Taking care of a loved who needs utmost nurturing and special attention because of sickness, disablement, and old age can be compared to caregiving — or is already caregiving. It can be a little too difficult at first for the art of caregiving might seem simple on the outside but complicated on the inside. This is not the same as showing sympathy to someone or being worried when they fell ill, it is so much more than sympathizing and worrying. Caregiving is showing and providing the most genuine care, attention, and effort to your loved one who is currently experiencing some physical or mental hindrances.
Being an ultimate caregiver — like the 24/7 caregiver by Gaccetta, to your loved one can be easy and difficult at the same time. It is easy in the sense that there will be no more getting-to-know or adjustment stage. One the other hand, it is difficult for the duties of a caregiver go beyond the thought of being always there and supporting the person through thick and thin. There are also some things that you should and should not do while performing your duties for the benefit of the person that you are currently taking care. Curious on what the do’s and don’ts are? Worry not for we have listed them for you, check out the text below:
Do’s:
Provide him/her with enough care and attention
Your primary duty is to provide care; thus, you are obliged to give your loved one with enough nurturing, attention, and effort to maintain his or her safety and health. You need to be able to perform your tasks well and, as much as possible, on time. Your said duties include but are not limited to being there 24/7, assisting in taking medicines, preparing a balanced diet, helping the person eat, administering leisure activities, and more. You must give divide your time so that you will be efficient on fulfilling your job and looking after yourself at the same time.
Put yourself in his/her shoes
There may be times that you cannot comprehend the person’s mood and attitude. Also, there will be moments that the person becomes easily irritable, hot-tempered, and stubborn. It will somehow result to you being frustrated and drained for you don’t know what to do. The best option if times like these occur is to put yourself in the person’s shoes so that you can slowly understand his or her situation, suffering, and pain. You can eventually pick up the pieces, put them together, and form the message that he or she wants you to know and understand.
Extend your patience
Patience is always a virtue. A goal that you are trying to accomplish without patience will remain unaccomplished for patience is one of the main ingredients towards success. That said, this value is also a significant aspect of caregiving for the duties of a caregiver are never easy. Feeding, bathing, and even assisting them to move around can be tough, that is why you need to be patient in order to successfully help them and take care of them every step of the way. Caregiving is the job that you signed up for, so you must execute your tasks perfectly along with working on some aspects that will make your work easier, such as extending your patience.
Don’ts:
Invalidate their feelings or opinions
First and foremost, always look after your loved one’s holistic health. That means that you must also consider checking his or her mental, emotional, and spiritual health aside from that person’s physical well-being. Most of the times, he or she will need you to be the listener of their thoughts and ideas that are constantly bothering his or her mind or some experiences that he or she wants to relive by storytelling. The person may also talk to you about random things. The most important thing that you should do in situations like these is to fully lend your ear and prevent yourself from commenting awful things that may invalidate his or her feelings or opinions. What they need are your attention, reassurance, and presence not something that will lower their confidence and self-esteem.
Let your temper get the best of you
People have tempers making everyone a time ticking bomb that will explode anytime. However, you need to work yours out because your line of work requires patience and not temper. Being a short-tempered person will not help you to take care of someone who is vulnerable and fragile. You may say something inappropriate or do something unethical due to the amount of emotions coming to you all at once that triggers your temper. As a result, you may hurt the feeling of the vulnerable person that you are taking care of that may create a huge impact on their well-being. Thus, you must work out and control your temper.
Alex Writes 