Caregiving as either a profession or to help a family member is filled with a variety of tasks. You can be challenged with many new lessons, and roles you have never experienced before. Here are a few of the roles you may be expected to fill:
* Chauffeur – You many suddenly be called up to be the family driver. Your family member or client can no longer drive. You will be escorting them to the grocery store, Doctor’s appointments, and possibly even just to a restaurant to meet up with old friends.
* Financial Assistant – Often you will become responsible for writing out the checks for bills, depositing checks in the bank, and making sure there is cash in their billfold. You may even be called upon to deal with CD’s which are maturing, retirement plans, and other financial investments.
* Housekeeper – Cleaning the home is one of the first things which becomes very challenging for the elderly. Pushing a vacuum, hauling laundry up the stairs, and mopping floors may be outside of their physical capabilities and will fall squarely on your shoulders.
* Cook – Meal preparation is often a role you will undertake in caregiving. Make sure to ask them for their favorite recipes, and meals. It is easier to satisfy their tastes when you have a good idea where to start.
* Professional Shopper – It almost sounds like fun, until you realize you are shopping for groceries, prescriptions, and other essentials instead of fun items. Then you realize you still need to shop for your own family and it can become even less exciting.
* Nurses Aide – This role can include helping them remember to take medications, assisting with medical equipment, bathing their bodies, and possibly changing diapers.
* Care Advocate – Often in your role as caregiver, you are the one who listens to the Doctor’s instructions, and makes sure they are followed. Sometimes this involves questioning the Doctor, calling insurance companies, and dealing with a stack of paperwork.
* Home Mechanic – The sink leaks, the toilet won’t stop running, the hinges squeak, and you are now responsible for all of it. Handle what you can, and then hire the rest to be done, or delegate it to another family member.
When you start caregiving, you need to come in with your eyes wide open, and expect to be involved in many roles. Many times you only take on a fraction of these roles, but the others may come into play as they continue to age.
Don’t become overwhelmed by the wide range of roles required in caregiving. A caregiver can learn to handle most of these roles, but needs to understand when they are outside of their areas of expertise. You can always find other people to assist, whether they are professionals or family members. One great thing about learning many of these roles, it can assist in your own personal life. Who doesn’t need a stronger understanding of finances, or even medical decisions. Take your news roles as a challenge and enjoy the adventure of learning to be a great caregiver.
