Caregiving

1. According to the (NIH) News in Health (2015), many of us will end up becoming a caregiver at some point in our
lives. Chances are we’ll be helping out older family members who can’t fully care for themselves. Such caregiving
can include everyday tasks, such as helping with meals, schedules, and bathing and dressing. It can also include
managing medicines, doctor visits, health insurance, and money. Caregivers often give emotional support as well.

Studies have shown that some people can thrive when caring for others. Caregiving may help to strengthen
connections to a loved one. Some find joy or fulfillment in looking after others. But for many, the strain of
caregiving can become overwhelming. Friends and family often take on the caregiving role without any training.
They’re expected to meet many complex demands without much help. Most care-givers hold down a full-time job
in addition to the hours of unpaid help they give to someone else.

2) A caregiver provides assistance in meeting the daily needs of another person. Caregivers are referred to as
either "formal" or "informal." "Formal" caregivers are paid for their services and have had training and education
in providing care. This may include services from home health agencies and other trained professional
(ChristianaCare, 203).

"Informal" caregivers, also called family caregivers, are people who give care to family or friends usually without
payment. A caregiver gives care, generally in the home environment, for an aging parent, spouse, other relative, or
unrelated person, or for an ill, or disabled person. These tasks may include transportation, grocery shopping,
housework, preparing meals. Also giving assistance with getting dressed, getting out of bed, help with eating, and
incontinence.

Formal caregivers are paid for their services and have had training and education in providing care. This may
include services from home health agencies and other trained professionals.

3.) Caregivers who provide unpaid care for family or friends with an illness or disability, occupy an uneasy position
within the healthcare system (Law, S., Ormel, I., Babinski, S. et al. , 2021). The caregiver contribution may be
formally acknowledged if taken into account as part of the care recipient’s needs assessments and service
allocation.Caregivers themselves have highlighted the personal value and benefits they realize in caring for another
person, yet given that caregivers’ contributions will only grow in importance, it is imperative to develop a more
balanced equation through policies and programs that aim to support them in their role.

Caregiver as a resource ; this is the most common view of caregivers as portrayed through different studies. The
role as ‘resource’ is presented as “being spontaneous and improvised”, “motivated by love and obligation”, where
caregivers possess the “necessary skills, knowledge and competence”

4. Front. Med (2022) proposed that care is a human need. Humans give and receive care throughout life. The
demand for care is associated with the functional impairment of older adults; that is, the person requires help
from someone to perform basic and instrumental activities of daily living. Caring involves affective responsibility,
zeal, bonding, and consideration for the history and concerns expressed by the older person, establishing a
caregiver's commitment to promoting the well being of the person cared for.

5. Tracy Brower, PhD (2021) believes that in the popular press, caregiving is often defined as care provided to
elders—including everything from housekeeping and personal care to transportation and non-professional medical
support (giving meds., etc.).

During the pandemic, the types of people who need support and the kinds of care they need have expanded.
Caregiving includes childcare and learning help—especially as childcare facilities and schools have closed or
reduced capacity. It also includes non-professional healthcare for all ages. And the toll on our collective mental
health also necessitates more caregiving in the form of emotional support and empathy. Of course, the pandemic
is one factor. Another is the “sandwich generation” in which people care for their children, parents—and
sometimes grandparents—due to people’s increasing longevity.

6. According to Donna Schempp, LCSW (2023), Caregivers can be spouses, partners, adult children, parents, other
relatives (siblings, aunts, nieces/nephews, in-laws, grandchildren), friends, neighbors. Whatever your relationship
with the person you’re caring for, it’s important that you add the title caregiver to the list of things you are.
Without identifying yourself as a caregiver, you won’t know to search for resources that can help you navigate this
new role.

But caregivers play other roles as well. You may be employed full or part-time. You may be raising children, or be a
volunteer, a spouse, have other family commitments. Adding caregiving to that list can easily lead to frustration
and exhaustion. You might need to navigate social service systems, call doctors while you’re at work, advocate for
the care receiver, and take care of their day-to-day needs, while you try to do all of those same things for yourself
and your family.

7 A caregiver is anyone who helps another person in need. A person in need might be an ill spouse or partner, a
child with a disability, or an aging friend or relative. Caregivers report higher levels of stress than do people who
are not caregivers. It's important for caregivers to know that they, too, need help and support. Caregiving is
rewarding but stressful, caregiving can have many rewards. For most caregivers, caring for a loved one feels good.
And it can make your relationship stronger (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2023).

8. Care & Help Home Care (2023) study that being a caregiver is a challenging yet rewarding role requiring various
responsibilities. Personal Care; This includes assisting with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing,
grooming, and toileting. Caregivers may also help with mobility, transferring, feeding, and medication
management. Household Management; Caregivers often assist with tasks related to running a household, such as
meal preparation, laundry, cleaning, and organizing. They may also help with transportation and errands.
Healthcare Management; Caregivers may manage a care recipient’s medical needs, including coordinating
doctor’s appointments, managing medications, and keeping track of health records. They may also provide
essential medical services such as checking vital signs or administering injections. Emotional Support; Caregivers
are important in providing emotional support to care recipients. This may involve listening and offering
companionship, engaging in meaningful activities, and helping

9. As explained by Ishwarya Maninathan ( 2023), a caregiver is an individual who assists with the needs of those
who are unable to manage all aspects of their lives independently due to factors such as aging, illness, or physical
limitations. Caregivers fulfill a multitude of responsibilities, including the following; aiding with personal tasks,
offering medical aid, providing emotional support as a companion, preparing meals, maintaining cleanliness within
the household premises and facilitating transportation to various destinations.
Caregiving is essential to safeguard the well-being of those incapable of independently managing their daily
activities and health requirements; this proves particularly vital for aging populations, individuals enduring chronic
illnesses or disabilities, those recovering from medical procedures or ailments, terminal illnesses, or caring for
special-needs children, and to offer relief for family caregivers. In the United States, numerous individuals
undertake the responsibility of caring for their loved ones or acquaintances dealing with severe health issues.
Although driven by affection, this task can present notable strains and hurdles to overcome.

10. From the point of view of Ideal Home Care (2022), if you’re someone with a drive to attend to others, consider
becoming a caregiver. Caregiving is a great way to help those in need throughout your community. Being an
efficient caregiver requires many characteristics, including patience, adaptability, and empathy, to ensure each
person receives the quality of care they need to thrive. If you believe you hold these traits, you may be an
excellent candidate.

However, it’s important to examine everything that goes into caring for another person. Because these
professionals are in charge of many daily aspects, it’s essential that you know and understand the responsibilities
expected. Here, Ideal Home Care Services discusses common caregiver responsibilities.
11. ( Tennessee Tech University, ) What does a Caregiver do?
Caregivers perform a wide variety of tasks to assist someone else in his or her daily life, for example, balancing a
checkbook, grocery shopping, assisting with doctor’s appointments, giving medications, or helping someone to eat,
take a bath or dress. Many family members and friends do not consider such assistance and care “caregiving”—
they are just doing what comes naturally to them: taking care of someone they love. But that care may be required
for months or years, and may take an emotional, physical and financial toll on caregiving families.

For some people, caregiving occurs gradually over time. For others, it can happen overnight. Caregivers may be
full- or part-time; live with their loved one, or provide care from a distance. For the most part, friends, neighbors,
and most of all, families, provide—without pay—the vast majority of care.