Relationships and Communication

Recognising and supporting the relationships that have influenced a person's life is essential to providing individualised care. Experiencing respite care, whether for the first time or on a regular basis, requires a deliberate approach to developing and maintaining meaningful relationships. These relationships provide the foundation for quality care, bringing together the perspectives of care staff, people receiving care, their families, and the local community. Effective communication is the cornerstone of relationship-centred care, shaping experiences and dynamics within the respite care setting.

By completing this module, it is anticipated that you will be able to:

• recognise the importance of relationships in respite care
• recall the key principles of relationship-centred care
• describe the impacts of communication on developing relationships in respite care
• identify strategies for communication with the person, their families, and significant others