Caregivers help people who have difficulties completing fundamental daily activities, such as the elderly, the disabled, or those suffering from chronic or mental illnesses. A caregiver’s responsibilities include personal care, medicine reminders, and companionship. They work in the homes of their clients or in special care facilities.
Responsibilities and duties of caregivers
The following are the most typical tasks for in-home elderly caregiving:
Assistance with personal hygiene and care
Many elderly loved ones receive assistance only when they begin to struggle with the most intimate responsibilities of daily life, known as activities of daily living (ADLs). Getting help with bathing, toileting, cleaning up after being ill, or washing and combing their hair might be an essential step in aging in place. Because this is a sensitive subject, make sure the caregiver is gentle and patient. Anyone in charge of hygiene care should also have experience working with the elderly.
Assisting with meal preparation and nutrition
It is not sufficient to request that a caregiver provide food. Indeed, while many older persons lose their appetites and consume fewer calories as they age, the food they consume must be as nutritious as possible. There is also the question of whether certain foods would interfere with their drugs or worsen specific conditions, such as high blood pressure or diabetes. Anyone in charge of grocery shopping, meal planning, and food preparation should collaborate with a nutritionist to ensure that all meals and snacks complement your loved one’s care plan.
Assist with mobility
Whether it’s learning how to correctly transfer someone from a wheelchair to the toilet or recognizing the signals of someone at risk of falling, the skills required by a caregiver to ensure safe movement both within and outside the home are critical. To avoid injury to both the caregiver and the senior loved one, proper “transfer” methods (those used to convert a loved one from one position to another) are required. Caregiving may be taxing on the body of the caregiver, and having the appropriate information might help you avoid making costly mistakes later on.
Basic cleaning and home upkeep
A qualified caregiver should be able to clean and fix basic items. They should have no trouble pitching in or doing the dishes. Knowing how to use a toilet plunger and feeling confident changing a lightbulb are just two instances of how a caregiver might assist a senior in avoiding costly visits to repair professionals when they are not required.
Transportation
As people get older, they may feel the need to withdraw and avoid social situations. A kind caregiver can help them maintain some sense of normalcy by driving them to social gatherings and medical appointments. Whether it’s to obtain books from the library or to a much-needed dental cleaning, having the ability to travel around as they need and want will aid in providing your loved one with a healthy quality of life.
Companionship
For good reason, the industry has come to refer these caretakers as “companions.” Relationships can make or break how hard an elderly person fights disease or adheres to a rigorous dietary restriction. If they have individuals who care about them, they have a reason to work through the problems of aging. Caregivers should be provided duties that promote this purpose. This more casual component of caregiving is also one of the most crucial, from playing games to simply conversing over coffee.
Monitoring and reporting
All caregivers should be aware of the “red flags” that indicate a senior loved one is in distress. Anyone who notices a cause for concern, whether it is an indication of health, mental state, or just mood, should speak out quickly. A simple record-keeping system can also keep everyone on the same page. All caregivers should be willing to document what occurs during a shift and make recommendations for further care when necessary. Proper monitoring of these documents helps keep caretakers accountable and loved ones informed — even when they are thousands of miles away.
Senior Care Services we provide at Cranberry Home Care include but are not limited to:
Homemaking Services, Companionship Services, Escorted Transportation Services, Assistance with Personal Care including bathing, toileting, ambulation & feeding, Meal Preparation, Medication Reminders, Dementia/Alzheimer’s Care, Short-term Care for those recovering from illness or surgery, In-home care for Couples, 24/7 care, respite care and MORE.
Please call the friendly and professional staff at Cranberry Home Care today.