What are caregiver duties?

Your senior loved ones have difficulty with the daily tasks, and you can not help them. You have heard about getting help from a caregiver. But, who are they, and what are their tasks? How can they help you or your senior family members in daily life?

The article explains who is a caregiver and what their duties are. You will know how they can help the seniors of your family.

What is a caregiver?

A caregiver is a person who takes care of the health and well-being of individuals who need assistance with daily activities. The seniors might need a caregiver to help them with the daily routine due to;

• Chronic conditions
• Memory issues
• Limited mobility
• Disability
• Illness
• Injury

The elderly’s condition makes it difficult to complete their daily tasks. They face challenges in chores you and I complete easily. The caregiver provides different types of assistance, and it’s up to the elderly’s condition. It could range from personal care management to financial or legal affairs.

What are the caregiver’s duties?

A caregiver’s duties and responsibilities could vary each day. However, some of the tasks remain the same when caring for the elderly, the disabled or patients. Some of the most common duties are as follows;

Personal care assistance

Assistance with personal care is one of the biggest responsibilities of a caregiver. Some of the personal care activities the seniors might need help;

• Dressing,
• grooming,
• Brushing teeth
• Bathing
• Toileting

The mentioned tasks could become painful for the elderly. Caregivers feel the most pressure with this type of task. It’s because the seniors or patients don’t want to lose independence doing daily chores.

The senior loved ones could skip the daily hygiene just because it’s challenging. However, ignoring self-hygiene could impact their health. So, they could be susceptible to more health issues—the caregivers assist with this type of service and help the eldlerly a lot with daily routine.

The elderly might have mobility problems. As a result, they could find it tough to visit the bathroom. So the caregiver might need to help the seniors with toileting as well. In addition, the elderly often need help balancing or cleaning themselves afterward.

Moving around and mobility becomes essential for the seniors while they have a challenge doing them.

The caregiver helps with walking, jogging, or some stretches. Doing these exercises is essential for the elderly, and the caregiver can provide great assistance. He/she knows how and to what extent the senior needs exercise or moves.

The caregiver assists with doing tasks and tries to leave the patient as independent as possible. A balanced help increases the senior loved ones’ self-confidence.

Meal arrangement and food preparation

Diet needs, restrictions, and preferences make it tough for people to receive the required daily nutrients. It can be a challenge for the elderly as they face further restrictions. In addition, the senior loved ones need to be careful with their diet. For example, they could be allergic and need to avoid particular food groups.

Caregivers can help the elderly with nutrition needs. Preparing highly nutritious food is not limited to just cooking. You can be sure to receive the required food ingredients and items. The caregiver records the required nutrients and prepares the meal that fits the needs.

The caregiver can go shopping and prepare the necessary dish for the next meal. Washing the dishes and cleaning the kitchen also comes in the caregiver’s tasks.

Medication management

How many medications do the elderly take per day? On average, five. Depending on the doctor’s diagnosis and needs, the number could increase or decrease. The experts estimate that about “75% of the seniors aren’t taking their pills properly”.

The elderly could have the following challenges in medication management;

• Forget to take the medication due to mental issues
• Take the wrong medication
• Not drinking water after taking medicine due to mobility issues
• Take medicine that interacts with each other
• Take medicine on an empty stomach
• Not taking medication at the appropriate time

The risk factor is high for the elderly in terms of medication management. Therefore, it’s essential to manage their medication carefully and properly.

The caregiver has received enough education and training to manage the medication. He/she works with the medical professionals to make sure the patients are taking the right medicine. Taking the appropriate medicine at the right time and education decreases the risk factors and helps the healing process.

Transfer and mobility assistance

According to the CDC, “about 36 million older adults fall each year”. It causes more than “32,000 deaths per year”. In addition, every year, “about 3 million older adults receive treatment in emergency for a fall injury”. Out of every five falls, one leads to an injury like a head injury or broken bones.

The seniors don’t just need to move around for fun. They might need to visit healthcare, clinics, or labs. The caregiver’s aid with the transportation. It includes getting in or out of the wheelchair.

The mobility issues make life difficult for the elderly. The caregiver can help prevent falls and assist seniors to stay safe and comfortable.The caregiver can prevent such accidents and risks for the senior loved ones.

Spending all-time at home could impact the senior loved one’s mood. They like to get out, feel the fresh air and walk around. Depression could become inevitable; moving out boosts the mood and happiness.

Managing emergency

Having the proper reaction in emergencies is essential for the senior family members. A caregiver is trained and knows what to do in such situations.

The caregiver prepares an emergency communications plan for the seniors’ condition. He/she makes sure the family, friends, and healthcare know what is happening. The caregiver keeps the contact information up to date and complete.

General health care

Aging often comes with a decline in cognitive abilities. The seniors could go to their general health care. However, they tend to forget the doctor’s prescription or a particular medicine. The caregiver must monitor and take care of everything in the lifestyle. They monitor each change in health conditions and report to family or the doctors. If a serious change occurs, the caregiver consults with the medical professional to plan a course of action.

Memory care

Alzheimer’s and dementia are the two conditions patients have great trouble with. Patients might struggle a lot in the beginning stages and become more forgetful or distressed. Family members often can not assist around the clock. They could also lack the knowledge or experience to help the seniors.

The caregiver has enough experience and knowledge dealing with the patients. They provide stability and companionship to the patient and family. The family members know that their loved one receives constant care.

What are the 3 Hardest Challenges and Responsibilities of Caregivers?

Isolation 

Caregivers are frequently isolated from the outside. Caregivers frequently don’t find time to take care of themselves since they spend so much time and energy caring for others. If you feel isolated, contact close friends and family to see if they can assist you. In addition, consider joining a support group for caregivers experiencing similar issues. It is critical for your health that you continue to have “me time,” and it will also help you be a better caregiver.

Stress 

It may not be easy to care for a loved one and be responsible for their health. There are several duties to manage, ranging from medication management to assisting with dressing and bathing. If you’re stressed, attempt to take little breaks throughout the day. Even 5-10 minutes every couple of hours to practice relaxation techniques such as meditation or breathing exercises might help decrease tension. Remember that your employer’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) may also provide assistance in dealing with stress.

Financial burden 

The financial strain caregivers suffer is another source of stress that should not be disregarded. Taking care of a loved one sometimes involves forsaking professional or educational prospects, which means reducing your income. Whether you’re having financial difficulties as a caretaker, ask relatives and friends if they’d be prepared to assist you with your responsibilities. You may also check to determine whether your loved one is disabled.

Being aware of frequent challenges that caregivers endure helps you see signals that you are encountering them. For example, act quickly to get assistance if you notice that you are feeling alone, anxious, or financially pressured. Caregivers may forget their well-being, but taking care of yourself can benefit you and the person you care for.

Caregiver services in Las Vegas

The elderly might face difficulty doing daily tasks and live independently. The family members might be busy or not know how to take care of them. Taking care of Alzheimer’s or dementia patients needs prior knowledge. As most senior loved ones prefer to age in their place of residence, the in-home caregiver is preferred. A caregiver assists the seniors in their place of residence with the chores they can’t complete on their own.

Health and Care professional Network provides the best in-home caregiver services in Las Vegas since 2006. Assistance in daily activities, cognitive memory exercises, companionship, and nutrition are part of the provided services. Contact us at +702 871-9917 to receive the service you desire for your loved ones today.