Having observed from childhood, the work of caregivers, it seemed right to find out how care givers stand in the times that we live in. A care giver is one who provides help to a dependent....one who needs care. At some point in our lives we will be caregivers to our loved ones as they age. The aging process and debilitating or chronic health conditions or disabilities or injuries from accidents happen all through life. Some rely on paid assistance and some on unpaid ones. There are terms like 'voluntary care givers' or 'informal carers' which are the unpaid ones and there are the paid care givers employed specially to look after the person needing care. Some times, care givers are family members. Usually, the tasks of a care giver are to take care of the person who needs attention; manage medication and talk to doctors on behalf of the person needing care; help bathe or dress the person; take care of meals, household chores, making purchases, paying bills etc. for the person needing care.
For people who are aging and who have been active, their family members with whom they stay, do not recognize the need for care giving because the need manifests gradually. But for family members who come and go with gaps of time, they can see the signs of aging and the need for care giving. This tension creates problems in real care giving. Proper communication between family members always helps in recognizing the need for care giving and how best to provide it. Family members need to sit together and discuss how much they are willing to spend for paid care; who in the family will take charge of care giving and make arrangements; what sacrifice of money and time is too much; what kind of help is required at the moment and what needs might there be in the future; can they adjust to having a stranger live or would they go for part-time help. Then there are the very personal requirements of bathing and toilet activities, what kind of clothes, what kind of food, nutrition and diet, exercise, meeting friends, preference of being outdoors or alone in the room and such considerations. Unfortunately, family caregivers, especially sons and daughters are quite often unaware of their loved ones' daily requirements of home care and this adds to the stress of proper care giving. Meaningful communication between the care givers and the care receiver, within the family helps to let the loved one exercise their right to make choices even when we don't agree with them, and to provide effective care.
Paid care is not always available in many cities. In some, they have institutional elderly care but by and large in India, care giving is mostly done by unskilled and untrained people. Nursing care is expensive and geriatric care has not made itself very visible commensurate to the need in India. In 2009, there were over 90 million people in India over the age of 60 - the age when you become a senior citizen. Not many hospitals in India have a geriatric department. One has to then rely on untrained people and hope for the best.
Relationships are so key in giving care. When we treat others with respect and show meaningful concern, sometimes sacrificially, and when we know the joy of humor to ease out tensions, it makes care giving a far more pleasant experience.
For people who are aging and who have been active, their family members with whom they stay, do not recognize the need for care giving because the need manifests gradually. But for family members who come and go with gaps of time, they can see the signs of aging and the need for care giving. This tension creates problems in real care giving. Proper communication between family members always helps in recognizing the need for care giving and how best to provide it. Family members need to sit together and discuss how much they are willing to spend for paid care; who in the family will take charge of care giving and make arrangements; what sacrifice of money and time is too much; what kind of help is required at the moment and what needs might there be in the future; can they adjust to having a stranger live or would they go for part-time help. Then there are the very personal requirements of bathing and toilet activities, what kind of clothes, what kind of food, nutrition and diet, exercise, meeting friends, preference of being outdoors or alone in the room and such considerations. Unfortunately, family caregivers, especially sons and daughters are quite often unaware of their loved ones' daily requirements of home care and this adds to the stress of proper care giving. Meaningful communication between the care givers and the care receiver, within the family helps to let the loved one exercise their right to make choices even when we don't agree with them, and to provide effective care.
Paid care is not always available in many cities. In some, they have institutional elderly care but by and large in India, care giving is mostly done by unskilled and untrained people. Nursing care is expensive and geriatric care has not made itself very visible commensurate to the need in India. In 2009, there were over 90 million people in India over the age of 60 - the age when you become a senior citizen. Not many hospitals in India have a geriatric department. One has to then rely on untrained people and hope for the best.
Relationships are so key in giving care. When we treat others with respect and show meaningful concern, sometimes sacrificially, and when we know the joy of humor to ease out tensions, it makes care giving a far more pleasant experience.
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