Carolyn Naughton, General Manager at Home Instead Galway knows what makes a good carer because she was one herself. As such, she is ideally placed to oversee locally the national campaign to recruit 1,000 new carers for the company this season.
She is also in no doubt what the core characteristics for being a carer for her company entail.
"The core values really needed are kindness and respect and dignity. That's the number one minimum requirement," she said.
I spoke to Carolyn this week as Home Instead mark two milestones — its National Hiring Week which has announced the creation of 1,000 new professional CAREGiver roles to be filled across the country. This takes place until tomorrow (Friday ), and today (Thursday ) there will be Home Instead staff, at Galway Shopping Centre, Headford Road from 10:00 – 13:00 to meet any potential CAREGivers who are interested in joining the team.
Understanding dementia
Secondly, our conversation revolved around the arrival in Galway of the Dementia Bus, a training tool designed to help CAREGivers understand the sensory and emotional challenges faced by individuals with dementia.
"The bus distorts senses like vision and hearing to simulate the experience of dementia. The goal is to foster empathy and improve comprehensive care. Carers and family members of those diagnosed with dementia will get this unique opportunity to improve understanding of dementia. The bus is used to train not just Home Instead staff but also family members," Carolyn told me.
Supported by medical research, the state-of-the-art ‘dementia bus’ uses technology to replicate the sensory changes associated with dementia. Participants wear goggles, headphones and spiky insoles. They are then asked to perform everyday tasks but with distorted vision, loud noises and sensory overload which recreate what it’s like to have dementia.
The experience takes around three hours and includes a debrief to help participants understand what they have experienced as well as sharing useful tips and strategies to make the world a better place for people living with dementia.
"We are hoping that our CAREGivers along with the full training that they receive combined with this experience will give them a practical sense of what it's like for the person, to have that empathy and put yourself in the shoes of the client," she added.
"As well as the practical element of home care the emotional, and the companionship side of it that is also hugely important. Initiatives such as the Dementia Bus help give the CAREGivers a better understanding of what the client is going through.
"We focus so much on trying to match carers to clients. The more of the story we have about the client, the better we can make the match with the carer, especially when we're dealing with someone with a form of dementia. The more of an understanding and training they have, the better equipped they are to provide the personal side of the care."
Carolyn told me that as a result of the carer having such a good relationship with the client, they are able to stay in their own home for as long as possible and that the importance of a familiar setting cannot be underestimated for dementia sufferers.
Support
As a former carer herself, she has experience of the industry and underlines the importance of empathy, the challenges of recruitment in the care sector, and the need for skilled, compassionate staff.
"I suppose I'm in a unique position that I know what the carers are going through, for example, and I know the hardships with the job, because it can be an emotionally challenging job, however it is also one of the most rewarding jobs I have ever done”.
"It is really important that there's work progression for our employees, which is why over half of our staff here in our office all started as CAREGivers, this gives them a unique insight and understanding of what homecare is about”.
Home Instead currently provides compassionate, relationship-based care to upwards of 8,000 older adults throughout the country, employing a team of nearly 4,000 fully-trained Professional CAREGivers to support its services. CAREGivers are part of a dedicated care team who have extensive caregiving experience, focus on the person first and create care plans to enhance quality of life.
Established in Ireland in 2005, Home Instead is the country’s largest private provider of home care services. It has 26 offices around Ireland, and is an approved provider of HSE Home Support Services in all nine Community Health Organisations in the country. This means that people aged over 65 can choose Home Instead for their non-medical home care services. It also serves a large and growing client base who avail of private home care services to help them continue to live an independent life at home.
These services include companionship, meal preparation, light housework, personal care, dementia care and more. Home Instead is committed to delivering the highest standards of care services and it has robust clinical governance, HR and training practices in place to ensure this.
Making a difference
Carolyn Naughton said that Hiring Week, now in its third year, is a nationwide initiative to reach out and connect with those people who are interested in starting a career in care, and in doing so, make a real difference to the lives of ageing adults in their local communities and beyond.
"It’s also a fantastic opportunity for Home Instead to highlight what makes us an employer of choice in the home care sector; for example, we offer best-in-class training, career progression opportunities, quality compliance and both recognise and celebrate the stellar contributions of our wonderful CAREGivers," she said.
Home Instead hires people who embody the values of kindness, dignity and respect as this is how all those it cares for are treated. As a Home Instead CAREGiver you will receive research-based, practical training through Home Instead’s in-house Home Care Professionals Academy which ensures each new CAREGiver has the skills and confidence to perform their role effectively. Home Instead subsidised QQI modules for all CAREGivers.
“Whether you’re interested in full-time work or part-time hours that fit around your schedule, there’s an opportunity for you with Home Instead. Home Instead Hiring Week offers an excellent opportunity to meet your local team and explore all the amazing benefits a career in care can offer. We encourage anyone who has a passion for care to get in touch and join us at our Hiring Week events," she said.
“One thing we're really aware of here is consistency and continuity of care for our clients, we want to reduce the number of carers as much as possible going in to a client”.
"With the hiring week, you get a chance to meet the local team and get a sense of what support is there, and whether it be in the shopping centre or here in the office, any questions or concerns will be addressed.
Is this a job I can do?
"So if someone's sitting there at home and they're wondering, is this a job that I can do? First thing to do is chat to our HR team who can answer any questions. We also offer full training, part of which includes the shadowing process.
"When a new CAREGiver commences employment they shadow with an experienced caregiver and our care team, this gives them a real insight in to the role of the CAREGiver”.
A career in care might be for you. Avail of the Hiring Week, or contact the Galway office on 091-34160, or visit HomeInstead.ie/Hiring-Week for event details and career opportunities. It might change your life and that of those you care for.
