The job of a caregiver for adults is meant usually for people who need home care when they become temporarily disabled: after surgery, an injury suffered at work or play. It is one of the most challenging and often life-altering jobs in the world. Regardless of how much love there may be between the caregiver who is a family member and the person being cared for, it is never easy. Over 50% of caregivers have said that their roles continue to take a toll on their lives outside of work, with 75% acknowledging that it is stressful for their families.
However, home care assistance caregivers are seasoned professionals that provide home help after surgery or temporary disability. While they, too, experience anxiety and irritability, especially because aspects of their job are extremely challenging, most do it out of a passion for helping people. That being said, as a caregiver, there are certain jobs and duties that are mandatory. We’ll try to cover most of them below.
Caregiver Duties & Assistance with Personal Care
Personal care – it is one of the most important duties of a professional caregiver looking after people who need home care. Dressing, bathing, grooming, toileting, and even helping with exercise are all part of this “personal care” umbrella term. However, some caregivers may go so far as to provide entertainment in the way of playing games with their patients. It isn’t uncommon for caregivers to play video games with their young patients to keep them entertained and engaged or to play a hand or two of Rummy or Double Solitaire with their older patients.
Preparing Food
Professional caregivers also have the tricky task of preparing their patient’s meals. Many caregivers are also tasked with doing things like laundry, housekeeping, shopping for groceries, and running other errands. However, it depends on a few things, like if the person is living with his or her family, then it’s generally the family members that handle the groceries. Often, these duties are mutually agreed upon.
Provide General Health Care
Since these caregivers are non-medical staff, they can’t inject a prescription medication or recommend taking one. However, they do help with the timing and taking of existing prescription drugs as recommended by the doctor.
Assist with Mobility
Caregivers will help with the patient getting around. Tow their wheelchair, get them into a car or the shower. Some caregivers may even drive their patients to the doctor and back or accompany them in a taxi or other paid driver service.
Provide Supervision
Generally, supervision and companionship are some of the duties that aren’t outlined but are certainly big roles that need to be played. Caregivers are around the patient most of the time, so it makes sense for them to become companions as it makes passing the time easier and offers the emotional support a person in recovery needs.
Offer Emotional Support
It isn’t easy being stuck in a wheelchair after an accident or trying to relearn how to walk. Caregivers offer emotional support just as they do physical support. Many people feel that having a caregiver around improved and sped up their recovery.
Conclusion
While the job or duty of a caregiver in charge of post-surgical or temporary disability home care isn’t easy, many get into this line of work because they want to help people. It is that passion that has many caregivers working in this industry for decades. The sight of seeing their patient fully recovered, smile, and laugh are rewarding enough for many professional caregivers.
Have you used a home care professional? Did they do additional duties not outlined here?
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