Heili Burmeister: This Year, Christmas in Care Homes Will Be Different

The coronavirus period brought increased anxiety and dissatisfaction to care homes, writes Heili Burmeister, head of Käru Südamekodu and member of the board of the Council of Social Institution Leaders.
Caregiving is a practical activity — anyone can be taught the correct techniques, the right order of actions, and even the phrases to use or avoid. Training requirements for caregivers are stricter than those for hospitals, so why do we hear complaints about care institutions more often?
In hospitals, caregivers rarely explain patients’ health conditions or daily life to their relatives — that’s the role of doctors and nurses. Still, expressions of frustration occur everywhere. Emotions are part of life; without them, life would be dull. On the other hand, feelings can lead to communication conflicts. Communication is an art that not everyone masters, no matter how much training they receive. And a caregiver doesn’t need to be a model communicator — the institution expects something else from them.

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