Duties that Caregivers Perform Daily
Most seniors or persons with disability want to stay in their homes as long as possible. Ninety percent (90%) of seniors and disabled want to “age in place” as they grow older. Eighty percent of seniors believe they will stay in their home for as long as they live. Many will not be able to do so without the help of family and professional caregivers to perform daily duties that will enable them to remain in their home.
“Aging in place” becomes challenging if a person is starting to experience challenges in performing “activities of daily living” (ADLs) independently. In order to “age in place” the senior or person with a disability will probably need the help of family caregivers, will need to contract for services to assist them and will need to make physical modifications in their home.
Here are 6 recognized activities of daily living that one would need to perform independently to remain at home with no assistance or help:
Bathing and Grooming
Dressing and Undressing
Meal Preparation and Feeding
Safe Restroom Use and Maintaining Continence
Mobility and Ambulation
Memory Care and Stimulation
There are many services and physical modifications available today to assist seniors and those with disabilities in “aging in place”.
Here are a few duties that family and professional caregivers perform daily to achieve the goal: Bathing and Grooming:
To provide hands-on assistance with bathing
To arrange for the installation of safety bars in the bath and shower
To purchase and arrange for the installation an appropriate a shower chair
To arrange for in-home grooming and professional hair or nail care
Dressing and Undressing:
To provide hands-on assistance with dressing and undressing
To purchase clothing items that are easy to put on and take off (pants without zippers and buttons/with elastic, etc., …)
To research and purchase devices that make it easier to unbutton and button clothing, etc.
Meal Preparation and Feeding:
To prepare meals and bring them by the home of senior or disabled person
To cut food and feed the senior or disable person from plate to mouth
To hire or contract with a professional meal delivery service for several meals per week
Safe Bathroom Use and Maintaining Continence:
To provide hands-on “stand-by assist” in the bathroom
To arrange for the installation of a toilet seat lift to make it easier to sit and stand from the toilet
To arrange for the installation of a safety bar next to the toilet if support is required to sit or stand
To purchase or arrange for the delivery of Depends or other adult incontinence protection supplies
Mobility and Ambulation Issues:
To assist with safe hands-on transfers on a daily basis
To provide hands-on assistance with range of motion exercises
To arrange for the installation of safety bars where appropriate throughout the home
To purchase appropriate walking assistive devices are available
To schedule physical therapy for improving strength
Memory Care and Stimulation:
To consult, research, and learn about memory issues and disease(s) and care
To contract with and hire a memory care consultant to assist with care and the selection of appropriate services
To arrange and hire a professional in-home caregiver trained in memory care issues to provide additional support, assistance and memory stimulation
To arrange and hire a consultant to access and address possible safety issues in the home for someone with memory issues
To research, select, and sign up for monitoring services for seniors and those with memory care issues
Six Final Duties that Those in Need Cannot “Age In Place” Without:
Provide advocacy
Provide care coordination and management
Provide help with housecleaning chores and laundry
Providing verbal encouragement
Providing a reassuring presence
Providing love and support
If this becomes too much to handle for family and caregivers, just know that we are always here to help. Mitchell Hollingsworth is a skilled nursing facility that offers 24 hours a day around the clock care by certified nursing staff and certified nursing assistants. We have an in-house nurse practitioner along with four medical physicians. We are only a phone call away. 256-740-5400.
