Source: The Care Guide

Good old-fashion manners are essential when working in the elder care industry. The average age group of a senior receiving services or care is from 78 to 86. Typically, this is a widowed woman. In her generation, manners reflected respect and honor, for oneself and for others. There were definite ‘do’s and don’ts’ and those have to be respected.

This may seem like common sense to many of us, but the younger generation of caregivers may not have been brought up in quite the same atmosphere. As a result, many young people, both professional caregivers and otherwise, just don’t get the importance of polished manners.

If you are training or working with a younger caregiver, here are some tips on manners and seniors:

• Please and Thank You. Two little phrases that mean a lot. Do you use these words? Check the tone of your voice. Will the listener hear that you ‘mean’ these words?
• Smile ~ look them in the eye. When you are speaking with someone, are you connecting? A sincere smile and eye contact is essential.
• Mr. or Mrs. When you are working with a senior, you should always address him or her by their proper name, Mrs. Smith or Mr. Smith until such time they tell you personally, that you may address them with another name.
• Yes Sir, No Ma’am. Much better than, ‘nope’, or ‘yep’ or ‘okie dokie’ or ‘sure, whatever.’
• Learn names and address each person properly. This actually takes a bit of mental discipline if your elder care business is large with a lot of employees and senior clients. People like to hear their names spoken out loud.
• Personal hygiene is part of having good manners. As we age, many of our senses decline; eye sight, hearing and so forth. Our sense of smell however is often times heightened. In fact, studies show that our sense of smell is the last sense active right up to the end breath. Wearing strong perfume, the smell of cigarette smoke in your hair and on your clothes, or body odor is offensive. Long fancy finger nails may enhance your ‘look’ when out on the town, but to a senior that has aging skin, your nails are cause for concern. Large rings, big earrings and gaudy necklaces are also cause for alarm for the same reasons.
• Diction, Slang, Profanity. Most of the time what you say is less important to how you say it. A senior translates poor diction in to disrespect and even laziness. The use of slang and profanity should go without saying, right? Again, observe your staff. They may be using slang and or profanity and honestly may not be aware of how negatively they actually sound.
• “I am not your child”. If there’s one thing an elderly person detests it’s being spoken ‘down to’. Employees are just as offended to a supervisor speaking to them in this manner. Just because a person needs your help getting dressed doesn’t mean they ought to be spoken to with a singsong voice and called ‘honey’ and treated as a child.