This is an exploration of the many ways for becoming a caregiver. It is a profession meant for some people. Like a perfectly fitted glove. Others fall into this caregiver role before they knew their feet had slid out from underneath them. It happens more frequently than you would imagine purely by circumstance.
Caregiver by Nature
Some of us have that personality trait of compassion that makes us great caregivers. We are naturally drawn to those who need help. And we do help. Its an unspoken calling for millions. Of course, many with this trait hear the calling loudly and pursue occupations in the medical field. Nurses are the most exceptional of all caregivers. I recommend you always be generous and kind to your nurses because someday your nurses will be helping you wipe your derrier!
From what I remember as a little girl my care giving began with cats and dollies. I wrapped every cat I could catch in a blanket and held it like a baby. Of course, I rocked the cats and I rocked the dollies. Rocking is an important part of taking care of babies. That was my motivation, to be a proper baby rocker. I loved to hold my younger brother and my cousins when they were babies. Stray cats? Sure, I took in stray cats and left food out for the ones I couldn’t catch. Like most little girls, I pretended house. My brother and my cousins were my kids. Funny, I grew up and I still take in strays now and then, cats AND people! (I know, I have to stop this!)
Becoming a Professional Caregiver
There is such a lack of caregivers in this country. I encourage anyone with admirable patience and a drive for helping others to consider becoming a professional caregiver. You do not have to go to school for an advanced education to do this. Although, education is always beneficial. You enhance your caregiving skills by earning your CNA (Certified Nursing Aide), LPN (Licensed Practical Nursing), RN (Registered Nurse), NP (Nurse Practitioner), DNP (Doctorate Nurse Practitioner).
Typically, you will need to take a first aid and CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) course to earn certifications for each. Be prepared to provide proof of valid drivers license and auto insurance for instances where you may have to transport a client. Most caregiving agencies will require a criminal background check. Mandatory for agencies accepting Medicare/Medicaid.
Training
A good agency will offer frequent training classes on a variety of related caregiver topics. The more of these continuing education classes you complete, the more valuable you are to the company and to your clients. Learn about skin care, rashes, abrasions, wounds, treatments. Train for techniques to redirect patients with dementia, Alzheimers, brain traumas and mental health. Discover ways to improve environments for mobility safety. Practice safe transfer techniques. Understand special diet needs from nutrition, meal planning, meal preparation, solids, purees and more. Learn the importance of documentation.
My Caregiver Beginnings
I lucked out. I had been caregiving for my grandma for a few years and was bringing my own client with me to the agency where I was hired. My client is also my significant other. Fortunately, we learned I could earn money as his caregiver. This is because we have never legally married despite having built a family together. it has now been over eleven years and counting.
I also have a not-too-shabby background of medical knowledge. Not from education or work experience but because my mom is a nurse, my aunt is a nurse, my other aunt worked in a hospital and the other one worked in a research hospital. Plus, my grandma had done some nursing in her early days apparently. I took a medical terminology course because I figured I could probably get an easy A…and I did!
Caregiver Traits
I believe the number one trait any caregiver needs is compassion. Patience is a very close second. A good caregiver is a caregiver that goes home tired. Someone who sits with a client and is only there for supervision is, in my opinion, more of a companion than a caregiver. Too often, caregivers today act more like companions and are still getting paid as caregivers. Don’t misunderstand me though, supervision is absolutely a crucial part of caregiving.
Every agency has their own guidelines for caregiving however, most reputable agencies will have included some version of the guidelines set forth by Medicare and Medicaid. These are industry standards for determining what cares a patient needs.
Determining Eligibility
A patient is a person under the care of a medical professional. A client is someone’s patient being cared for by a certified caregiver. A patient or patient’s family will seek assistance with daily living skills. An agency will “interview” the patient and when the patient hires the agency, the patient becomes a client of the agency. Then the agency (or Medicare/Medicaid) will determine how many hours of care the client needs and how many hours will be covered by insurance. Private pay is usually an option but is very expensive.
The eligibility and determining factors from the interview are based on the client’s ability to handle daily living skills for him or herself. These are divided into different categories, then sub-divided into levels of independent ability. A plan is developed for each client based on these results.
Caregiver Tasks
Caregiver tasks are the actions deemed necessary to assist a client in meeting the needs of daily living skills (ADL’s). The extent of assistance is variable. Essentially, ranging from cues to perform the task to full assistance. The standard categories of care giving under Medicaid are generally accepted.
Medicaid categories for caregiver tasks include:
- Meal Prep
- Assist with Eating
- Toileting
- Transfers
- Mobility
- Hygiene
- Dressing
- Bathing
- Shopping
- Laundry
- Housework
- Transporting
- Emergency
- Medication
- Supervision
On average, caregivers spend:
- 13 days each month on tasks such as shopping, food preparation, housekeeping, laundry, transportation, and giving medication;
- 6 days per month on feeding, dressing, grooming, walking, bathing, and assistance toileting;
- 13 hours per month researching care services or information on disease, coordinating physician visits or managing financial matters. [Gallup-Healthways. (2011). Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index.]
Of Family Caregivers Who Provide Complex Chronic Care
- 46% perform medical and nursing tasks;
- More than 96% provide help with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as personal hygiene, dressing and undressing, getting in and out of bed, or instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) such as taking prescribed medications, shopping for groceries, transportation, or using technology, or both. [AARP and United Health Hospital Fund. (2012). Home Alone: Family Caregivers Providing Complex Chronic Care.]
- On average, caregivers perform 1.7 of 6 ADLs, most commonly getting in and out of beds and chairs (43%). [National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. (2015). Caregiving in the U.S.]
- And on average, caregivers perform 4.2 of 7 IADLs, most commonly transportation (78%), grocery or other shopping (76%), and housework (72%). [National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. (2015). Caregiving in the U.S.]
More Statistics
- 57% of caregivers report that they do not have a choice about performing clinical tasks, and that this lack of choice is self-imposed.
- 43% feel that these tasks are their personal responsibility because no one else can do it or because insurance will not pay for a professional caregiver.
- 12% report that they are pressured to perform these tasks by the care receiver.
- 8% report that they are pressured to perform these tasks by another family member. [AARP and United Health Hospital Fund. (2012). Home Alone: Family Caregivers Providing Complex Chronic Care.]
- Caregivers report holding significant decision-making authority regarding the following:
- Monitoring of the care recipient’s condition and adjusting care (66%);
- Communicating with healthcare professionals on behalf of the care recipient (63%);
- Acting as an advocate for the care recipient with care providers, community services, or government agencies (50%). [National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. (2015). Caregiving in the U.S.]
Tips for Becoming a Caregiver
I believe the most important tip for any caregiver is to build your own support group. Anything can happen on any given day to change your life when caring for another person. Likewise, repeated routines day after day are potentially distressing. Either way, avoid isolating yourself or withholding emotion. Make a pointed effort to talk with others who will listen to you, be supportive and uplifting to you.
Secondly, educate yourself about the disease, disability or ailment of your client. The more you know and understand what your client is going through, the more you will be able to help. Communication will be easier too. You will know more specific questions to ask and will alert to significant changes more quickly. Learn all you can!
Wait…There’s More!
Remember to set boundaries for yourself. Keep these in my mind before you say “yes” to everything. But because a client will quickly learn to push those boundaries. Disrespect of your boundaries can happen like the rug pull out from underneath you, regardless of intention. Same with family members of the client, even your own family.
Reach out to other caregivers or persons deeply involved in a related field such as a non-profit organization. For example, HDSA (Huntington’s Disease Society of America) or Autism Speaks. This is where you hear tricks of the trade, so to speak. For instance, did you know chocolate helps about anything go down? Think Mary Poppins singing about the “medicine goes down, the medicine goes down…”. It’s chocolate, not sugar that works! Give your client sugar and be prepared for a hectic shift.
Bonus Trick:
People with dementia have difficulty seeing the color white. This creates problems in most toileting situations. Males miss the “target” while standing up. Both men and women struggle with lowering and rising from the toilet. Their depth perception is compromised when the seat is not as visible. Solution options: Change the toilet seat cover. Add a colored bowl light. Remodel and change all bathroom from white to your choice of colors. (No – Biscuit is probably too close to white to count!)
Double Bonus:
Become a master of the RE-DIRECT method. Get this method down and believe me, you will be glad you know it. It works for my clients and I pull it out on my pre-teen periodically too! What is it? In a nutshell, when your client (or person – pre-teen, ha ha ha) stays on one thought, you introduce a new topic of conversation or different area to focus. This helps reduce frustration in the client too and can avert a more intense situation.
A Poem for the Caregiver
Unknown and often unnoticed, you are a hero nonetheless.
For your love, sacrificial, is God at his best.
You walk by faith in the darkness of the great unknown,
And your courage, even in weakness, gives life to your beloved.
You hold shaking hands and provide the ultimate care:
Your presence, the knowing, that you are simply there.
You rise to face the giant of disease and despair,
It is your finest hour, though you may be unaware.
You are resilient, amazing, and beauty unexcelled,
You are the caregiver and you have done well!
Author not published;
(shared by Today’s Caregiver)
Thank you to these resources: https://www.caregiver.org/caregiver-statistics-demographics – https://caregiver.com/cg-community/careverses/prayer_for_caregiver/
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