Whenever we walk away from a placement, we leave behind a part of ourselves. This is what your client and family will remember about you in the future. I call it your legacy.
Every time a new party gets into power, the outgoing party reminds us of what they did or did not do, for the country.
They remind us that we were better off when they were in power because of their policies and achievements. Whether we agree with them or not is a personal matter, but they always leave a legacy of some sort.
In a live-in care placement, the same thing takes place. How many times have we been to a new placement only to be told how previous carers instigated the bath chair, or the stair lift?
No doubt a previous carer was the first to buy a double handed drinking cup which made things so much easier for the client.
Can a legacy be bad?
Absolutely! While we may strive to do our best, there may be an instance where we get on the wrong side of the client or family and after we leave, the legacy is that ‘the carer was argumentative or stubborn.’
Whether this was deserved or not may not be discussed. What will be discussed is how things simply did not work out well. A bad legacy will linger and be brought up over and over.
Can we choose the legacy?
Every single thing we do as carers starts our individual legacy, one way or another. Every decision we make, every discussion we have with family, our client and even friends will leave an impression about us.
Even down to the way we dress and how we cook will become part of our own legacy. You may well have heard the conversation about how the last carer was an awful cook!
One of the reasons why live-in care can be so stressful is because we always seem to be on our best behavior. Not one moment goes by when we are not being watched and measured – and sometimes criticized for not coming up to a previous carer’s standards.
Live-in care can be a constant emotional roller coaster, and it is little wonder why carers are so tired at the end of their placements.
Final thoughts
While being the carer who implemented the use of certain equipment which made your client’s life easier, it is far better to leave a legacy of kindness and empathy for your client.
While you will be remembered for making your client’s life better, you will more likely be remembered for being the carer who held their mom’s hand when she felt depressed. And while introducing helpful gadgets is important, it is just as important to be remembered as being understanding and kind, even in the face of adversity.
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