Having a phone available all the time can be incredibly helpful, especially in an emergency, but it can also be a hindrance at times. If you’re not careful about how you manage your phone time as a family caregiver, you might find yourself getting frustrated.

Set Some “Office Hours” for Your Phone.

When you’re at work you probably can’t answer your phone any old time you want. As a caregiver, you can start to keep some “office hours” for your personal phone. Maybe your loved one has a difficult time in the morning and unnecessary interruptions make life that much more difficult. You might decide to let your office hours start from a set time in the afternoon until you need to start dinner in late afternoon. Then, when the phone rings and you can’t answer it, don’t feel bad or jump to answer it because the person calling you can leave a message.

Let People Know What Times You’re Available by Phone.

The key to making office hours work for your phone is to let people know what those times are. Once you’ve narrowed down when you can and cannot answer random calls, you know that people shouldn’t necessarily be calling unless it’s either an emergency or they’re wanting to leave you a message. You might want to try checking your messages a couple of times during the time you’re not available, just to make sure you haven’t missed an urgent call.

Be Specific When You Leave Messages for Other People.

When you leave messages for other people, be extremely specific with them. Include all of the information that person needs for the purpose of your call and also be sure to include exactly what time they can call you back to either get more information or give you the information that you need. By being as specific as possible, you let that person know exactly what to expect. You can even say, “If you call at another time, I won’t be able to answer and you’ll need to leave a message for me.”

In the end, it’s all in how you use your phone. It can be a constant source of frustration and interruption if you allow it to be.

Have questions about caregiver services in Hawaii Kai, HI? Contact the caring staff at All Care Hawaii today.  Call Oahu (808) 206-8409 or Maui (808) 664-3853.  Call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

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Jermie Chadwick, CEO

CEO / Owner at All Care Hawaii

Jermie graduated with her nursing degree from Ateneo De Davao University. Jermie has a compassionate nature, being raised by her Grandparents and Aunt who instilled in her respect for elders, as well as the “golden rule” to help others is priority. Jermie worked for many years with two of the leading Health Care Agencies in Hawaii and received many accolades from both the companies and the clients. During this time she expanded upon her extensive health care training and knowledge, by gaining vast practical experience. Today Jermie’s skills and experience are utilized in her oversight of all aspects of care provided by All Care Hawaii, assuring that the company she founded remains consistently committed to the best care for others and responsive to all client’s needs.

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