Duties of a Caregiver
There are several roles that a caregiver may have. What caregivers do will depend on the needs of the patient they are providing care and assistance for. A caregiver can also be called a companion or a home health aide. Some of the tasks that caregivers may complete are:
- Bathing clients
- Feeding clients
- Dressing clients
- Providing transportation
- Scheduling appointments
Also, caregivers can serve as household finance managers, companions and housekeepers. It is not uncommon for caregivers to not only handle the needs of the client, but also the needs of the client’s family members as well.
If you are a caregiver, you should know that you can either have a positive influence or a negative influence on the client and how the client decides to deal with their illness, disease, disability or aging. Positive encouragement will give the client the mental and emotional strength that will be needed to overcome obstacles and challenges. Encouraging the client can also help to improve his or her overall health and wellness.
Solving Problems
One of the items on the list of what caregivers do is helping clients deal with new challenges. The best way to work with the client to solve a problem is to first understand the problem and the result that is desired by the client and the family. Next, the caregiver should provide a realistic, positive and focused solution that will allow them to become a source of safety, security and strength for the client.
For example, a client may experience a severe drop in his or her blood sugar levels and may need to be hospitalized as a result. Both the client and family members may become upset and see this as a setback in the journey. The caregiver can:
- Calm and reassure the client and the family
- Ensure that the client has everything he or she will need while in the hospital
- Contact the client’s other physicians and inform them of the client’s hospitalization
Keep the Client Involved
It is important that there is good communication between client and caregiver. Although it may be difficult for the patient to take an active role in decision making and planning because of a physical or mental impairment, the caregiver should involve the client as much as they possibly can. By involving the client, the client will feel like less of a burden and more of a contributor to his or her health care plan.
What caregivers do can change over a period of time as the needs of the client changes. Therefore, by working and communicating with the client on a daily basis, you become a more effective caregiver.
Are you looking to provide in-home assistance for your loved one that will allow them to maintain a positive quality of life? Contact us to request a free consultation.