Caregiver duties vary from job to job depending on the needs of the consumer. Some caregivers may have very little self-care tasks to help with, but may have more housekeeping responsibilities. Other jobs may require extensive caregiver duties including self-care, housekeeping, transportation, and physical therapy exercises.
When thinking of caregivers, some people may mistakenly believe that a caregiver only provides companionship and assists the person with self-care. While the caregiver may do those things, many caregivers do much more.
The self-care that caregivers help with depends on the needs of the people whom they are caring for. A caregiver may need to help with bathing, toileting, and dressing. The caregiver may also need to help with grooming such as brushing hair or shaving.
Some caregivers’ duties include housework that the person receiving care may have difficulty doing. The purpose of hiring a caregiver often is to allow an individual to remain in the comfort of the home by making it easier for them to take care of themselves and the home.
Therefore, the caregiver may have to do more if the person in need of care needs more help. A caregiver job might include doing laundry, preparing meals, doing dishes, cleaning, and other housekeeping chores.
Companionship is a key component of many caregiver jobs. A caregiver may be expected to play games and do other activities with the person needing care. Sometimes there are no suggestions for the activities, but companionship may be as simple as watching television and talking with the person.
Some caregivers need to do the household shopping or run errands. The employer may give the caregiver money for household expenses. Typically, the caregiver must show receipts and keep track of how the household money was spent.
The caregiver may be required to drive the person to appointments and activities in the community. If so, the caregiver may be required to keep a valid driver’s license and insurance on the vehicle.
Caregivers typically do not give medical advice, but they may help people comply with the advice and prescribed treatment of their doctors. A caregiver may remind the person in their care to take medication. Some people may need help with physical therapy exercises.
Some caregiver jobs may include outdoor maintenance responsibilities such as shoveling snow, mowing grass, or raking leaves. The caregiver may need to care for a pet or houseplants.
An often overlooked but very important part of the caregiver job is to communicate with the agency or individual who hired the caregiver. If there is an accident in the home or the person becomes ill, the caregiver must often follow a specific protocol for communicating the necessary information so that the proper medical care is obtained when needed.
With such a diverse range of expectations for caregivers, the client and the caregiver should discuss the caregiver’s responsibilities prior to hiring. Sometimes, the responsibilities are outlined in a caregiver contract. An open discussion about the person’s needs and client’s expectations can dispel misunderstandings about the job requirements.