Greensboro's African American Community Newspaper since 1967
Caregivers are the unsung angels of this earth. A caregiver is that person who provides physical, emotional or personal care for people who cannot function independently due to age, chronic illness, injury or disability.
It can be either a formal or informal relationship. A formal relationship is a caregiver that is a trained professional. This will include direct care workers, who come into the home. Workers from hospitals, daycare centers, nursing homes, home care and respite care, who provide healthcare assistance.
A majority of caregivers though are informal. That person may be a spouse, a child, a parent, a friend, a church member or another person who helps with the care of the person in need.
Statistics show that one in four American adults is currently a caregiver. They provide care for an average of 5.5 years.
Forty percent of the caregivers live in the same home as their loved one. About one in four caregivers take care of two or more loved ones. About three in five caregivers help with medical and/or nursing tasks.
The numbers also show that two out of three caregivers communicate with their loved ones’ doctors or healthcare providers. The numbers also show that 70 percent of caregivers enjoy being a caregiver.
Not sure whether you are a caregiver? Here are some things care givers do. They schedule medical appointments, drive loved ones to medical appointments, provide emotional support, administer medications and injections, communicate with members of the healthcare team, share information with family members and friends. Other duties include shopping for groceries, preparing meals, helping with changing clothes, helping with using the bathroom, cleaning, and doing other housework. They also wash laundry and manage health insurance and finances.
One of the most important duties of a caregiver is that he/ she must take care of themselves. So many times, we see the caregiver give to the point that their health, physically and mentally, is in jeopardy.
They must first practice self-care. Take a break. They must stay active physically and must remain active with things they enjoy.
Their diet should be healthy and resist prepared foods. They must maintain their friends and relationships. There are times when they need to hire help. There are times when they need to seek help from others.
Caregiving is so particularly important, but the caregiver is also responsible for taking care of their own health physically and mentally so they can continue to be those earthbound angels.
Dr. Veita Bland is a board-certified Greensboro physician and hypertension specialist. Dr. Bland’s radio show, “It’s a Matter of Your Health,” can be heard live on Wednesdays, 5:30 p.m. on N.C. A&T State University’s WNAA, 90.1 FM. Listeners may call in and ask questions. The showon Sirius 142 at 5 p.m. on Wed. Email Dr. Bland at ideas@blandclinicpa.com.
