This post was last updated on December 1st, 2022 at 08:33 am
What Is An Elderly Caregiver?
An elder care caregiver, also called personal care, is a nonmedical professional who assists an elderly person in a way that allows them to live as independently as possible in their own home.
Caregiver Duties And Responsibilities
Caregiver duties and responsibilities can include
1. Assisting with personal care: bathing and grooming, toileting, exercise, and dressing
2. General health care: Overseeing medication and prescriptions usage, administering medicine and appointment reminders
3. Basic food preparation: preparing meals, laundry, housekeeping, and other errands
4. Mobility assistance: Help with entering and exiting a wheelchair, automobile, or shower
5. Transportation: Diving to and from activities, running errands, and helping to get in and out of the wheelchair-accessible vehicle.
6. Personal supervision: Providing constant friendship and general guidance
7. Care for the Elderly: Orienting or grounding someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia, relaying information from a doctor to family members.
8. Back-up care services: Providing rest to other caregivers
9. Emotional support: Being a stable companion and supporter in all personal matters, health-related and emotional matters.
10. Home organization: Help with organizing, cleaning, and packing for a trip or general house care and cleaning
11. Health monitoring: Following a care plan and noticing any change in the individual health, recording and reporting any difference
Caregiver Alternatives
Family members and professional elderly caregivers are the most common types of caregivers. If the two first are unavailable, other types of caregivers are available. These alternatives provide medical and nonmedical support to a patient.
The Alternatives Are As Follows:
1. Private Caregiver
A professional with extensive experience and knowledge can provide various medical and nursing care and even transportation service.
2. Independent Caregiver
To provide home health care, the family directly hired this specialist. There is no third-party mediator between the caregiver and the care recipient.
3. Volunteer Caregiver
Volunteer caregivers are hired temporarily to perform caregiving duties; they will only stay with the patient or senior for a short period.
4. Alternative Caregiver
In caregiving, you will not only be a senior helper but can also take care of the child. An alternative caregiver takes care of a foster child inside their home or at the caregiver’s residence whose away for 12 to 24 hours but less than 6o days.
Self-Care Tips For Seniors
Here are some tips for seniors to regularly incorporate self-care
1. Spend Time Outside
Try some relaxing, refreshing outdoor activities like going for a walk in the forest, hiking a mountain, or sitting in a garden. Also, connecting to nature can be like a balm for the soul, breathing in clean. Fresh air and the warm sun on your face are great ways to practice self-care.
2. Socialize
Maintaining a social network of close friends and family is essential to the human experience, so it only makes sense to incorporate it into your self-care routine. Regular visits with friends and family to overcome stress, release endorphins, and improve your mood.
3. Prioritize Exercise
Fitness improves both the body and the mind. It not only keeps your body healthy and working effectively, but it can also keep your mind sharp and improve your mood. Making exercise a habit may be a significant investment in your self-care, whether you prefer swimming, yoga, or even walking your dog!
