People hire caregivers who can speak other languages for different reasons: affordability, language requirements, or cultural similarity.

With more and more people putting it into practice, the first challenge in hiring caregivers from other countries is that the caregivers might not communicate effectively with the family members. However, this does not stop people from hiring them for the reasons mentioned above because there are workarounds.

As a caregiver who speaks another language, you need to recognize the importance of effective communication while caring for a child or an elder. No matter how experienced you are, you still need to learn their loved one’s needs and preferences from the family. Misunderstandings can arise if there is no standard communication platform.

And some workarounds will allow you to work while maintaining an open line with the family. Here are a few tips:

Firstly, find a family that acknowledges the barriers. It is recommended that you work with a family who can understand the challenge of a language barrier. It could be someone in the family with overseas experience or know your native tongue, or they look to you to educate their kids with the language you understand. This way, the family already accepts the challenge and values your skill-sets and language ability. It is better to clear it upfront with the family. You will often be tending to a baby who does not possess the language skills yet or a senior who knows your native tongue, which are the two most common reasons why your experience and expertise outweigh your communication ability in such situations.

Secondly, establish a preferred communication method. Modern technology has enabled many user-friendly translation tools. You can share your messages with the family by speaking or typing directly or simply use the basic way of hand gestures to signal what you might need.

Third, learn key words from the language the family speaks. Know what words to use and under what circumstances, and study them to use them to share your thoughts or understand what the family wants.

Lastly, set expectations and be open-minded. With language barriers, there will be frustrations when miscommunication happens. However, this does not mean you should be discouraged. Know that it takes patience from both parties to work together. The family has hired you, so they are prepared for such circumstances. The best thing to do is create this open channel where you can clarify things with the help of a translator tool or someone who can translate the messages.

To sum up, it is essential to establish an effective communication channel with a family that does not speak your language while their loved one is in your care. Search for a family that accepts your situation. Leverage a tool that both sides can adapt to communicate. Attempt to learn keywords to initiate a conversation and understand their needs. Most importantly, maintain a positive mindset towards a working environment where you are highly valued to assist the family.

AyiConnect is a platform to connect families with helpers who have a language specialty in addition to care. You can engage with them directly through self service or concierge service. The concierge 1:1 service can provide another option to ensure success matches for busy families who don't have time to search or need language assist. Schedule a free consultation here for our concierge service, or check us out on ayiconnection.com