What is a Caregiver?
http://www.setthestageforsuccess.com/articles/43417/1/What-is-a-Caregiver/Page1.html
Rejoyce Wilson-Herbert
Rejoyce Wilson-Herbert is the founder of National Information Resource Services (NIRS), an organization committed to educating people on the home care industry. Currently residing in Newport Coast, CA, Rejoyce is the General Manager of MemorialCare Home Caregivers. She is also a nationally recognized advocate for the elderly
and is one of the most highly-sought after speakers in her field. She is a proud mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and continues to work hard and help people realize their own goals.By Rejoyce Wilson-Herbert
Published on 08/2/2010
A caregiver is anyone who cares for a person who is unable to care for
his or herself; a caregiver could be anyone from a physician, a
baby–sitter or a custodial care Para-Professional. There's is a challenging yet rewarding task that all-too-often goes unnoticed.
According to Dictionary.com, the word caregiver originated between 1980 and 1985. Commonly used to describe a person who assists those in need of assistance with their tasks of daily living, a caregiver is anyone who cares for a person who is unable to care for his or
herself. It could be anyone including a family member, physician, babysitter or custodial care
Para-Professional.
Some of the first people who could be called caregivers were friends and family members who volunteered their services for their loved ones. Those most commonly referred to as caregivers, are those who provide custodial services in the home or in the residence of a person who needs assistance with their daily living needs.
A caregiver is also a person who assists in enhancing the life of another person who needs some assistance with their daily living tasks and needs as well as companionship. Most caregivers fall into the role of care giving by default when a friend or family member becomes ill and the funding to hire a trained caregiver is not available. This can be stressful for family members with professional and personal obligations to fulfill. Professional caregivers can alleviate some of the day-to-day stress by providing the hands on care and companionship.
Over the past ten years the need for caregivers has grown at an alarming rate. This is due to the fact that our aging population now includes both baby boomers and the parents of the baby boomers.
While there is not definitive data regarding the dollar amount being paid for care giving services throughout the United States, based on the sheer number of home care service providers, it is quite obvious the in-home-care industry is a multi-million dollar industry.
Changes in our health care system, which prompt earlier release of patients from hospitals, coupled with the strong growth of the elderly population, has made in-home care custodial care services the field of choice for many Americans who lost their jobs in the recent economic down turn.
The Benefits of a Caregiver
Some of the benefits of employing a caregiver are having a person in the home or residence with someone who needs supervision, nutrition, medication reminder, companionship and assistance with personal care.
Having a caregiver in the home or the residence of a person who is not capable or able to properly maintain a safe environment for his or her life, is one of the most cost effective ways to provide care and safety for that person.
A caregiver can be a great asset to a person who needs assistance with their daily living, as well as to the family members who either need to work outside of the home or who have other obligations that do not allow them the time needed to become the family caregiver.
It is important to note that caregivers are non-medical personnel. They should not be involved in managing their client’s medical needs.
Protecting Those Who Need Care
Caregivers and care giving services have been scrutinized in recent years. The reason is that they are responsible for caring for those who are unable to care for themselves. The industry as a whole should not be judged based on the few who use it to carry out their criminal intentions. In my over thirty years experience and my involvement with thousands of families who have hired caregivers, I can truly say there have been more positive stories of caregivers acting in heroic roles in the lives of people who engaged their services than negative.
That said, cautionary measures should be taken when hiring a caregiver. Many of the negative experiences that families and people who engaged the services of a caregiver experienced could have been avoided if safety measures were put in place prior to bringing a caregiver in the home.
Person or persons hiring a caregiver should follow the same rule regulations, and requirements as any other human resource department would. State employment guidelines should be followed and a scope of care defined.
When hiring a caregiver it is important to know and understand the limitations or the “Scope Of Care” under which this caregiver is able to function. Refrain from requiring the caregiver to perform tasks and duties that are not within their scope of care.
For example, a custodial Para-Professional caregiver would need additional education and testing in order to apply for a job as a registered nurse, licensed vocational nurse, pharmacist, or physician. Therefore he or she should not be held responsible for the medical needs of the person to whom they were hired to provide custodial care services.
A caregiver is not an accountant. Even if they were at some point in their career, they should not be required to handle their client’s finances.
To preserve the integrity of the client’s personal information, it is wise to provides gift cards to specific stores for the caregiver to use when they need to make purchases for the client. By using gift cards, the individual's financial information is protected and the possibility of theft or embezzlement is greatly diminished.
Remember that caregivers work as independent contractors. They are either self-employed or work as an employee of an agency. This means that when you choose a caregiver for yourself or a loved one you should verify references and, when possible, obtain a background check.
Treat the engagement of a caregiver for yourself or a loved one as you would if you were purchasing a very important item for yourself or your loved one. Do not discount your gut feeling when evaluating character. Never make the decision of engaging a caregiver primarily on the cost of their services.
Done properly, engaging the services of a caregiver could be the best decision you make for a loved one who is no longer able to care for his or her own daily needs or who's safety could be compromised. A competent care giver can stave off loneliness and malnutrition, two of the most common and significant problems that affect the elderly. Their conversation with their client can mean the difference between a good day and a great day. Their attention and stimulation can positively impact the life expectancy of an older person.
Appreciate a caregiver today.
Some of the first people who could be called caregivers were friends and family members who volunteered their services for their loved ones. Those most commonly referred to as caregivers, are those who provide custodial services in the home or in the residence of a person who needs assistance with their daily living needs.
A caregiver is also a person who assists in enhancing the life of another person who needs some assistance with their daily living tasks and needs as well as companionship. Most caregivers fall into the role of care giving by default when a friend or family member becomes ill and the funding to hire a trained caregiver is not available. This can be stressful for family members with professional and personal obligations to fulfill. Professional caregivers can alleviate some of the day-to-day stress by providing the hands on care and companionship.
Over the past ten years the need for caregivers has grown at an alarming rate. This is due to the fact that our aging population now includes both baby boomers and the parents of the baby boomers.
While there is not definitive data regarding the dollar amount being paid for care giving services throughout the United States, based on the sheer number of home care service providers, it is quite obvious the in-home-care industry is a multi-million dollar industry.
Changes in our health care system, which prompt earlier release of patients from hospitals, coupled with the strong growth of the elderly population, has made in-home care custodial care services the field of choice for many Americans who lost their jobs in the recent economic down turn.
The Benefits of a Caregiver
Some of the benefits of employing a caregiver are having a person in the home or residence with someone who needs supervision, nutrition, medication reminder, companionship and assistance with personal care.
Having a caregiver in the home or the residence of a person who is not capable or able to properly maintain a safe environment for his or her life, is one of the most cost effective ways to provide care and safety for that person.
A caregiver can be a great asset to a person who needs assistance with their daily living, as well as to the family members who either need to work outside of the home or who have other obligations that do not allow them the time needed to become the family caregiver.
It is important to note that caregivers are non-medical personnel. They should not be involved in managing their client’s medical needs.
Protecting Those Who Need Care
Caregivers and care giving services have been scrutinized in recent years. The reason is that they are responsible for caring for those who are unable to care for themselves. The industry as a whole should not be judged based on the few who use it to carry out their criminal intentions. In my over thirty years experience and my involvement with thousands of families who have hired caregivers, I can truly say there have been more positive stories of caregivers acting in heroic roles in the lives of people who engaged their services than negative.
That said, cautionary measures should be taken when hiring a caregiver. Many of the negative experiences that families and people who engaged the services of a caregiver experienced could have been avoided if safety measures were put in place prior to bringing a caregiver in the home.
Person or persons hiring a caregiver should follow the same rule regulations, and requirements as any other human resource department would. State employment guidelines should be followed and a scope of care defined.
When hiring a caregiver it is important to know and understand the limitations or the “Scope Of Care” under which this caregiver is able to function. Refrain from requiring the caregiver to perform tasks and duties that are not within their scope of care.
For example, a custodial Para-Professional caregiver would need additional education and testing in order to apply for a job as a registered nurse, licensed vocational nurse, pharmacist, or physician. Therefore he or she should not be held responsible for the medical needs of the person to whom they were hired to provide custodial care services.
A caregiver is not an accountant. Even if they were at some point in their career, they should not be required to handle their client’s finances.
To preserve the integrity of the client’s personal information, it is wise to provides gift cards to specific stores for the caregiver to use when they need to make purchases for the client. By using gift cards, the individual's financial information is protected and the possibility of theft or embezzlement is greatly diminished.
Remember that caregivers work as independent contractors. They are either self-employed or work as an employee of an agency. This means that when you choose a caregiver for yourself or a loved one you should verify references and, when possible, obtain a background check.
Treat the engagement of a caregiver for yourself or a loved one as you would if you were purchasing a very important item for yourself or your loved one. Do not discount your gut feeling when evaluating character. Never make the decision of engaging a caregiver primarily on the cost of their services.
Done properly, engaging the services of a caregiver could be the best decision you make for a loved one who is no longer able to care for his or her own daily needs or who's safety could be compromised. A competent care giver can stave off loneliness and malnutrition, two of the most common and significant problems that affect the elderly. Their conversation with their client can mean the difference between a good day and a great day. Their attention and stimulation can positively impact the life expectancy of an older person.
Appreciate a caregiver today.