Senior Living News

What Is a Caregiver?

A caregiver is someone who helps out with someone else's needs. Older adults who need assistance with their physical and emotional requirements often use caregivers. Family and friends may serve as unpaid caregivers to support their loved ones in maintaining their independence. You can also hire professional caregivers to come into your loved one's home and provide various support services.

Roles of Caregivers

Caregivers take on several roles depending on the situation. The condition of the person you're caring for and their needs affect what you do. You might also handle some aspects of their care while hiring professionals to handle the rest. Common roles of caregivers include:

• Physical care: Older adults often need help with everyday care tasks, such as getting dressed, eating or going to the bathroom.
• Health conditions: Caregivers may help manage chronic conditions for their loved ones. This can include managing their medications, carrying out treatments, monitoring their symptoms and accompanying them to medical appointments.
• Companionship: When an older adult lives alone, isolation and loneliness become concerns. The time spent with caregivers offers companionship to prevent those issues.
• Transportation: If your loved one can no longer drive themselves, providing transportation is a caregiving duty to consider. Common destinations include medical appointments, shopping trips and fun outings.
• Chores: Caregivers might handle cooking, cleaning, lawn care and other household chores for older adults who can't manage those duties anymore.
• Financial: It's common for caregivers to help out with financial tasks, such as budgeting and paying bills. They might also help with estate planning.
• Safety: Being able to age in place requires a safe environment, especially if your loved one has dementia. You may need to modify the environment or remove potential hazards to keep them safe.
• Advocacy: Advocating for your loved one at medical appointments ensures they get adequate care. You can continue being an advocate even after your loved one moves to assisted living or other long-term care arrangements.

How Caregivers Support Senior Health

Caregivers observe and manage the physical health of the senior in their care. They're often the first ones to spot new potential issues, such as the early signs of dementia. For existing health conditions, the caregiver ensures the senior follows all treatment protocols, which helps manage the conditions to keep symptoms under control and prevent progression.

Keeping your loved one active and meeting their nutritional needs supports their overall health. You can do this by planning outings or incorporating regular physical activity, such as walking around the neighborhood. Planning, preparing and cooking healthy meals that meet their dietary needs also helps.

Caregivers also support the safety of their loved ones. They might help with transfers, which reduces the risk of falls. Being present allows you to prevent potential accidents or keep a loved one with dementia from wandering. Safety precautions help prevent injuries and accidents that could affect their health.

Best Practices for Being a Caregiver

While serving as a caregiver is a selfless act of love, it's also challenging. These best practices help you handle your duties well:

• Take care of yourself: It's common for caregivers to neglect their own needs. Monitor your health to help handle the responsibility.
• Understand your loved one's needs: Learning about your loved one's needs and conditions allows you to provide the best support. Take notes at medical appointments and ask lots of questions.
• Know when to ask for help: Seniors sometimes progress to the point of needing additional support. Don't be afraid to suggest long-term care or other support options.

How to Get Support as a Caregiver

Even if others recognize your hard work as a caregiver, they might not offer to support you. Asking for help from family members gives you a break to reset and manage your own health. If no one else can help, discuss the possibility of hiring professional caregivers to share the care load.

Look for support groups made for caregivers. Local nonprofit organizations often organize caregiver support groups. You can also find online groups, allowing you to talk to others who understand your concerns at any time. Caregiver support groups are available for specific situations, such as caregivers of people with dementia.

Seeing a therapist can also help you manage your mental load as a caregiver. They can offer coping mechanisms and advise you on talking with other family members. Ask your therapist or your loved one's health care provider for community resources that might help.

When you can no longer meet the needs of your loved one at home, assisted living at Autumn View Gardens Creve Coeur offers a safe environment with the necessary support services. If your loved one has dementia and needs a secure environment, our memory care neighborhood provides a stimulating atmosphere with personalized care plans tailored to each resident's needs. You can continue to play an active role in your loved one's life while easing your caregiving duties.