Many people don’t recognize or claim the role of being a family caregiver. The problem with that is that they may not recognize the pitfalls of being a caregiver, like caregiver stress and burnout, in themselves. It also means they don’t look for or accept the help that is available to family caregivers. One of the reasons people don’t see themselves as caregivers is that they think they are just doing what is right by taking care of someone they love. They don’t see what they are doing as a formal role.
If you’re not sure whether you’re a family caregiver, take a look at the list below of some of the things that caregivers do for their aging relatives. If you can answer “yes” to one or more of them, you’re a family caregiver!
- Do you do tasks for your family member, such as grocery shopping, making meals, cleaning the house, or doing laundry?
The average caregiver spends a total of 13 days a month performing these kinds of tasks. They may do the grocery shopping alone or take the senior with them and act as an assistant. Caregivers may also assist with running other errands, including going to the post office or picking up prescriptions at the pharmacy. Cleaning the house could involve a weekly cleaning or a periodic deep cleaning. Cooking meals might mean making dinner for the senior every night or spending a few days each month making several meals to be frozen for the older adult to warm up later. - Do you help the older adult get dressed, bathe, shave, do their hair, eat, or use the toilet?
Caregivers spend about 6 days out of the month helping with these kinds of personal care tasks. You might stop by each morning to get the older adult up and ready for their day. Or, you might visit a couple times per week to help them bathe or shower. - Do you take care of their finances, arrange medical appointments, or spend time learning about their conditions so you can advocate for them?
The typical caregiver spends 13 hours per month doing these kinds of things. Caregivers help seniors to pay their bills. They schedule appointments, which they may or may not provide transportation to as well. They also educate themselves on the specific condition the older adult has, so that they can ensure their loved on is receiving the best care possible. They may even attend medical appointments with their aging relative where they can ask questions and make suggestions.
Sources
https://www.caregiver.org/caregiver-statistics-demographics
If you or an aging loved one is considering caregivers in Huntley, MT, please contact the caring staff at SYNERGY HomeCare Billings today at 406-839-2390.
