September 5, 2024
Growing Attached to Residents Is Natural: Supporting Caregivers Needs to Be Too
Caregivers form deep bonds with residents—how do we support them?
In this Senior Living Minute, Joanna LaFleur discusses a critical yet overlooked aspect of senior living: supporting caregivers through loss. When residents pass away, caregivers experience grief similar to losing a family member.
Learn how communities can help caregivers process loss and prevent emotional burnout.
Transcript: Growing Attached to Residents Is Natural: Supporting Caregivers Needs to Be Too
One of the things I frequently hear from my staff is, ‘I don’t want to get too attached to my residents, but I have a hard time not getting attached.’ My response is always the same: You can’t truly be a good caregiver and treat residents like family without forming attachments. That emotional connection is an inherent part of caregiving—there’s no way to avoid it.
We need to recognize that this profession is not just physically demanding but also emotionally taxing. Caregivers require emotional, mental, and even spiritual support, particularly when experiencing the loss of a resident. A resident’s passing isn’t just the loss of a client—it can feel like losing a family member.
As leaders, we need to shift our approach, instead of immediately moving from ‘Mrs. Jones has passed, and we need to fill her bed. We should take time to process the loss with our caregivers. Holding a ceremony or simply creating space for discussion can help acknowledge the grief they experience. These caregivers form deep bonds with residents, watching them decline over time, which can be incredibly difficult.
It is our responsibility as leaders to recognize this emotional toll and to actively support, encourage, and uplift our caregiving staff during these challenging moments.