A Day in the Life: The Daily Responsibilities of Caregivers

_{Photo by Andrea Piacquadio}

Caregiving is rewarding; it can even be life-changing. Just read Eleanor Gaccetta’s aptly titled One Caregiver’s Journey, which is a book about life as a caregiver.  Caregiving is an incredibly rewarding role, it can be extremely demanding, too.

A day in the life of a caregiver is not an easy undertaking. There’s a lot to take in and more to consider. Whether it’s caring for a loved one at home as an family or sole caregiver or working as someone who’s been professionally trained, the daily responsibilities that fall onto your lap as a caregiver can be varied and exhausting. Today, we’ll be  discussing a fraction of a caregiver’s multifaceted role and follow a day in the life of a responsible caregiver.

The Daily Responsibilities of Caregivers

BBefore we dive into the nitty-gritty of life as a caregiver, it’s important to  recognize the key duties that every caregiver more-or-less has to do, or that is within their purview. A day in the life of a caregiver can be difficult, but there are priceless rewards at the end of it all.

Physical Care. A significant percentage of people in need of caregiving are in that state because of physical disabilities, meaning that they are not able to navigate their lives as an able-bodied person would.

• Bathing, grooming, dressing, toileting, etc., are just some of the duties that a caregiver deals with involving physical care.

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• Planning, preparing, and serving meals is also a critical role.
• Administering medications as they are prescribed is another pivotal aspect of the job, as well as looking out for any possible side effects of consumption and taking accurate records.

Emotional Support. A key role in being a caregiver is not just helping the patient engage with the world but also being there, by their side, as a confidant in lieu of relatives. This is why caregivers are so important.

• Providing companionship and engaging in conversation are simple but very impactful tasks.
• Engaging in mentally stimulating activities to keep the mind going and slowing down mental decline.
• Listening to the concerns of patients and being a reassuring presence is an oft-overlooked part of the job.

Home Management. Being a caregiver not only means taking care of the patient, but it also means taking care of their domestic situation. This is especially pronounced with caregivers who work 24 hours. In some situations this could mean taking over all responsibilities of housekeeping.

• Cleaning, doing the laundry, and organizing the patient’s living space are most of what a caregiver does on this front.
• Running errands, such as grocery shopping, pharmacy visits, and medical appointments, is also critical.

Communication and Collaboration. One would think the only person that a caregiver has to manage is their patient. Well, one would be wrong. Aside from being the primary care attendant, a caregiver also acts as the liaison between several parties–the family, the doctors, other healthcare professionals, etc.

Safety and Security. A chief responsibility that caregivers and newcomers sometimes forget is taking care of safety and security. Caregiving means taking care of every possibility to the best of your ability, and that includes safety and security.metimes forget is taking care of safety and security. Caregiving means taking care of every possibility to the best of your ability, and that includes safety and security.

_{Photo by Ivan Samkov}

A (Typical) Day in the Life of a Responsible Caregiver

No two days are the same for a caregiver.

In fact, there is nothing set about being a caregiver aside from the job description. Every day is a new day, and you have to deal with unexpected situations that may pop up without warning.

But here’s a snapshot of an “average” day in the life of being a caregiver:

• Morning

• 6:00 AM-6:30 AM. Waking up.
• 6:30 AM-7:00 AM. Assisting the care recipient with personal hygiene.
• 7:00 AM-8:00 AM. Preparing breakfast according to the patient’s needs.NOTE: I switched these as you always make sure your patient is up, cleaned and dressed before breakfast.  After breakfast could be some “finishing” things, but their hygiene is first.
• 8:00 AM-8:30 AM. Administering medications as prescribed. NOTE: This goes with the one above as meds are always taken with food for elderly patients.
• 8:30 AM-11:00 AM. Tidying up the living area, doing laundry, cleaning the bathroom and patient’s sleeping area..
• Afternoon
  • 11:00 AM-12:00 PM. Doing social activities.
  • 12:00 PM-1:00 PM. Preparing and serving lunch.
  • 1:00 PM-4:00 PM. Monitoring the care recipient’s condition.   Nap time.
• Evening
  • 4:00 PM-5:00 PM. Preparing dinner.
  • 5:00 PM-6:00 PM. Administering evening medications.
  • 6:00 PM-7:00 PM. Spending time with the care recipient.
  • 7:00 PM-8:00 PM. Preparing the patient for bed.

And that’s just a snapshot example of a day in the life of a caregiver.

Caregiving is not a one-way street. It is a varied and demanding role that requires one’s dedication, patience, and resilience. There are no cutting corners, no taking shortcuts. Understanding the daily responsibilities and challenges can help potential caregivers better prepare themselves for such a rewarding journey. Remember to prioritize self-care, seek support, and celebrate your accomplishments along the way so you don’t burn out quickly.

One Caregiver’s Journey is available for purchase through this link. It is a MUST read if you are thinking of becoming a caregiver or embarking on a caregiving journey of your own.