As someone involved in running a Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (RCFE), you are keenly aware that residents can differ quite drastically in terms of temperaments, attitudes, and life experiences in general. While most may be relatively easy going and unproblematic, there are those that can be far more challenging to deal with. Drawing on our extensive industry knowledge and experience, InsureMyRCFE is here to provide you with some highly-useful tips for effectively managing difficult RCFE residents.
1. Understand Where They’re Coming From
Having to deal with challenging RCFE residents can undoubtedly be a frustrating experience. That said, you will put yourself in a better position to work with them if you first take a step back and recognize that many of the exasperating behaviors they exhibit stem from deeper issues. Some residents may lash out or misbehave because they’re feeling down, anxious, or even scared. Others may be dealing with the harsh realities of dementia or the sting of loneliness without friends or family around. Keeping this point in mind and formulating a compelling response plan can help mitigate the overall difficulties. The more you are able to face these challenges from a place of empathy, the better off you’ll be.
2. Always Be Respectful
It is vital that you and your staff consistently treat all residents with dignity and respect. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter if you vehemently disagree with their viewpoints or even the ways they’ve chosen to live their lives, as the whole point of the RCFE is to help ensure that all of their needs are met in a comfortable and welcoming environment. Residents that feel as though they are being judged or disrespected may express their displeasure by acting out. Demonstrating respect for each and every individual, on the other hand, will only help in strengthening the relationships between staff and residents.
3. Establish and Reinforce Expectations
It is important to set up and explain the RCFE rules from the start so that staff and residents alike have a clear understanding of which behaviors are acceptable and which are not. Encourage residents to openly ask questions and express any concerns they may have. Establishing these rules and boundaries isn’t sufficient in and of itself. Rather, you’ll also want to reinforce them by periodically reminding residents of the do’s and don’ts.
4. Take the Time to Know Your Residents
Dedicating time to learning more about your residents can truly make a huge difference. Most (if not all) residents will appreciate the fact that you want to get to know them and find out more about their lives. Ask them about what they enjoy doing and listen to any stories they may wish to tell. You can also participate in various fun activities with them to further strengthen the relationships. The better you know your residents, and the stronger your bonds with them are, the easier it will likely be to quickly and effectively address any challenging situations that come up.
5. A Compliment Can Go a Long Way
One of the best ways to keep RCFE residents behaving appropriately is to compliment them when they are doing so. Offering genuine praise is likely to make residents feel good, and will make them want to continue with those particular behaviors.
We hope that the above tips will assist you in handling difficult residents at your RCFE. As one of California’s leading RCFE insurance brokers, we would appreciate the opportunity to speak with you about your policy needs and help ensure that you have sufficient coverage in place. Please don’t hesitate to give us a call at (805) 413-5668.