Identify Signs of Caregiver Exhaustion in their Communication and Expression

Details: Communication - EQF 4

What I say, what I don't say
Photo by Ann H from Pexels

This communication module helps caregivers, themselves, as a priority, to detect situations of difficulty in terms of exhaustion, stress and moral or psychological fatigue of caregivers. This module deals with both the collective and solitary situations of caregivers, hence the importance placed on verbal and non-verbal communication.

Task

Exhausted person
Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels

Spot hidden signs of exhaustion, fatigue, and stress (which are often dissimilated by hidden strategies)

Here are some common signs and symptoms of caregiver stress/pain/difficulty:

Anxiety, depression, irritability.
Feeling tired and run down.
Difficulty sleeping.
Overreacting to minor nuisances.
New or worsening health problems.
Trouble concentrating.
Feeling increasingly resentful.
Drinking, smoking, or eating more.
Neglecting responsibilities.
Cutting back on leisure activities.

Common signs and symptoms of caregives in their direct vocal communication or by phone or internet (= to be detected): by colleagues, other team support and friends:

Always be positive, too sometimes
- Never know how to say no orally
- Talking too much all the time to not leave room for questions from colleagues and loved ones
- Avoid discussion, meetings and contacts
- Saying you should never complain
- Getting carried away verbally at the slightest annoyance
- Always repeating the same things.
- Always reject responsibility

Process

It is better way to implement this learning module in groups of participants in order to stimulate interaction between caregivers on their reactions to all these tips.

Process: Just get them together, make them react, ask them for their answers and ask the following questions:

Have you experienced an identical situation with some colleagues?
Do you have some examples of such hidden signs?
If so, how did you react?
Do you think that anticipation of such situation is useful?
How to deal with isolated caregivers with some communication signs, words and expression? How to detect such cases?

Do you have other ideas?

Conclusion

To conclude, this communication module helps caregivers, themselves, as a priority, to detect situations of difficulty in terms of exhaustion, stress and moral or psychological fatigue of caregivers.

It is necessary to know how to go beyond the supposedly reassuring stereotyped sentences, and to interpret them with speed, confidence and tact, in order to avoid errors of interpretation.

Evaluation

Learning Outcomes

Ability to detect pre-alarming situations
Ability to use and interpret formal and informal signs and situations

Knowledge acquired

Learning the importance of non-verbal communication.
Learning on social risk detection.

Skills acquired

Ability to use non-verbal and verbal communication.
Ability to communicate clearly, to have active listening skills, to simplify information and improve their core skills.

Competences acquired