NIAGARA network
As we welcome the arrival of spring, we hope this article on caregiving and support coordination proves both useful and timely. Navigating care options and available services can often feel overwhelming, but the insights provided here are designed to make the process easier and more accessible for our readers.
The Essential Role of Caregivers and How
They Can Make a Difference
Contributed by Ernest C. London, Area Agency on Aging, Greater Erie Community Action Committee
The Niagara Network is a group of business professionals affiliated with the human services industry. If you would like to join or find out more information about the group and its members, contact Katherine Reim at kreim @ specialolympicspa. org or 814.403.7397.
A Caregiver’ s Role
A Caregiver’ s role is to be responsible for the coordination of care for the care receiver, often a family member or a loved one, but not necessarily. This type of role is generally learned without any book of instructions. Rather, it is learned by the necessity of the families’ dynamics, a sort of“ on-the-job” if you will. The caregiver must learn to provide basic care, including assisting with daily living needs( ADLs), hiring in home healthcare via agencies to provide such care, purchasing or receiving medical insurance, and learning how to operate adaptive equipment that can enhance the safety, convenience and independence for the care receivers.
Establishing a Plan of Care
The caregiver must establish a plan of care for the care receiver, which includes but is not limited to: managing medications, monitoring diets, managing any special needs such as functional disabilities, managing medical appointments with any and all physicians, and strictly ensuring that the care receiver is adhering to the physician ' s orders.
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