01/07/2023
Do you want to become a family caregiver?
What Is a Family Caregiver?
The formal definition of a family caregiver varies from place to place, and can include given or chosen family, but the Family Caregiver Alliance says it quite well: "Any relative, partner, friend or neighbor who has a significant personal relationship with, and provides a broad range of assistance for, an older person or an adult with a chronic or disabling condition."
What Does a Family Caregiver Do?
As the definition above references, a family caregiver provides a range of assistance. What do family caregiver responsibilities involve? That all depends on how much assistance the receiver requires or desires. Essentially, they are a home-based care coordinator.
A family caregiver might do laundry, help with housework, keep track of medicine and dispense medicine, act as a driver, assist with grooming, or aid in necessary errands. This is a brief list of what a family caregiver might do, but certainly isn't exhaustive, nor is it what each caregiver would do.
Organize medications
Provide transportation to doctor's appointments, grocery store, or other errands
Act as a liaison with medical professionals
Take on the role of patient advocate
Assist in mobility activities, such as getting in and out of chairs or bed
Prepare meals as well as grocery shop
Help to manage finances
Housework and/or yard work as needed.
