The role of the caregiver
Did you know?
Over 53 million people were providing unpaid care in the U.S. in 2020 according to AARP.
You may not have imagined yourself in the role of caregiver. But you aren’t alone. Often this care comes with new responsibilities and very little education or training. Whether you’ve officially been asked by a loved one to be a caregiver or find yourself becoming a primary caregiver without a formal conversation, you’ve been tasked with both a rewarding and challenging role.
Types of caregiving
There are a lot of different types of caregiving, and you may find yourself in one or more of these roles at different times in the health journey of your loved one. The Caregiver Action Network describes four basic types of caregivers:
- Crisis caregivers: Those thrust suddenly into the role by acute illness or emergency.
- Long-term caregivers: Those taking care of someone with a chronic illness or dementia, for example.
- Long-distance caregivers: Those daughters, sons and others who live far away yet both feel and are responsible for care.
- Sandwiched caregivers: Those who have other full-time obligations such as a demanding job or young children, so are especially pressed for time.
You may fall into multiple categories of caregiver and one role can and often does turn into another over time.
Caregiving can also take on a variety of activities such as:
- Direct care includes physical and emotional support and help with daily tasks
- Maintaining the immediate living environment, including cleaning and bill payment
- Nurturing personal connections—communicating, inviting, and facilitating contact
- Administrative help —such as time spent dealing with insurance companies, doctors’ office visits and prescription management
- Self-care for the patient – helping them take the best care of themselves
Tips for getting started as a caregiver
Here are some simple, practical suggestions to get started adapted from CaringInfo.org: