1. Top Caregiver Duties to Know. 2. Caregiving Tips and Tricks to Ease Caregiving Problems. 3. Assisted Living & In-Home Care Compared. 4. Understanding the role of caregivers. 5. Hiring a Private Caregiver. 6. Mistakes to avoid when hiring a caregiver.

1. What You Should
Know Before Hiring
A Caregiver

2. Synopsis
I. Top Caregiver Duties to Know
II. Caregiving Tips and Tricks to Ease Caregiving
Problems
III. Assisted Living & In-Home Care Compared
IV. Understanding the role of caregivers
V. Hiring a Private Caregiver
VI. Mistakes to avoid when hiring a caregiver

3. Top Caregiver Duties to Know
• Keep Ta s of the Patie t’s Medi atio Re ui e e ts
• Ca egi e s a e e pe ted to e a a e of thei patie t’s edi atio s hedule. The
need to monitor and make sure the patient has been given the medicines on time.
Caregivers are supposed to make sure that the care plan designed for the patient is
followed strictly.
• Give Assistance as Required
• This is one of the primary reasons a caregiver is expected from. The patient is not
able to perform their simple needs by themselves. They feel the need to depend on
someone who will help and aid them whenever need be. Their needs can range from
bathing, changing their clothes, drinking water or even peeling a banana.
• Prepare Special Meals
• There are many cases where the patient is recommended to follow a specific meal
intake. In times like these, a caregiver can be of great help. Who better than a
caregiver to monitor the nutrition intake and ensure that it is fully provided. A
caregiver also takes the responsibility of feeding the patient patiently and good-
naturedly.

4. Top Caregiver Duties to Know
• Taking the Patient on Their Appointments
• Another main duty that is expected from a caregiver is to take the patient on their
s heduled do to ’s appoi t e ts. The a e also e pe ted to o ito a d sta
updated as to when the appointment is due.
• Provide Support When Patient Needs To Be Transferred
• It could be that the patient needs help and support to get out of bed, sit in their
wheelchair, or go down the stairs. Caregivers can be a great source of support for
these kinds of patients who are dependent on someone with their mobility.
• Much Appreciated Companionship
• Although it may seem that this is the least important and next-to-nothing duty of a
a egi e , thei o pa io ship a ake all the diffe e e i a patie t’s life. Just the
feeling and presence of someone who is continuously there to look after your every
need can make the patient feel cared and loved for.

5. Caregiving Tips and Tricks to Ease
Caregiving Problems
• You should plan your day by prioritizing your tasks and your goals that you want to
accomplish in your life. Prepare a list of your needs and put the most important ones first
• Identify the neighbours, friends and other relatives that are willing to help you. Also,
identify the kind of support that they are able to provide and when are they available
• Make a schedule to ensure that the needs and requirements of your loved ones are being
fulfilled. Arrange a day for taking full advantage of any help available from your friends,
other agencies, and neighbours
• Gi e ou self spa e. Do ’t o k to the poi t of o e ti ed ess a d e haustio . It a affe t
your capability of being an affecting caregiver. Moreover, it could be an extreme threat to
your well-being
• Set ou li its a d follo the st i tl . Lea to efuse a thi g that ou do ’t feel like
doing
• Caregivers are one of the most important participants of a healthcare team. Develop a
strong partnership with the healthcare providers of your loved ones. Get involved in the
development of any health care plans for short and long-term

6. Assisted Living & In-Home Care
Compared
Assisted Living
• As a resident of assisted living, your parents
become the part of a specific community. By
this, they can participate in the community
activities and develop a social circle with a
proper routine. The facilities of assisted
living include medical facilities,
transportation, laundry, and housekeeping.
• The communities of living communities are
established for helping the residents stay
safe and active.
• In comparison with home care, assisted
living is very different. Many people prefer
to live in their own houses, but some of
them like assisted living and receiving the
professional care. Everyone has their own
preferences. Many people want to stay
alone and enjoy their own space while
others like the company of other people.
In-Home Care
• With age, older people are becoming
increasingly difficult to lead household and
observe personal hygiene rules. Moreover,
age-related illnesses further complicate their
lives. Often, the disease even prevents from
leaving the house or even can get the person
chained to the bed. It is especially difficult
for single people who do not have children
or their children are far away, or they
themselves need help.
• It was for such elderly people that the
"Home Care" program was created. After
seeking help, program curators visit a
potential client at home and assess their
ability to self-service and the need for help.
If an elderly person is still capable of doing
something, he must do it himself as it helps
to maintain an active lifestyle and stimulates
brain activity. A health visitor will help with
what he cannot do anymore - he will wash
the floors, go for food and medicine, etc.

7. Understanding the role of
caregivers
• Anyone who cares for someone is a caregiver and is rewarded in many ways. The reward could be
monetary (for example paid nurses, paid staff) but the wages is only part of the reward. The bond
that is formed between the caregiver and the receiver receives much of the reward. A type of
bond or reward which cannot be weighed in any form of currency.
• Sometimes caregivers spend a short duration of time with their patients. Sometimes they are their
caregivers for a much longer period of time. So much so that not only do the patients depend on
them but also love them like they do their own children, especially elderly patients.
• For the caregiver, spending time with patients with terminal illnesses makes so much of a
difference to be able to add some joy and comfort to their patients in the last days of their life.
• Many paid caregivers make personal visits of different duration of time for all kinds of nursing or
helping aid jobs. Different kinds of people need a caregiver, the elderly, the sick, the injured who
need assistance for a long recuperation of health.
• Caregivers are not necessarily hired help. Caregivers can be family members or neighbours as well.
You might be, or perhaps should be a caregiver to your parents or other relatives in need. The
caregiver needs to have a world of patience and tolerance.
• A caregiver could also be someone who connects with you in times of need. Females are found to
be better caregivers than men because of their maternal instincts, the compassion and level of
tolerance as well as being firm when needed.

8. Hiring a Private Caregiver
• Is Empathetic
• In order for the caregiver to provide their best care, they need to build a level of
comfort and understanding with the patient. They need to form a strong bond of
connection with the patient. If the patient does not feel comfortable with the
caregiver, it will be very hard for the patient to be taken care of.
• Is Patient
• In the industry of caregiving, patience is an extremely valuable quality that caregivers
need to possess. Not that it is easy to do so, but caregivers need to show tolerance
and endurance with the patients. They will face many challenges along the way. It
could be that the patient is not willing to eat their food or take their medicine on
time. They could be obstinate and not listen to what they are told to do.

9. Hiring a Private Caregiver
• Is Passionate About Their Work
• Caregivers are only good at what they do, provided that they have the passion and
zest for their work. Many caregivers are in this business because it brings them a high
level of gratitude and satisfaction knowing that they are serving a righteous cause.
• Is Always Alert And Attentive
• If you need to hire a caregiver to look after an elderly patient, the caregiver should
fulfill their requirement of providing constant attention. They need to be familiar
ith a elde l patie t’s e essities a d e ale t as ell as atte ti e to thei
requirements.
• Is Placing The Patient Before Their Own Needs
• Hired caregivers are aware of the importance that they need to give to their patients.
The a e illi g to put thei patie t’s eeds efo e thei o . The pla e p io it o
putti g thei patie t’s health a d ell-being above all.

10. Mistakes to avoid when hiring a
caregiver
• Taking too long to hire a caregiver
• There are various proofs that indicate the need to hire a professional and a well-
experienced caregiver. Various research and studies have found that if you hire a
caregiver early, it will help in improving the psychological well-being of a disabled or
a patient and also their family. Most people seek the help of professional caregivers
for alleviating stress, anxiety and depression. If you see the signs of any of these
p o le s i ou lo ed o e, do ’t take too lo g a d get the help of a p ofessio al
caregiver as soon as possible.
• Not researching about the agency or a caregiver
• This procedure can sometimes be overwhelming and threatening, particularly if a
family member or a friend suggested a caregiver. However, it is a big and an
important decision. Before hiring a caregiver, you should thoroughly research and
investigate the right person that you think can manage and fulfill your requirements.
After the research process, ask the caregiver for their IDs, licenses and any previous
experience while conducting the interview. It will ensure that you are ending up with
a potential and skilled caregiver. Moreover, it is usual to consider the cost,
pe so alit a d the skills of e e p ospe ti e a egi e . But, do ’t let the issue of
one of these factors outweigh the other elements. All of them are equally important.

11. Mistakes to avoid when hiring a
caregiver
• Not involving other family members
• If a person has been taking care of their loved ones alone and they have siblings that
are too lazy, unfocused or busy for helping. It will be his/her responsibility of hiring
a e pe ie ed a egi e a d o e the fi d a pote tial a egi e fo thei pa e t’s
caregiving requirements, they should ask their siblings to be there while interviewing
a caregiver. It is very important to consult all the family members before hiring a
caregiver. This might help in avoiding contentious problems after some time and all
the family members would know about the caregiver. And after all, each family
member will interact with the chosen caregiver.
• Not staying involved
• If ou ha e fi all hi ed a a egi e , it’s e i po ta t to keep aski g ou pa e ts
about how things are going every week at least. Pay attention to the care and help
that ou pa e ts a e e ei i g. That’s ho ou ill k o if the e a e a
requirements or needs that should be met. It will also ensure you and your siblings
that your parents are happy and are satisfied with the care provided.

12. The End
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