Daily responsibilities of caregivers as seen in this image showing a man in white caring for an elderly in bed | Photo by Kampus Production
Have the daily responsibilities of caregivers in their career and personal lives on a daily basis ever crossed your mind? Heed the firsthand perspective of Eleanor Gaccetta herself. Eleanor was a family caregiver and took care of her mother for a span of 10 years as a sole caregiver. In her personal memoir, “One Caregiver’s Journey” (a book about life as a caregiver), Eleanor shares her experiences about caring for her mother 24/7 until her mom’s passing at the age of 102 in her home.
One Caregiver’s Journey by Eleanor Gaccetta is an easy read and honestly written book that shows the realities of the stages, changes, and a myriad of challenges caregivers like herself face over a long period of time. Whether you’re a caregiver or considering becoming one, you can use this book as your source of information and guidance. Get a copy now at select online bookstores. It is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble or her website www.onecaregiversjourney.com.
What New Caregivers Should Expect
Caregivers have multiple responsibilities that they have to juggle on a daily basis. If you’re new to caregiving, fret not because this article will guide you on the things you should anticipate in service.
The Daily Responsibilities of Caregivers Are Multifaceted
A collage of caregiving responsibilities, showcasing how it’s multifaceted | Photo by Judita Mikalkevičė, Kampus Production, Andrea Piacquadio, Kaboompics.com, Kampus Production, and Sarah Chai
Let’s start by understanding that caregiving takes on physical, emotional, medical, and administrative responsibilities. As you navigate the first stages of being a caregiver, you might find yourself having to wear many hats. When it comes to the physical aspect of the patient’s or care receiver’s physical health, your constant presence is required in order to keep them safe and healthy while performing daily living activities, like hygiene, mobility, etc. Caregiving is definitely physically demanding.
As the caregiver, you will also be a source of comfort. Providing companionship and emotional support is part of the daily responsibilities of caregivers. Being a caregiver means helping the cared-for individual navigate their feelings. More than that, offering companionship to the individual somehow alleviates feelings of frustration, loneliness, and anxiety. Celebrate the fact that your mere presence can mean a lot.
Medically, your in-home caregiver duties may be one or more of the following:
- Administering medications
- Monitoring symptoms
- Setting medical appointments
- Coordinating with health professionals to ensure proper care
Depending on the type of caregiving role, specialized medical treatments may also be administered under the supervision of a medical professional.
And what about other administrative roles? There will be a time when the daily responsibilities of caregivers include requiring you to be the individual’s personal assistant. This is where you take roles outside the typical caregiving responsibilities. At times, you will become their account manager. You will take on administrative roles that include managing schedules, handling insurance claims, and organizing medical records. The most tiring part is that you have to do all that and more 24/7. It doesn’t end there. Your tasks will also include running errands and completing household chores to optimize safety and comfort in the individual’s own space.
Right, caregiving is physically and mentally draining. What else?
A Breakdown of the Everyday Caregiving Tasks
In just one day, a caregiver can take on multiple sets of time-bound tasks. One set of tasks is bound to morning hours, another is due at midday, and the other could be typically completed in the evening.
Morning Tasks
Mornings—the tone setter of the day. During these hours, you, as the caregiver, are expected to assist with daily bathing and dressing, oral care, and even meal prep. Here’s the catch about meal preparation: you have to prepare a nutritious breakfast tailored to the dietary needs of the individual. Depending on the circumstance of the cared-for individual, administering prescribed medications may also be included alongside meal preparation. Once your loved one is settled caregivers circle back around and do housekeeping and laundry.
Midday Duties
Additionally, your responsibilities at midday, in addition to preparing lunch, are focused on keeping the individual engaged and active. Therefore, as a caregiver, you will also facilitate recreational activities, such as puzzles, crafts, or light outdoor walks. When facilitating recreational activities, make sure to consider their abilities and medical conditions. For one, caring for a person requires physical therapy. Your job is to assist with exercises or ensure attendance at therapy sessions.
Evening Routine
When the day winds down, your evening routine will focus on creating a calm and relaxing environment for the person you care for. During the evening, you will prepare and serve dinner according to the individual’s specific dietary requirements or preferences. After dinner, this is where the tasks get a little lighter. It’s the time you’ll assist with reading or watching television, helping the individual relax. As necessary, you might also need to perform personal routine health checks, like monitoring vital signs or managing medical equipment before the day finally ends helping them dress and prepare for bed.
Advice for New Caregivers
Those tasks we’ve mentioned above may be different from what you will actually take. Nonetheless, here are a few words of advice: start with realistic expectations and practice time management and organization. Most importantly, don’t forget to take care of yourself. A very important task among the daily responsibilities of caregivers is prioritizing your wellness. You cannot take care of others if you cannot take care of yourself.
When caregiving is just too much to take, it can often lead to resentment. When facing caregiving resentment, do you just surrender and abandon the person you are responsible for? No, you can’t because caregiving is a great expression of your love toward the individual you care for and the job itself, no matter its ups and downs. Caregivers learn, over time, that there are daily ups and downs. It isn’t always possible but once you have a routine down pat it is easier to pace yourself and to deal with unanticipated experiences. Caregiving is a commitment that is not to be taken lightly.downs.
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