Aspects of Caregiving
Families provide care on many levels and from many aspects. Recognizing the many ways in which individual family members may be of assistance can help families develop a broader care plan than that incorporates special abilities of its individual members. Following is a list of services that caregivers have identified as means to participating in elder care.
- Providing for personal needs, such as meals, laundry, housekeeping
- Spending time on behalf of the family member — locating resources, attending caregiving workshops, scouring the internet
- Providing emotional support —visits, phone calls
- Advocacy — intervening with care providers, negotiating legal, financial, insurance concerns
- Shopping — either with or for the family member
- Providing transportation
- Organizing documents, bills, household routines
- Help with decision making, including gathering information to make informed choices
- Facilitating changes in living arrangements
- Facilitating adjustment to changes in living arrangements
- Keeping an eye out for the safety and well being of the famly member
- Managing care provided by others
- Serving as eyes and ears at medical appointments
- Providing direct financial assistance
