Simple Ways to Determine the Care You Need

Determine the Kind of Care

It’s not always simple or straightforward to determine the kind of care that’s necessary for you or a loved one.

There are many caregiving options out there. At CaregiversDirect, we help our careseeker to make the best choice for their families.

Here are four questions to ask to determine your needs.

What Kind of Care Do I Need?There are four basic categories of caregiving. It’s important to begin your search by asking which of them are relevant for you or your loved one.

Personal care – The caregiver helps with hygiene, grooming, and daily activities such as bathing, dressing, shaving, shampooing hair, and nail care.

House care – The caregiver assists with light housekeeping, simple household chores, errands, and meal preparation and planning.

Health care – The caregiver assists with health care needs. This often includes managing medication, which calls for hiring caregivers with special training and licensing, such as Certified Nursing Assistants and Home Health Aides. Non-medical caregivers can only assist with medication reminders.

Companion care – The caregiver facilitates visits with family and friends – and interacts socially with the client at home with activities such as gardening, games, and scrapbooking.

What Other Skills should My Caregiver have?

Next, think of the special considerations you need your caregiver to accommodate.

For example, do you need a caregiver who speaks a second language? Do you need someone who can perform a certain level of physical activity or use specialized equipment?

Do you need a caregiver with a driver’s license and access to a car? Will they need to accommodate dietary restrictions or religious observances? Will they need to interact with any animals at the house?

How Much Care Do I Need and When?

Your search for a caregiver also depends on the frequency of care you need: part-time, full-time, or live-in.

Think about your situation, needs, and whether you have friends or family members nearby who are able to pitch in.

If you find that you typically need short-notice help, discuss it with your caregiver before hiring to make sure that he or she is comfortable being on call.

What Kind of Personality Traits Do I Seek in A Caregiver? You’re going to end up spending

many hours with your caregiver, even if they are only working on a part-time basis.

Beyond choosing someone with the right skills and availability, also think about which personality traits and values best complement yours!

After all, caregivers can quickly feel like an extension of your family, so working with someone you mesh with is key.

Now Bring It All Together!Answering these four basic

questions will help you focus your search and find the right fit!

Remember, the more specific you are, the better equipped you’ll be to make an informed decision.

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