The National Cancer Institute, describes a caregiver as a person who looks after people who need help taking care of themselves, this group of people include children, the elderly, or patients who have chronic illnesses or are disabled. Caregivers may be health professionals or family members. They may render care at home, in a hospital or a health care facility. Their duties and responsibilities can include assisting with activities of daily living such as bathing, grooming, dressing, toileting, and exercise, basic food preparation (preparing food meals), shopping, laundry, housekeeping, and other errands
Types of caregivers
There are four types of caregivers:
• Family caregivers, are people who take care of a family member without pay. These are the most common types, as relatives usually are the first in line to care for their loved ones before relinquishing the role to a professional if need be.
• Independent caregivers, these are caregivers that typically do not work for an agency. They are employed directly by the family.
• Professional caregivers, they are hired by the family of the care receiver through an agency to offer care and support. They can provide medical or non-medical care in the home or a health facility.
• Private Duty caregivers, they provide services ranging from medical care to errand services. Their goal is to provide the care recipient with whatever they need to live comfortably in their homes. The responsibilities and duties of caregivers span far beyond just medical care. They’re equipped to handle a wide variety of needs, providing stability and continuity of care.
BENEFITS OF CAREGIVING TO THE PATIENT
“There are only four kinds of people in this world; those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers and those who will need caregivers. Caregiving is universal.”
– Rosalynn Carter, Former First Lady of the United States
Happiness and good health are things we all wish for ourselves and our loved ones. Sometimes life could become overwhelming and filled with activities that we start to lose track of some daily activities, this could lead to frustration and feeling of being constantly overburdened. When this happens, we need to consider how to lighten the load and get some help. Even if it’s some extra assistance for the little things such as running errands or tidying up, or help with more demanding chores, a caregiver may be the solution. If you’ve never considered hiring one of these professionals to help you or a loved one, the list of benefits may just change your mind.
Explore the ways a private caregiver can improve your life or the life of someone you love.
1. Caregivers Provide Non-Medical Support Most people know exactly who to turn to if they need any form of medical care, even if it’s for something relatively small. Doctors and nurses who specialize in caring are often compassionate people who are happy to help, but they are also very busy and their schedules are usually tight because they have a lot of patients to see. However, when it comes to the simpler things, many people have trouble asking for help. This isn’t just common with seniors. Private care giving provides non-medical support and focuses on helping with the everyday demands of life. These include; personal care (bathing, dressing, grooming), continence care, mobility assistance, feeding, housekeeping (cooking, laundry, cleaning), companionship, transportation and errands.
2. Caregiving provides relief for friends and family Private caregivers provide help and relief for seniors and, in doing so; they also provide help and relief for their loved ones. With the presence of a caregiver, family and friends can be rest assured that the needs of the care recipient would be met and they can also take breaks from being the primary caregiver to focus on what is important to them.
3. Personal Care It is not uncommon for elderly patients to struggle with day-to-day tasks. As the signs of aging progresses, simple things like getting dressed, bathing, or brushing teeth can become tiresome. Because of this, many seniors neglect their personal hygiene simply because it’s difficult to keep up with their daily routine. A caregiver can assist with as much or as little as needed for the patient to keep up with their daily personal hygiene routine. Bathing, dressing and other activities of daily living, using the toilet, or exercising is much easier with the help of a qualified home caregiver.
4. Meal Planning and Food Preparation It is common for seniors to have dietary restrictions. As seniors age, their bodies may not be able to tolerate certain ingredients and their health condition may limit the type of foods they can eat. Dietary restrictions, preferences and needs make it difficult for many people to receive the nutrients they need daily. For those who are sick or aging, it can be even harder to create nutritious and delicious meals. A caregiver has been trained to handle any interactions that specific foods may have with medications, while also avoiding allergies. On top of interactions, creating highly nutritious meal plans is just one of the many responsibilities of a caregiver. They’ll enlist the help of their patients to ensure that each meal is custom-tailored to fit their dietary needs and personal tastes, while remaining delicious and nutritious. On top of planning a menu, most caregivers will do the necessary grocery shopping and preparations to make mealtime easier than ever.
5. Transportation Transportation is a huge concern for the elderly. Most seniors find it difficult driving as they begin to age and sometimes, they put their lives and others at risk. Instead of relying on themselves to get to and from appointments, pharmacies, or stores, many seniors are choosing to enlist the help of a caregiver. Qualified caregivers can provide transportation to and from activities as well as be there to assist patients in and out of wheelchairs as needed. This relieves the stress and anxiety that may accompany seniors and their loved ones when trying to coordinate transportation.
6. Companionship Loneliness and depression are common issues that lead to a decreased quality of life among seniors. While family visits and social activities may occur from time to time, many seniors find themselves feeling alone in between engagements. A home care provider is more than just someone to assist with non-medical daily tasks. They provide constant and reliable companionship. These qualified individuals supervise patients, while also giving them someone to talk to on a daily basis. Care providers may even have ideas on how to take up new hobbies or cultivate new friendships. This sort of emotional support allows each senior to continue enjoying the social aspects of their lives.
7. Medication Management On average, seniors are consuming five medications per day. That number could grow or decrease, depending on individual needs and diagnosis. Some seniors with dementia mostly forget to take their medications. Now with the help of a caregiver, things are a lot easier as the caregiver plays important role in making sure the senior keeps to their drug routine and takes the right dosage.
8. Peace of mind Many family members may worry about their loved one, especially if they don’t live nearby. A caregiver can provide family members and seniors the peace of mind they deserve. Caregivers can be with seniors to help keep them safe and healthy. Having a caregiver you trust with your loved one can be a huge relief.
9. Cost Hiring a caregiver 24/7 is often cheaper than moving into a facility. Seniors can also choose to hire caregivers for specific hours, so they get care when they need it instead of paying for hours of care that they might not need. In-home care may be covered in your insurance policy, lowering the cost even more.
Caregiving is a tough job, but it’s nice to know that out of the struggle come so many positives. However, it’s important to remember that the only way to reap these full benefits is to ensure you are also making time to take care of yourself as a caregiver. Whatever your reason is for hiring a caregiver, we know that in-home care is a great option for seniors looking to age in place.
At Angels Homecare Services, our team of experts is here to help you or a loved one with the difficulties that come with aging. Feel free to reach out to our team to get more answers about care giving.
Call now to book an appointment with us 08139779499
Resources
https://homecareassistance.com/blog/the-benefits-of-being-a-caregiver https://www.24hrcares.com/the-duties-and-responsibilities-of-a-caregiver/ https://homecareassistance.com/blog/the-benefits-of-being-a-caregiver https://www.vitas.com/family-and-caregiver-support/caregiving/caregiving-basics/the-benefits-of-caregiving/ https://aging.com/benefits-of-a-private-caregiver/ https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/about/community_health/johns-hopkins-bayview/services/called_to_care/what_is_a_caregiver.html https://aging.com/benefits-of-a-private-caregiver/
…Faith Francis Adokpa