Caregiver’s Issues And Challenges Of

The FutureBy Rehab Adel Mohammed

Outline•Introduction

•Definition of caregiver•Types of caregiver

•Qualities of caregiver•Caregiver's Bill of Rights•Common caregiver's problems

•Common signs and symptoms of caregiver stress and burden•The Causes and factors that can lead to Caregiver Burnout

•The complication of caregiver burden•Dealing with Caregiver Stress & Burnout Tip•Lack of Knowledge and Skills•Family challenges•Advocacy for care •Intervention to support the caregivers•A hierarchy of needs of caregiver•Role of caregivers for elderly

IntroductionThe caregivers must often provide care

under complex circumstances, often balancing the

concerns of their own immediate families, their

careers, and their responsibility for elderly care

giving. In fact, care giving can often be defined as

providing unpaid assistance for the physical and

emotional needs of another person, ranging from

partial assistance to round-the-clock 24-hour care.

Definitions of caregivers A caregiver is a broad term for any person who

provides assistance for another person who cannot

live independently due to developmental, physical,

emotional or psychological needs

A caregiver is anyone who helps a chronically ill

patient copes with an illness. Caregivers can be

home health care workers, family members or

friends.

Types of Caregivers1- Formal Caregivers: (provide medical care)

include three levels of workers:

Administrative and medical staff.

Professional and technical staff (RNs, Care

Aides, Dietitians, Physiotherapists, Social

Workers, Pharmacists

Non professional service workers

(housekeepers, dietary aides)

2- Informal Caregivers: (help with non-medical

tasks) include

Family and friends can be a caregiver for elderly

Volunteers can be a great way to provide some

support for elderly caregivers.

 

Qualities of Caregiver 

1-Honestly 9-Patience

2-Kind 10-Gentle

3-Faithful 11-Truthful.

4-Polite 12-Good listener

5-Caring 13-Belonging

6-Interest 14-Respect

7-Dependability 15-Strength

8-Flexibility

Caregiver's Bill of Rights:

As a caregiver I have the right… …

To be respected for the work I choose to do.

To take pride in my work and know that I am

making a difference.

To garner appreciation and validation for

the care I give others.

To receive adequate pay for my job as a

professional caregiver.

To take time off to re-energize myself. To socialize, maintain my interests, and

sustain a balanced lifestyle. To my own feelings, including negative

emotions such as anger, sadness, and frustration.

To express my thoughts and feelings To appropriate people at appropriate times.

To discern my personal boundaries and have others respect my choices.

To seek assistance from others, if and when it is necessary

To convey hope to those in my care. To believe those in my care will prosper in

mind, body and spirit as a result of my caregiving

Common Caregiver's Problems:

Caregiver Burnout

Is a state of physical, emotional,

and mental exhaustion that may be

accompanied by a change in attitude --

from positive and caring to negative

and unconcerned.

Common Signs and Symptoms of caregiver

stress and Burnout:

Common signs and symptoms of caregiver stress

1. Anxiety, depression, irritability

2. Feeling tired and run down

3. Difficulty sleeping

4. New or worsening health problems

5. Trouble concentrating

6. Drinking, smoking, or eating more

7. Neglecting responsibilities

Physical signs and symptoms of

burnout1. Frequent headaches, back pain, muscle

aches

2. Change in appetite or sleep habits

3. Feeling tired and drained most of the time

4. Lowered immunity, feeling sick a lot

Emotional signs and symptoms of

burnout1. Sense of failure and self-doubt

2. Feeling helpless, trapped, and defeated

3. Detachment, feeling alone in the world

4. Loss of motivation

5. Increasingly cynical and negative outlook

6. Decreased satisfaction and sense of

accomplishment  

Behavioral signs and symptoms of burnout

1. Withdrawing from responsibilities

2. Isolating yourself from others

3. Procrastinating, taking longer to get things done

4. Using food, or drugs to cope

5. Taking out your frustrations on others

6. Skipping work or coming in late and leaving

early

Cognitive signs and symptoms of burnout

1. Confusion, difficult making decisions,

difficult problem solving.

2. Difficulty with concentration and

attention

 

The Complications of Caregiver

Burnout

1. Poor health.

2. Persistent aches or pains.

3. Elder abuse.

4. Addiction

5. Depression

Dealing with Caregiver Stress & Burnout Tip

Talk with someone. 

Give a break: Set aside a minimum of 30

minutes every day. 

Write it down.

 Join a support group

Make time for yourself:

Take care of your health.

Get educated. 

Recruit help. 

Lack of Knowledge and SkillsEducation and Seek Information

- Check your public library for books, articles,

brochures, videotapes, and films on care giving. Some

hospitals, Adult Education Centers offer courses on care

giving.

 

- Caregivers need information early about the nature of

illness, the limitation it causes, how it may affect the

relationship between the caregiver and the care receiver.

The basic qualifications for a caregiver are

1. Yong age

2. Caring personality

3. Interest in senior care

4. Communication skills.

5. Cooking skills.

6. Dependability.

7. Driving Skills

The training Caregiver training requires learning skills for assisting

with what is called "Activities of Daily Living" in the

senior care industry.

Learn about the skills required for non-medical caregivers

Many hospitals and community programs offer training

and support groups for senior caregivers.

Some states also provide certifications for training as a

Certified Home Health Aide (CHHA), Certified Personal

Care Assistant (CPCA)

Family Challenges 

Conflict about care

Lack of support for caregiver

Balancing needs of healthy and sick family

members 

Behavioral issues

Interpersonal conflicts

A HIERARCHY OF NEEDS FOR CAREGIVER

Primary GoalsCaregiver safety: Caregivers are trained to consider

personal safety as one of their primary goals. For example,

caregivers first put on gloves before deal with patients.

Caregiver accuracy and

safety: Caregivers need to provide safe and accurate

clinical care to their patients. Once personal safety is

achieved, the caregiver can focus on delivering accurate

and appropriate care to the patient.

Secondary GoalsVisibility of patient:  It was among the most desired characteristics of

the work environment. Caregivers told us that greater visibility

improves work processes and the quality of care giving. It improves the

exchange of information and promotes better and more regular

communication among staff.

 

Communication: Supporting caregivers by providing both written

and spoken communication to team members is critical.

Visibility and communication keep caregivers connected to each

other and to their patients—essential for assessment,

information and directions.

Efficiency: Caregivers always are looking for ways to save

time in their jobs. Efficiency is essential to caregivers, since

workload and stress levels can be high. The tools of care

giving should not add difficulty to their work.

 

Privacy: Caregivers need to maintain the confidentiality

of their patients' personal information—both written and

spoken—at all times. Privacy was not as valued a need as

communication, according to caregivers. "Communication

is an essential ingredient in delivering accurate care."

Preferred Goals

Ease of use and caregiver comfort: Caregivers want to

ensure their physical, mental and emotional comfort for improved

outcomes and work satisfaction. Comfort is both a physical and

psychological goal

 

Caregivers also will be more comfortable doing their work if the

supplies and equipment they use are intuitive and familiar and

don't impede on the processes and time-sensitive nature of patient

care.

Role Of Caregivers For Elderly 

These are common caregiver duties that may need to be performed

by either you and/or an outside person(s). 

Grooming Assisting with dressing 

Shampoo and bathing  Transferring 

Toileting  Medication 

Meal preparation Mail and newspaper 

Housekeeping Transportation

Errands and shopping Ambulation assistance

Management of symptoms Therapy

Emergency service   Medical care 

Hospice care  Short-term respite care 

Communicating  Companionship 

Ensure Safety Keep the Environment Stimulating