1. Be sure your HEART is in your work.
2. Learn about your patient / loved one. Who are they? What do they like and not like? How is their personality type? If they can speak, find out their life story? What type of character do they have?
3. Treat your person with dignity, which means applying the likes and dislikes noted in #2 above:  Remember, whether a person can see, hear, feel or think, people need touch. Holding a hand, rubbing a forehead, a foot, etc, is not only soothing, but feeds the spirit. It is a contributor to the healing process of body, mind, soul and spirit.
4. Go the extra mile. Just because someone is stuck in bed, does not mean that the little details no longer matter: Having one’s hair done with care, keeping the fingernails and toenails clipped or painted, for women – pluck eyebrows, for men and women – shave…and when you dress them, instead of a hospital gown – put clothes on the person that he or she would like. This extra mile is what I call dignity.
5. Imagine YOU were the patient. How would you want to be treated? Then, behave accordingly toward others.
6. TALK to your person. Most patients / loved ones can hear even if in a non-conscious state. This can keep a person going.
7. No matter what, be positive. No fighting with others near your person that is trying to heal. No negative emotions or behaviors. The atmosphere created in the room is crucial to the healing process. If you need to vent – do it away from the patient / loved one. Bring your best to the table.
8. Resolve needs quickly, don’t wait til “later.” Do it right away (again, dignity!). Things like re-positioning, diaper changes – things you cannot “plan.”  Never yell at your person because of these needs.
9. Do the proper clean up: whether it is the hospital bed, normal bed, a person’s physical body or the items around them: keep it clean and sanitized. Letting these things get away from you will stack them up against you and it will tumble you down. Have a plan, a routine.
10. Be organized. The more organized you are, the more you save TIME. Medical supplies, meds, cleaning supplies, diapers…have back up supplies to avoid running out and being in an emergency situation.
11. Care for your person like you are running a business that matters. This is dignity to yourself. Don’t just show up and ‘go with the flow’ – that is a road to disaster. Make your time count.
12. Be thankful to have a career in caring – it is a great way to show love and embrace real needs in this world; MAKE A DIFFERENCE by choice.

BLESSINGS to all that are checking my blogs. These are tips from the heart meant to be beneficial and helpful.  This way we CARE in a win-win way.