Establishing Boundaries with a Non-medical Caregiver

Home Care in Norwood, MA

Having a non-medical in-home caregiver can be one of the most helpful and beneficial decisions that you can make within your care journey with your aging loved ones. A non-medical caregiver can step in when you are not available to be in the home with your seniors to give them the care and assistance that they need, can provide assistance for sensitive tasks that you are not able or willing to handle on your own, or to give them extra social interaction and support that boosts their mental and emotional health. In order to get the most out of your parents’ relationship with their caregiver, however, you must feel not only confident that that person has the skills, experience, and attitude to give your parents the level of care and assistance that they need and deserve, but that you feel comfortable with how they interact with your parents and with you, and how they behave within the home.

Establishing boundaries with a non-medical caregiver is an important element of creating a sense of trust within the relationship and ensuring that the care remains consistent, respectful, and effective. Boundaries are also an important part of keeping you at the forefront of the care plan whether you are able to be in the home with your seniors frequently or you live at a distance and must rely on the caregiver to provide the majority of your parents’ direct care.

The boundaries that you set with your parents’ caregiver are a personal choice and must be established based on your own expectations, your parents’ needs, and your comfort level. Use these guidelines to inspire you to establish boundaries with your caregiver:

• Familiarity. What your parents’ non-medical caregiver calls them and you is a strong indication of the type of relationship that you want to have with them. Using formal titles and last names creates a sense of a more rigid and formal relationship, while using first names is a more casual and friendly approach. Determine how familiar you would like this relationship to be and establish that expectation from the beginning.
• Entering the home. As long as your parents are capable of being alone in their home and answering the door safely and independently, the caregiver should respect their privacy. This starts by not just entering the home when he or she arrives, but ringing the doorbell or knocking on the door to announce their presence. Even if your parents give them a key and tell them to let themselves in, they should make herself known first.
• Personal activities. This is one of the most important boundaries to set, especially in today’s age of technology and perceived connection. Establish what types of personal activities the caregiver should not do while caring for your parents, such as making phone calls, checking email or social media, or sending text messages. You should also establish boundaries regarding use of the television, radio, computer, and other technology in the home.