that we work with. For example, the Northants Association of the DAA, Nene Valley Community Action, and recently we have held Dementia Open days at Wyvale garden centre in Podington.
We are about to hold our fourth open day here and we have plans to do the same at another local garden centre. These open days, for anyone to come along to and either chat to us or just pick up printed information to help them care for their loved one with dementia. The Manager and Marketing Manager have supported us strongly in doing this and we are grateful to have the correct type of place to do this. The demographics of the people who go on average to a garden centre are 50-plus and retired and often have loved ones they should look after.
All the points linked to my referral to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs are passed on to carers, family members, employees of these organisations so they understand the importance of using this advice and to pass on to other people and organisations they work with.
If anyone is interested in contacting Home Instead East Northants and finding out more about caring for a person with dementia call on 01933 678775 or go to the website www.homeinstead.co.uk/eastnorthants
