There are many roles that professional caregivers play in assisting elders to age in safety at home, or with their family. Aside from the physical aspect of what a caregiver is able to do to help elderly, frail or disabled people, there’s also the human aspect of having someone around at this stage of life.
When frailty or disabilities make it difficult to get around at home or out and about as may have been the case, the world keeps getting smaller in direct proportion to the loss of mobility.
This is where a caregiver can play an important role in improving the quality of life for someone housebound, and even those who are bedridden.
Human contact is essential when interaction with the outside world is curtailed through illness or an inability to get around.
This sense of no longer being of use, of being cut off from life can lead to depression and anxiety, which can be relieved to some extent by having a caregiver available to share these moments with.
At first it may be difficult to have a stranger around, but hiring a caregiver through CareChamp will ensure that your parent will be cared for by someone who is well matched to the temperament and personal beliefs of your parent, making the experience a lot more positive than might be expected.
List of duties that can be carried out by CareChamp caregivers
· Bathroom assistance
This is one of the most difficult aspects of becoming frail, or living with a disability. The reality of needing help to bathe is one of the greatest challenges, especially because it’s so personal and means having someone else doing what the client has always done for themselves.
Whether bathroom assistance is needed for bathing or for bed baths, you can rely on the fact that CareChamp caregivers are fully qualified to carry out all these tasks professionally, and with great care and tact.
· Personal grooming
In some elderly frail people or those living with disabilities, the first thing that goes is personal grooming, not because they don’t care, but because of the effort required to keep it up.
When personal grooming becomes difficult or impossible, depression follows as a natural course of what happens when we’re no longer able to care for ourselves.
The caregiver that you hire to care for your parent living at home will assist with hair care, shaving, nail care and more, depending on the needs of your parent.
· Exercising & mobility aids
In a lot of cases it’s essential for the caregiver to assist the client to do exercises as set out by a doctor or physiotherapist. Assistance with learning to use various mobility aids and specially adapted appliances are included in the duties of the caregiver.
· Maintaining recreational activities
As an example, if a client has been a member of a book club, chess club or bowls club, and is still physically able to maintain this, the CareChamp caregiver will be able to assist in getting the client to these recreational activities.
· Relieving discomfort
CareChamp caregivers are trained to assist clients who are bedridden or in a wheelchair, lifting and moving the client to ease the discomfort that accompanies being bedridden or confined to a wheelchair.
· Maintaining a healthy diet
A CareChamp caregiver will assist with meal preparation where necessary, and will also assist clients to eat and drink, or to be fed if this is needed.
· Light housekeeping
Light housekeeping such as maintaining the hygiene in critical areas of the home that would have a negative impact on the health of the client is included in the duties of CareChamp caregivers.
· Medication reminders
A professional caregiver will assist to ensure that the client is taking their medication as they should.
· Health, safety and confidentiality
Ensuring that clients are safe in their environment is a top priority for CareChamp caregivers, along with the prevention of accidents, or, should an accident occur, managing the situation professionally.
Maintaining the confidence of the client is important to these caregivers, as is respecting the beliefs and customs of the client. This includes care and respect for the client’s valuables.
Quality of life improves with quality homecare
If it’s time for you and your family to reach out for assistance in caring for an elderly frail or disabled loved one, please contact CareChamp to find out more about what they can do to improve the quality of life for your parent living at home.