The Caregiver Role

What Is a Caregiver? 

Caregivers play an important role in the rehabilitation journey as they may take on many responsibilities to help meet a person’s needs when they are unable to fully care for themselves Caregivers play a vital role to an individual’s health as they can help manage medications and appointments and monitor their overall health. Caregiver duties can also include bathing, toileting, preparing meals, performing household chores, and providing transportation. A priority is to ensure that the person they are caring for is safe and healthy, which may also require them to help advocate and communicate well with the healthcare team.  

Who Is a Caregiver?  

Caregivers can be paid individuals who have professional training or unpaid individuals who may or may not have caregiving experience. Many caregivers are unpaid relatives to the person who requires care.  

Are there any risks associated with caregiving?  

Caregiving can be rewarding because helping a loved one can feel good and strengthen the relationship. However, it is important to note that caregiving is a difficult job that can also cause emotional and physical stress. It is common for caregivers to feel angry, sad, burnt out, and alone. Focusing on the health of a loved one can make it difficult to care for you own health. Symptoms of caregiver stress include feeling burdened, tired, irritable, disinterested in activities that used to spark joy, sadness, as well as feeling physical pain and experiencing health problems. Caregivers may also lose sleep, miss medical appointments, and misuse alcohol or drugs to cope. Thus, high levels of caregiver stress can impact one’s overall health and put them at risk of various health conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes.  

Self-care tips for caregivers 

To properly perform care duties, caregivers need to prioritize their own physical, emotional, and social health as a lack of self-care can negatively impact one’s health and ability to fulfill their responsibilities. Ways to prioritize one’s physical health can include exercise and attending regular medical appointments. Further, emotional health can be improved through support groups and therapy to help cope with the challenges associated with caregiving. Social support also greatly influences one’s health so it is important to surround yourself with people who can help you recharge and be there for you when you need it.  

Important considerations for health care professionals  

It is important for health care professionals to consider the health of caregivers. Health providers can monitor for signs of caregiver stress and offer resources, including information about social support groups. 

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References  

John Hopkins Medicine. (2024). Being a Caregiver. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/caregiving/being-a-caregiver  

Mayo Clinic (2024). Caregiver stress: Tips for taking care of yourself. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/caregiver-stress/art-20044784  

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