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§
Caregiving
Information
§ Caregiving
in the workforce. §
Eleven
Reasons Why I Joined a Support Group §
The
Common Bonds of Caregiving §
Caregiver
Tips
§ Support Groups§
Resources
§
General
Information
Barber, Barton,
Clark, Comanche, Edwards, Finney, Ford, Grant, Gray, Greeley, Hamilton,
Haskell, Hodgeman, Kearny, Kiowa, Lane, Meade, Morton, Ness, Pawnee, Pratt,
Rush, Scott, Seward, Stafford, Stanton, Stevens, Wichita |
YOU? A CAREGIVER? Caregiver! While the word may not be familiar, what
it describes probably is. Your doctor, nurse or family member may even use it
to describe you! You are a
caregiver if you provide care that enables an elderly person to live at home
despite their reduced daily functions, illness or disability. “Caregiving” often starts
gradually. You may already be helping someone by driving them to
appointments, preparing a meal or doing household chores. Or, caregiving can
happen suddenly and unexpected as a result of a stroke, accident or other
illness or condition. Over time you may provide more care such as feeding or
bathing, supervising medications, and managing financial or legal affairs.
You may share the responsibility with other family members or friends, or you
may be doing all the caregiving by yourself. There is no real training for
the job and it is something you may never have expected or wanted. You will be a better caregiver and allow your
care recipient to stay in the home longer if you recognize your caregiving
role early in the process and seek information and assistance. Good planning,
self-care and knowledge of available help will make your caregiving job
easier. DETERMINE YOUR GOALS AND YOUR
LIMITS Caregiving isn’t well defined, and it
can be difficult. Whether you are beginning your caregiving role by doing
relatively simple tasks or are providing full care, setting goals can help. Determine what it is
you hope to accomplish by providing the care? Develop a “job
description.” And then think realistically about what you can,
can’t or won’t do. Remember that a caregiver’s basic goal
is to provide physical comfort and safety to the care receiver. Being a
caregiver can be a wonderful and rewarding experience, but it can also
provide challenges and difficulties as well. During this time you should
honestly evaluate your own needs as a caregiver and recognize your own
limits. AS YOUR ROLE CHANGES While your caregiving
goals may not change much over time, your part in providing care will change
constantly. The family member’s condition may improve or worsen. They
may gain or lose ability for self-care. Your role may change as well. Perhaps
more of your time will be required to provide care or perhaps your own health
will limit the care you can provide. Educating yourself on
your care recipient’s condition is important. Knowledge is power, and that power
enables you to make informed decisions now and for the future. Doctors and
other health professionals can tell you the medical and behavioral signs. You
also need to know how long the illness or disability will last and how its
course will run. There are many organizations that can provide you with
information about specific diseases or conditions and services available in
your area. The amount and type of care or supervision you provide as a
caregiver may change as the family member’s condition changes. Your role within the
family may also change; that is, how others see you, what they expect from
you and what responsibilities you have in the family. You may find yourself making decisions
for your spouse or parent.
Decisions which they would have otherwise made for themselves had
their health not deteriorated. As your caregiving
responsibilities increase, your energy and the time you devote to other
responsibilities may decrease. You may have less time for yourself or for
your other responsibilities. Many find their role
as caregiver rewarding and a fulfillment of commitment and responsibility to
their care recipient. Caregivers may gain a sense of accomplishment and
capability with their roles. PRIMARY ADVOCATE The actions of an
elderly, ill or frail person may not always be understandable or appropriate
to others. As a caregiver, you become the link between the care recipient and
others, including medical professionals.
As the primary caregiver you become the expert on that person:
on predicting responses, interpreting communications or ensuring physical
comfort. You become their
advocate for care and services. Your objective,
detailed and nonjudgmental observations of the care recipient are crucial.
However, you should never interfere with that person’s ability to care
and communicate for them selves. MANAGER AND ORGANIZER As a caregiver, you
may assume all or part of the responsibilities of your care recipient’s
affairs, finances and resources. This could include any assistance from an
occupational therapist, health nurse or other aides. This may also include overseeing the
persons financial and personal care needs. As caregiver, you may need to
coordinate or supervise others who provide services to your care recipient. You may become or
share the role of “care manager” with other family or
professionals. You may be the pivotal person who coordinates doctor
appointments or other medical needs. Your role may be to obtain legal or financial
services to execute the care recipient’s decisions. You may become the
one everyone turns to on matters relating to the care recipient. COMPANION Caregiving may include
being companion and provider of affection and support for several reasons. Your role as a main
source of support for your ill family member may be intensified by the
illness or disability. You could be the person who best understands and
communicates with the care recipient. They may be reluctant to burden others
and may lean all the more heavily on you. This can also be a chance to enrich
and establish a stronger relationship. COST CONSIDERATIONS Providing care for the
frail or elderly can be expensive. Your own financial future may be affected
by your plans to give care. Consider the expenses: ·
lost income, benefits, pensions by both caregiver and care
recipient ·
declining real purchasing power of fixed incomes ·
cost of relocating your household or the care recipient
and modifying a home to accommodate that person ·
cost of moving an impaired person to a group facility or
nursing home ·
medical costs, including visiting nurses and doctors,
medical insurance, occupational and physical therapists, medications and
special equipment ·
cost of non-medical assistance such as someone to clean, stay
with the person, help with personal care and provide respite or day care Against those
expenses, consider your resources: ·
your family income ·
the care recipient’s finances and property ·
the care recipient’s spouse, children and other
relatives ·
insurance; tax breaks; and state, federal and privately
supported sources YOUR DECISION You must decide if you
want and can assume the role of caregiver. While caregiving is a big
responsibility, it also provides great personal rewards. Return to
Caregiver Program main page.
This program is funded
in part from a grant through the Older American’s Act 1965 and Kansas
Department of Aging © 2001 SouthWest |
SouthWest Kansas Area Agency on Aging,
Inc.
620-225-8230 • Older Kansan's Hotline 800-742-9531 • Fax: 620-225-8240 • SWKAAA@hotmail.com
Lostski Design Tuesday, June 12, 2007