A caregiver looks after someone who needs help taking care of themselves. That person may be a child, an adult or an older adult, needing help because of an injury or disability, or because of a chronic illness such as Alzheimer's disease or cancer.
Who caregivers are
- Informal caregivers — usually family members or friends.
- Paid professionals.
Care may be given at home, in a hospital or other health care setting, and sometimes from a distance.
What caregivers do
- help with daily tasks such as bathing, eating or taking medicine
- housework and cooking
- errands, such as shopping for food and clothes
- driving the person to appointments
- company and emotional support
- arranging activities and medical care
- making health and financial decisions
Rewarding, and hard
Caregiving can be rewarding. It may strengthen your connection to a loved one, and helping someone else can bring a sense of fulfillment.
It can also be stressful, sometimes overwhelming. You may be "on call" 24 hours a day, while also working outside the home and raising children.
Look after yourself too
So make sure you are not ignoring your own needs — your physical and mental health matter as well. When you feel better, you can take better care of your loved one, and it is easier to focus on the rewards of caregiving.
Sources
Based on "Caregivers," MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, with its summary from the Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health; a work of the United States government in the public domain.
이용 허락: CC0 1.0 (퍼블릭 도메인) · 출처 medlineplus.gov
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