Top Caregiver Duties and Skills

by | Jul 2, 2018

caregiver duties-nurse talking to her old patient both smiling
Do you have the ability and skills needed to be a caregiver?

caregiver duties-taking picture with an elderly

 
Maybe you’re considering becoming a caregiver for a loved one, or you’ve gained the responsibility of doing so. Perhaps you’re contemplating a fulfilling career in the field of medical care.
If any of these statements are correct, then there are specific caregiver duties that you can expect to encounter. As well as skills that would make you well-suited to care for others.
 
Explore our top duties and skills for caretakers to determine if traveling this road would be a good option for you.
 

Continued Monitoring

caregiver duties- Caregiver giving medicine to an elderly

As a caregiver, you should monitor your family member or patient to ensure that his or her care plan continues to be effective.

If the individual doesn’t seem to be responding well to medication, treatment, or the surroundings.

The caregiver should take action and seek help to get their charge back on track.

Who is Considered a Caregiver?

caregiver duties-Nurse taking care of a patient in wheelchair

A caregiver can be a paid or unpaid individual who helps another person with their day-to-day needs. The caregiver could be a family member or friend, or even a professional, such as a home health care worker, nurse, or certified nurse aide(see nurse assistant salary) (see nurse assistant salary).

Care is providing assistance in a personal residence, in a hospital, or other medical facilities. Those who are generally most in need of care include individuals living with a disease, mental disorder, disability, or who are old.

 

Top 10 Common Caregiver Duties

If you are caring for someone in need, you’ll likely find yourself performing a range of duties. Getting a basic home health aide training, Here are some of the most common to be expected.

 

Care Plan Preparations 

caregiver duties-nurse checking with a patient

Thus, could entail creating a basic outline of care so that the individual in need of assistance gets the type and level of care they require.

If you’re caring for a family member or friend, this could mean detailing what the loved one needs help. Thus, to determine how much time, or how many hours, within the day they will need care.

Thus, may also include meting out responsibilities if you are sharing care duties with others. If providing care in a professional setting, you may work with the individual or family to devise a care plan.
 
You may be on task with ensuring that involved family members are familiar with the patient’s needs and understand the role that they can play.
 
In some situations, professional caregivers. Mainly, may also help families to make important decisions about the care of their loved ones.

Tend to Medical Needs

caregiver duties -making a call and doing some list

If you’re caring for a family member, this could entail scheduling doctor’s appointments. Particularly, seeking medical attention for your relative.
If you are in a professional caregiver role, you must stay attuned to when the patient needs further doctor intervention. Thus, ensuring that patients receive the care they need.
 

Dispensing of Medication

As a caregiver, you must know what types of medications the patient or family member has been prescribed, and how often they need to take them.
 
You will also monitor if the medicine seems to be having the intended effect, or if the patient has an adverse reaction.

Tend to Basic Needs

caregiver duties - assisting an elderly in a wheelchair

Thus, would take the form of assisting the patient or family member with the basic needs that all humans have. Including bathing, using the restroom, and personal grooming.

Movement and Comfort

If the individual needs assistance especially with their mobility. In particular, this duty could include helping them into a different position in their bed to keep them comfortable. Thus, helping them to transfer from a bed to a chair.

Preparing or Overseeing Meals and Nutrition

caregiver duties-nurse giving meal to elderly

Whether, you are caring for a loved one, or are a professional working in a private home setting. Mainly preparing meals for someone who can’t do this task on their own may fall under the umbrella of your responsibility.
Based on the individual’s needs, the caregiver should take into account any dietary restrictions or special health considerations when preparing meals.
 
In some instances, the person being cared for may need to be fed if they are unable to do it on their own.
 
In a professional setting like a hospital or care facility. A caregiver may not prepare the food but will ensure the patient receives their nutritionally proper meals at the correct times. That will likely monitor if the patient is eating as he or she should be.

Housekeeping Responsibilities

caregiver duties-hospital housekepers

If working in a personal residence, you may be tasked with completing or assisting with day-to-day housekeeping. Such as vacuuming, dusting, washing dishes or tending to unexpected messes.
In professional settings, caregivers may not do the bulk of room cleaning. But they could remove unneeded items or waste from rooms, or could clear away dishes and drinkware.

Transporting

Some caregivers may be responsible for personally carrying charges to activities or doctor’s appointments outside of the home or facility, or for arranging transportation, if appropriate.

 

Providing Companionship

caregiver duties-Talking to a patient, companionship

No matter if your scenario is a family member providing care, or a medical professional assisting a patient, being a companion is one of the most essential and rewarding caretaker duties.

Whether lending an ear to listen to an individual’s needs and worries or listening to a story, just being a presence can ease loneliness for the suffering.

 

Continued Monitoring

caregiver duties-Monitoring a patient

As a caregiver, you should monitor your family member or patient to ensure that his or her care plan continues to be effective.
If the individual doesn’t seem to be responding well to medication, treatment, or surroundings, the caregiver should take action and seek help to get their charge back on track.

Imperative Caregiver Skills

Whether the possibility of caring for a friend or family member is on the horizon, it is an advantage to have a Home Aide Certification.

Here are a few of the top traits possessed by great caregivers:

caregiver duties- caregiver and elderly reading books

  • Ability to feel and display compassion and empathy
  • Willingness to follow the rules, regulations, and protocols
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Adept at making observations
  • Outstanding organizational and time management

Hopefully, this information has been helpful in determining your decision of becoming a caregiver.

While there are likely other caregiver duties that could become necessary depending on the particular situation. Those listed are some of the most commonly expected.

caregiver duties-cargiver and elderly taking picture

If you can perform these tasks in the name of administering care and you possess the right skill set. Then you may find great fulfillment in caring for others.