You help your aging loved one every week – because you care about them, and they need help. Simple as that. You take them to medical appointments or oversee telemedical appointments. You run all kinds of errands. You pick up prescriptions and groceries. You make sure they take their medication and maybe even perform some wound care. You sort mail and pay bills. And help with the cooking and the laundry.
But when a form asks you to fill in a space for your loved one’s caregiver – you put “none.” Because you don’t really consider yourself their caregiver, and you’re not alone in that. The AARP Caregiver Identification study found that only 19% of caregivers believe they are caregivers.
How to Know if You Are a Caregiver to an Aging Friend or Family Member
If you are wondering if you are a caregiver, you probably are. These are typical caregiving tasks:
- Emotionally supporting a family member or friend through a tough time
- Helping with bathing, toileting, grooming, exercise, etc.
- Preparing meals, organizing meal deliveries, and buying groceries
- Running errands like picking up prescriptions, taking a pet to the vet, and purchasing household supplies
- Yard work and household tasks like mowing the lawn, doing the laundry, and washing dishes
- Picking up medications at the pharmacy and vitamins or supplements at the health food store
- Organizing, setting, and driving to medical, dental, legal, and banking appointments
- Dispensing medications
- Health monitoring by checking vital signs, keeping track of changes in health
- Acting as a medical liaison with or without Medical Power of Attorney
The more of these that resonate with what you do, the more likely it is that you stepped into the caregiver role.
Over 65 million Americans take care of loved ones, and 80% have a paid job, too. This juggling act puts employed family caregivers at risk for stress, burnout, and physical and mental health conditions. Plus, family caregivers are more likely to face financial crises, job instability, and relationship problems.
Ultimately, you fit in the role of a caregiver if you are concerned about the health and well-being of an elderly or vulnerable person and you regularly help them. But let’s look at some specific indicators, so you can be absolutely sure.
Signs You Are a Caregiver
Here are some major indications that determine if you, or someone you know, is a caregiver.
Time Spent Helping and Checking on Your Loved One
There’s a difference between visiting and checking on someone. If you regularly go to check in and see if everything is okay, you are at least starting to take on the role of a caregiver. Most people can manage up to 10 hours per week without affecting other responsibilities, but once you are doing nursing tasks, the time adds up.
Household Duties
Many household tasks become more difficult for vulnerable or elderly individuals. These tasks are simpler for you, so it makes sense to do them yourself. Of course, getting as much other help as possible, and modifications to their living situation make things easier for everyone.
Dietary Needs
Everyone needs to eat, but providing well-balanced meals can become more difficult, too much hassle or a truly daunting task. Those who have dementia may forget to eat. This fundamental task seems like offering a helping hand to a loved one, but this clearly indicates that you are a caregiver.
Running Errands
Perhaps your loved one has stopped driving, or maybe it is simply easier to run their errands on your way home from work. Either way, running errands for someone puts you in the category of their caregiver.
Personal Care and Hygiene
Daily activities like showering and getting ready for the day become challenging, so it is more difficult to maintain personal hygiene. Caregivers often lay out clothes the night before or help loved ones shower to reduce the risk of falls and injuries.
Doctors’ Appointments and Telemedicine
Doctors’ appointments have become more frequent. You may end up constantly arranging and providing transportation and attending doctors’ appointments. You may oversee telemedical appointments by setting up the technology or sitting in to communicate directly with the healthcare professional.
Paying Bills and Sorting Mail
Sometimes, elderly loved ones forget to pay bills or sort through the mail. Con artists often target older people, so caregivers check the finances. If you are in charge of looking for important correspondence and watching bank accounts and bills, you are a caregiver for their financial obligations.
Following Medical Instructions
If you know your loved one’s medication schedule, even if you are not reminding them to take their meds, you are a caregiver. But most caregivers do at least set up the alarm reminders, so they don’t have to personally remind their loved one of every dose.
Following medical instructions can and does go far beyond reminding your loved one to take their pills. Their doctor may have given you instructions to monitor vital signs, do wound care, or perform other nursing tasks. Caregiving over 10 hours per week usually includes these healthcare tasks.
So, Are You a Caregiver?
There are many duties that caregivers undertake. Many resources are available, but you have even more access to help and support if you are employed. Your employer may include the Caring Place HUB in your employee benefits package to help get your stress and time under control. Your role as a caregiver matters, and you are appreciated.
The Caring Place HUB app will soon be available to consumers through the iPhone App Store. If you would like to receive a notification when it becomes available, please SEND US AN EMAIL.
If your organization would like more information about the Caring Place HUB as an employee benefit, please CONTACT US.
