Learn more about CFSS in Minnesota
Becoming a caregiver is often a labor of love. What other job allows you to help people each and every day, making sure they enjoy the best quality of life possible, and forming close bonds with the loved ones you spend time with?
However, it also brings with it a range of challenging caregiver responsibilities. Supporting your recipient of care is a serious task, not to be taken lightly. So, what really goes into it?
Whether you’re considering becoming a caregiver or seeking to understand the role better, it’s important to recognize that caregiving encompasses a wide range of tasks that contribute to a care recipient’s wellbeing and quality of life. Understanding these caregiver responsibilities helps ensure comprehensive care while maintaining your own wellbeing.
Caregivers provide one of the most vital duties for their families and loved ones. And there are many, many people in the United States performing these duties!
In fact, The Caregiver Action Network reports: “More than 65 million people, 29% of the U.S. population, provide care for a chronically ill, disabled, or aged family member or friend during any given year and spend an average of 20 hours per week providing care for their loved one.”
The first main area of responsibility for a Personal Care Assistant (PCA) is to help the recipient of care with personal care tasks, such as any grooming and hygiene tasks that the person can’t manage alone, ranging from bathing and shaving to brushing hair and teeth.
The foundation of caregiving responsibilities centers on ensuring the safety, health, and comfort of the person receiving care. Primary caregiver tasks include:
Some recipients of care are no longer able to drive or manage mobility, so the duties of a PCA can also extend to helping the person get around. Organizing a ride to the hospital or to make a social visit are just a few examples of how to help people move around from place to place.
A big part of being a PCA is being a companion to the recipient and helping the person feel good on a daily basis, so little extras like painting their nails or special hairstyles can really brighten up someone’s day.
Beyond the core responsibilities, many caregivers take on tasks that extend to maintaining a safe and comfortable living environment. These can include:
However, there are some things that are not the responsibilities of a caregiver. For example, unless you are given explicit instruction from a medical professional, you are not supposed to administer medication or offer any sort of medical diagnosis.
Beyond physical care of the body and home, caregivers also offer meaningful human-to-human connections. They provide companionship to their loved ones, helping them engage in mentally stimulating activities and maintain connections with their family and friends.
The importance of this social-emotional aspect of caregiving cannot be overstated. Caregivers who prioritize emotional support can greatly enhance the quality of life of their recipients of care. This brings more joy and purpose into their daily lives and creates deeper, more rewarding relationships.
Above all else, the most important task of a caregiver is ultimately to improve the quality of life for the recipient of care. All of the above responsibilities can vary according to the individual. Be sure to simply listen to the needs and desires of your loved one, as these may change.
Given how demanding it can be to provide home care, especially when dealing with a close friend or family member, many caregivers sacrifice their own wellbeing for others. To provide the best home care, however, balance is needed! You can’t take good care of anyone else unless you take care of yourself as well.
Focus on making sure you are eating right and getting at least 20 minutes of exercise a day. Even just taking 20 minutes to head out for a walk before starting your workday can be huge.
Always make sure you have someone to talk to as well – ideally someone who understands your regular stresses and concerns. There are plenty of support groups especially for caregivers, which provide a space to talk openly about daily struggles. Having someone to vent and talk to is always helpful with stress.
Remember, while working as a caregiver can be challenging, it’s also deeply rewarding. The key is finding the right balance and support system.
At Best Care, we understand the complexities of family caregiving and are here to help answer your questions and provide the care you need and deserve. Whether you’re new to caregiving or looking for more support, our team is ready to assist you in navigating these important responsibilities.
If you're a friend or family member currently providing in-home care for a senior parent or disabled loved one without compensation, an active Personal Care Assistant looking to work with an established home care agency, or someone who is not yet a PCA and wants to pursue a career in personal care services, we're glad you are here!
With a team of expert care managers, extensive training resources, and advanced administrative technology, Best Care exists to make your caregiving work easier. From tools like our Timesheet App that reduce the time you need to spend on paper, to ongoing support from our dedicated team.
At Best Care, we believe caregivers should be compensated for their hard work. That means our employees enjoy a competitive rate of pay, starting at $13.25 for most employees. In return, you’ll embark on a role that can be very rewarding. Being a family caregiver gives you the opportunity to make a major impact on a loved one’s life, and to be a source of support for your family.
For more information on what it takes to become a PCA, why not speak to a member of the Best Care team? They are more than happy to answer any questions you might have about what it’s like to be a caregiver!
