6 Duties a Caregiver Should be Proficient in
Caregiving, despite being a rewarding profession, is equally demanding. A caregiver works much harder than we assume. Most people underestimate the hard work done by a caregiver, taking them as a person hired to care for their loved ones. But a role of a caregiver is a lot more than that.
Caregivers are not merely responsible for looking after someone’s wellbeing and medical condition. But they are also a full-time companion and helper of the person they care for.
It takes a lot to look after someone’s health and wellbeing. Caring for someone is a big responsibility, no matter how strong your bond with the person is. And you have to be extra careful if the person has any disability or is too aged to perform independently.
Caregiving not only demands you to be compassionate towards others but also asks for the passion that makes you take this role. Combining relevant knowledge, skillset, and empathy makes you a good caregiver.
But this is all about what makes you a good caregiver. When it comes to a caregiver’s duties and responsibilities, it is not an easy job. Caregiving is an overwhelming profession and even affects your wellbeing because of what it demands.
Let’s learn what some of the duties and responsibilities you as a caregiver should perform.
General Health Care
Caregivers are no medical help providers. They are people having a passion for looking after someone’s health needs by assisting them in their routine activities. However, caregiving does back them with enough medical knowledge that they can utilize while looking after someone’s health needs.
Some of the primary healthcare duties of a caregiver include:
- Following care plan
- Following diet plan
- Monitoring medication
Medication Management
A person’s medical needs usually depend on their health condition and the support level required. But as a caregiver, you should be equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to work around health-related technologies to keep track of their medical needs.
Caregivers undergo an extended training session, which helps them understand medical terms, back them with knowledge, and enhance their caregiving skills.
Apart from that, a caregiver should be well-versed in assessing the pain levels, chronic conditions, and actions that should be taken in times of emergency. Moreover, keeping a tab on doctor’s appointments, medicines, and required health precautions of older individuals are all labeled as caregivers’ essential duties.
However, a caregiver’s role is not just limited to medical information and health needs, it goes way beyond that.
Personal Care Needs
As much as a caregiver should be good at assessing elderly individuals’ health conditions, they should equally be efficient in looking after their personal needs. With time, older adults struggle with basic routine activities like bathing, dressing, etc., and need someone to assist them. That is where a caregiver steps in to make things easier for these aging souls.
Some of the personal care responsibilities of a caregiver include:
- Taking care of personal hygiene
- Assisting in washroom
- Assisting in mobility
- Helping in grooming
- Assisting while exercising and more
Giving a helping hand to older adults in performing basic activities helps them remain independent. Besides, as a caregiver, you learn to be more patient and understanding towards others which in the long run enables you to perform the duties with more dedication and empathy.
Light Housekeeping
As a caregiver, you are trained to be an all-rounder. Apart from taking care of medical needs, a caregiver must also be proficient in helping with basic household chores.
Being around a stove and other home appliances could harm someone who struggles with their health. Moreover, older individuals often find it challenging to run home errands on their own. Considering such situations, caregivers are responsible for helping senior adults in basic housekeeping activities, which include:
- Meal planning
- Food preparation
- Laundry and drying
- Making grocery lists and more
Someone must stay around old individuals to track their diet and intake of the nutrient. For this reason, caregivers should be skilled in preparing meals so that they can take care of people’s specific diet requirements.
Companionship
Another caregiver’s responsibility is to be there for older people to accompany them in activities that give them joy.
Being isolated at home due to health conditions can affect the mental health of aging individuals. You, as a caregiver, offer them meaningful companionship and emotional support while looking after their health needs.
And what’s better than being a source of someone’s stability and happiness?
Transportation
Transportation can be a huge problem for someone with health issues, especially if they are aged. Therefore, being available to provide transportation facilities to and from the destination is one of the duties of a caregiver.
Having someone around to take care of all transportation needs, like taking to follow-up appointments, service centers, parks, etc., can be a source of relief for older people.
Final Word
Top Faith provides equal opportunity to all people with a passion for helping others. So, if you are interested in being a part of our extensive caregiving team, feel free to contact us.
