Caregiver in Claremont CA
You may have agreed to be your elderly parent’s caregiver, but are you really the right person for the job? Not only will you be expected to manage the day-to-day responsibilities and medication reminders of your loved one, but the role also requires the caregiver to be compassionate, patient, and respectful.
Caregiving can also take up a large amount of your time, which may cause you to cut back on hours at work or quit your job completely. According to the Elder Care ABC blog, 7 out of 10 working caregivers have suffered from work-related difficulties because of their caregiving role.
Depending on the health of the elder, each day may provide new challenges that you will need to handle. The best thing you can do to determine if you are the perfect person to care for your loved one is to take a look at the following information on caregivers and what is to be expected from you.
Typical Tasks of a Caregiver
Most caregivers are responsible for one, two, or all of these tasks to help improve the senior’s quality of life.
-
Remind the elder when to take medications
- Provide assistance for personal care tasks, such as bathing, dressing, and feeding
- Assist the senior with bathroom needs
- Grocery shopping and preparing the meals
- Provide companionship
- Light housework
- Monitoring the elder’s health and staying in touch with their medical team
Challenges to Expect
This role can be a rewarding experience for both you and the senior. However, there are also challenges the caregiver should be prepared to face.
- Increased stress
- Needing to take time off of work to care for the elder
- Lack of sleep
- Helping with finances
- Researching the health condition of the senior
- Difficulty finding spare time for yourself
Characteristics Needed of Caregivers
Providing care for elderly loved ones is not for everyone. It actually takes certain personality traits in order to give the elder the care they are in need of. Some of these characteristics include:
- Empathy: You will need to constantly show the senior that their feelings and thoughts matter. Also, they will need to be reassured that you understand these feelings.
- Patience: Some seniors may suffer from communication and/or behavioral issues. It is important their caregiver understands this and is patient with the elder while they try to tell you what they want.
- Flexibility: This role is nothing like a typical 9-5 job. There may be days where you will be required to stay longer or begin earlier. You will need to be flexible enough to cater to the needs of the elder.
Caregiving is a big responsibility, so if you are worried that you can’t provide the help the elder needs, consider hiring a senior care provider. This person will be able to offer the elder all of the assistance and companionship they need.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional caregiver services in Claremont, CA, call the caring staff at Aviva In-Home Care. Call today: (415) 795-2203
Source:
http://eldercareabcblog.com/health/the-world-of-the-caregiver/
- Do You Need Help with Personal Care for Your Senior? - September 16, 2019
- Causes and Risk Factors for Shingles in the Elderly - September 12, 2019
- Five Reasons Your Senior Might Need a Daily Routine - September 5, 2019