Creating a Therapeutic Relationship through In-Home Care

The relationship between an in-home caregiver and a person receiving care is meant to be therapeutic and nurturing. Providing in-home care services goes beyond performing menial tasks — these services aim to help people age or recover from injury within the comfort of their own home. In-home caregivers strive to help their clients live their best possible lives, even in the face of illness or disabilities.

Mental health is one of the top priorities when it comes to quality in-home care services. Prioritizing mental health helps make a caregiving relationship a therapeutic one. Considering that in the United States the suicide rate in people ages 80 to 84 is more than twice that of the general population, creating a positive environment for mental health is imperative for seniors receiving care.

How to Create a Therapeutic Relationship

Communication, empathy, and compassion are all key components of a therapeutic caregiving relationship. Core values underlie all aspects of care, in all caregiving settings, and profoundly influence the effectiveness of in-home care services. These core values include:

Respecting the dignity and worth of each individual
Recognizing the range of diversity among individuals
Prioritizing the autonomy of an individual
Providing care with compassion and empathy
Encouraging individuals to maintain as much independence as possible
Honoring an individual’s self-identity

Communication Techniques for a Therapeutic Relationship

The techniques below allow for communication that is nurturing and healing. These techniques help in-home caregivers prioritize the needs of their clients.

Caregivers need to be aware of their own selves, so that they do not project their wants/needs on their clients and instead can take a client-first approach.
Unbiased listening promotes an understanding of a person’s situation.
Using broad openings, such as, “What would you like to talk about today?”
Restating what a client says, to help them reflect upon their own words.
Validating and acknowledging how a situation can cause someone to feel upset.

Other, non-verbal techniques include holding space for a person, having neutral or non-threatening body posture, making sure that the person feels comfortable and safe in their environment, and respecting a person’s boundaries.

Quality In-Home Care Services

Professional boundaries are guidelines for maintaining a positive and helpful relationship with clients. All in-home caregivers at Alegre Home Care receive continual training that includes understanding boundaries and maintaining therapeutic relationships with clients.

With personalized care plans, Alegre Home Care offers senior care in Oakland and the nearby areas that provides individuals with the ability to age or recover from the comfort of their own home. Our home care agencies serving Oakland and the surrounding areas are staffed with caregivers who receive the best training and attend to each person with compassion, empathy, and respect.

Contact us at 1-800-598-4777 to inquire about quality in-home care services.