As we already know, the lack of staff in nursing homes and the extra time that caregivers have to work without being adequately trained can have negative effects on their behavior with the older adults they have to care for.
For this reason, nursing home and retirement home managers, as well as people who visit their loved ones in these types of establishments, should be on the lookout for signs that workers are suffering from extreme fatigue or are about to reach it. Since in this way, they could help both the caregivers themselves, as well as the elderly receive compassionate and much more attentive treatment.
The main signs that may indicate that a caregiver is reaching a point of extreme exhaustion
There are small signs that should not be overlooked to identify a case like these such as:
- Change of attitude in their way of treating the elderly
- Lack of empathy and desire to work
- Slower movements
- Short-term memory loss (forgetting important steps in the work routine)
- Changes in punctuality
- Physical changes such as weight loss, dark circles, weakness, etc.
How to prevent extreme fatigue in nursing home workers?
The best way to not make a worker go to extremes like this is to consider his physical and mental health, as well as a good balance between work and personal life.
This can be achieved by hiring enough staff to care for the number of seniors living in the same retirement home, considering the type of care they need.
Any employer has an obligation to take care of the health status of its workers and nursing homes are no exception.
Consequences of extreme fatigue in caring for the elderly.
A caregiver who has been exploited and has had to work long overtime, hasn’t had breaks, and isn’t well-trained may feel so tired and fed up that he may begin to treat the patients or residents he is caring for poorly. This, in turn, could lead to mental health problems for older adults.
Therefore, remember to observe the signs that the caregivers show. In case you need more information, do not hesitate to contact us.