Dr. Eboni Green
September 2, 2021
The role of family caregiving is often born out of necessity. That’s not a criticism, however if we had a choice, our loved ones would likely not want to rely on others for care. Therefore, caring for someone you love can be thrust upon you, no matter your level of enthusiasm and compassion.
Being a caregiver is, therefore, something which demands that you do a great deal of “learning on the job.” The role of caregiver is also often something you’ll do alongside a paid job, as few of us are in a position to give up paid work entirely for our caring duties. This can mean that, after a certain amount of time as a caregiver, you will suddenly realize how much you have learned from being in the role. And even though you may see it as just doing what anyone would do for a loved one, the act of caring for someone you love is complex. The following are three skills you will likely develop if you are a family caregiver:
Doctors and nurses go through years of training to perform their jobs, they are invaluable members of society, and will likely be key allies to you in your role as a caregiver. You won’t get any such training, however spending time as a caregiver will inevitably mean you learn a lot about your loved one’s medical diagnosis and treatments. You will want to learn about conditions and symptoms, need to understand a lot about medications and interactions, and will gain at least a grounding in first aid and urgent care. Don’t be afraid to accentuate your knowledge when speaking to medical professionals – it can make their job easier.
As a caregiver, you may find yourself spinning metaphorical plates to ensure your loved one has what they need. Making sure that you help them take their medication on time, every time, is one thing that can’t be compromised on. You’ll also need to stress the urgent need to repair or replace hearing aids given the importance such devices can have to people with hearing loss. With the essential things done, you can focus on socially supporting your loved one so that he or she does not become isolated. After a while, getting the priorities straight, you’ll soon work out a schedule by which you can work.
Caregiving can be a lonely life sometimes, but the truth is that you aren’t alone, and as a caregiver you will soon come to realize who you can rely on when the chips are down. There will be times when you will need someone to run to the store to pick some things up, and you can’t do it yourself. There may be times when you have an appointment yourself and need someone to look in on your loved one. You’ll find before too long that the same people keep coming up trumps when it matters – and it’s nice to know who they are when you need to call on someone in future.
