Photo by CDC
The role of family caregivers can’t be underestimated because they make life a bit easier for the elderly individuals that we love.
Eleanor Gaccetta, author of One Caregiver’s Journey, talks about quality in-home senior care and the nuances behind it. She discusses the challenges of providing in-home care, how to make it work, how to care for seniors, and more. The book is something that every caregiver should read as a caregivers’ guide. The book is a snapshot into the realities of the changes and challenges of being a caregiver. They can learn so much from Eleanor’s personal experience of being a caregiver both in her profession and for her mother.
But what exactly is the role of caregivers? With that said, join us as we discuss the responsibility of caregivers and their role.
Role and Responsibility #1: Performing Medical Tasks During In-home Senior Care
Simple healthcare tasks may be carried out at home by the family caregiver if they receive proper training from a medical professional. In addition to oral administration, family caregivers can be trained to administer medications given intravenously, via injections, and as patches. When a family member is really sick, they may even be trained to be in charge of feeding tubes and catheters.
The duties of the family caregiver include managing the senior’s symptoms and keeping an eye on their status. Fever, dehydration, confusion, and complicated drug schedules might all be handled by the caregiver. Family caregivers are increasingly being trained to perform tasks like wound care and monitoring infusion pumps.
Role and Responsibility #2: Make Sound Decisions to Deliver Quality In-home Senior Care
Elderly people who have mild cognitive impairment can nonetheless communicate their desires. In cases of severe cognitive impairment, the family caregiver is the one advocates for the senior.
A number of factors affect how decisions are made. These encompass the elder and family caregiver’s values, preferences, abilities, ambitions, and perceptions. Sometimes, care receivers and caregivers disagree. Both parties may use power of attorney, living wills, and private care agreements as forms of assistance. A less costly method is for the family members to simply discuss the pros and cons of each parties thoughts and arrive at a mutual decision.
The role of family caregivers is undoubtedly valuable. Sometimes the situation may require a professional, medically trained individual who can provide quality in-home senior care. The caregiver activities, duties, and responsibilities that are provided by a medical professional are priceless.
Role and Responsibility #3: Caregiver Aid With ADLs
However, family caregivers must be prepared to provide and perform various crucial assistance with everyday duties. Caregivers can assist with Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) and Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). Things like household chores, meal preparation, managing finances, transportation, laundry, hoursehold finances, and home maintenance, are all expected duties that family caregivers are expected to do.
Elderly people also need assistance with self-care activities like clothing, grooming, bathing, and using the restroom. Less than 20% of family caregivers help their loved ones with self-care activities either daily or on most days. Family caregivers assist those receiving care with scheduling doctor’s appointments and managing medications.
Role and Responsibility #4: Providing Social and Emotional Support for Senior Home Care Services
When the care recipient’s fragility grows, or signs of cognitive deterioration appear, emotional shifts may occur gradually. This affects the connection with a family caregiver. However, in the wake of an unexpected health crisis, the relationship’s emotional trajectory could abruptly change.
The most time-consuming part of being a caregiver, for example, will be offering emotional support to an older person who has had a stroke. The senior needs extensive emotional assistance during episodes of feelings of self-pity, worry, depression, loneliness, melancholy, and anxiety.
Role and Responsibility #5: Get a Professional Care Coordination
Making doctor appointments for their senior family member becomes a task for family caregivers. When the elderly person visits the doctor, they are accompanied by their caregiver, they advocate for the patient with the physician and ensure prescriptions are picked up and the patient takes them. Often, the caregiver is responsible for understanding and managing their family member’s health insurance.
As advocates, family caregivers are in charge of finding and acquiring resources to make senior healthcare easier. They might interact with prospective payers such as Medigap, Medicaid, and Medicare. In certain cases, the caregiver might help the senior in moving to a nursing home or other new care environment.
Enjoy the Role of Family Caregivers for the Elderly People
Caregivers are professionals that all of us definitely need when the time comes. To know more about caregivers and the possible things they can encounter, grab a copy of Eleanor Gaccetta’s book One Caregiver’s Journey. It’s a wonderful story that details Eleanor’s quality in-home senior care experience of nearly a decade with her mother.
Purchase a copy today on Amazon or at www.onecaregiversjourney.com , and don’t forget to read more of our other articles and learn about ensuring safety in family caregiving!
Recent Comments