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Providing Quality Care

Learn what it takes to provide quality care and companionship to Papa members.

Pals that provide the best companionship and care to our Papa members are especially good at a few simple things. 

  • Empathy: The ability to understand a member’s emotions and provide the emotional support they need.  
  • Active Listening: Listening carefully to the member to understand their needs and concerns. Pay attention to nonverbal cues, such as body language and tone of voice, as well as the words they say.
  • Effective Communication: Be clear, concise, and respectful when communicating with members

Developing these qualities can help you be more prepared, confident, and ultimately successful with Papa. Below we will go into more detail on each of these aspects.

Empathy

Demonstrating empathy can be a powerful way to establish trust and build a connection with a member.  

Watch this brief video to learn more about why empathy is critical and some ways you can demonstrate it to your members.  

Active Listening

Practicing active listening can be challenging, but it can make a significant difference in building strong relationships with members. 

Watch the following video to learn more about why active listening is important and how you can ensure that you are actively listening to members during every visit. 

Effective Communication

Communicating with members can be difficult since some may have hearing loss, memory issues, or other cognitive difficulties.

Here are some tips to help you adjust your approach to communicate effectively with all kinds of Papa members. 

  • Speak slowly and clearly- Avoid using complex sentences or unfamiliar language.
  • Nonverbal cues such as facial expressions and gestures can help them understand what you are saying. Use eye contact, hand gestures, and facial expressions to convey your message.
  • Treat them with respect and dignity. Use their preferred name and avoid talking down to them
  • Distractions can make it hard for them to concentrate or process information. If this is the case, find a quiet and calm location to communicate with them.
  • Use positive language and avoid negative or confrontational statements. 
  • They may need information to be repeated or rephrased to understand. Be patient and willing.