Soft and Hard Skills for a Successful Caregiver

If you’re considering a new career as a professional caregiver, there are a few skills you’ll want to ensure you have for a successful transition into your new job. Like many other jobs, caregiving requires a unique mix of soft and hard skills. Some of these skills you may have developed in previous jobs, while you may need to work on other skills. Whatever your situation, understanding your skillset is the first step to becoming a successful professional caregiver. 

Soft Caregiving Skills

Soft skills are intangible qualities that highlight a caregiver’s behavior and cognitive abilities. Soft skills are often more essential before starting your caregiving career because they’re difficult to teach. However, just because you don’t excel at a soft skill doesn’t mean you can’t still develop it. 

A few soft skills that are helpful with caregiving include:

Problem-Solving

Problem-solving is about your ability to think through obstacles to find the most efficient and effective solution. You’ll quickly learn that caregiving comes with a lot of unpredictability, so it’s essential for you to feel comfortable in challenging situations and know how to make intelligent decisions under pressure without too much guidance from others.

Communication

Communication is how well you can communicate thoughts to another person, whether verbally or in writing. Good communication skills contribute to building trust with clients. And when clients trust their caregivers, it makes it easier to do your job. 

Communication skills are also essential for relaying information to your colleagues. If you can’t cover a shift, you’ll want the covering caregiver to understand your client’s care plan. You must also communicate complications, concerns, or questions with coworkers if and when you have them. 

Empathy

Empathy refers to your ability to view a situation from another person’s perspective. Aging is challenging; some clients may face difficulties you haven’t experienced. Having empathy helps you relate to clients and allows you to show compassion and kindness. Empathy also translates to respect, showing clients you understand when difficult situations are complex, but you’re there to help them. 

Hard Caregiving Skills 

Hard skills are technical skills caregivers need for the job. These skills are nice to have before starting as a caregiver, but you’ll also learn many of these skills on the job. Essential hard caregiving skills include:

• Driving- You may have to provide transportation to appointments or help run errands. 
• Personal grooming- You’ll have to know how to help someone shower, use the toilet, dress, and groom themselves. 
• Mobility assistance- Knowing how to assist someone safely with their movements is vital.
• Laundry/vacuuming/housekeeping: It’s helpful to have general housekeeping skills as this is one of the most commonly requested services. 

Your Next Steps with Visiting Angels 

Visiting Angels is nationally recognized as a top in-home senior care provider because of its dedication to caring for clients, caregivers, and CNAs. Visiting Angels employees can enjoy referral bonuses, competitive wages, 401k matching benefits, paid mentoring opportunities, wage increases after their first year, and insurance. 

Our Loveland office hires full-time and part-time caregivers to assist seniors throughout Windsor, Loveland, Greeley, Fort Collins, and the surrounding communities. If you have the hard and soft skills to work as a professional caregiver, send us your application or call 970-292-5668 with any questions.