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Running head: Caregiving

I

CAREGIVING

7

Field Experience 2

Nera Richardson

Kennesaw State University

Introduction

A caregiver is anyone who cares for a sick, elderly, disabled person. While there are people who work professionally as a paid caregiver, many other people such as family members, friends and neighbors work as unpaid caregivers. A caregiver has various responsibilities such as housekeeping, cooking, running errands, assistance with bathing, and assistance with medication and a variety of other needs. The extent of care depends on the patient’s capabilities upholding themselves physically and psychologically.

Caregiver works in an assisted living, private home, nursing home or hospitals. While working professionally as a caregiver can be a rewarding job, it can be very challenging for a family member who cares for their old age ones while joggling with their personal life. There are many factors that can influence the level of care a patient needs such as the patient level of illness, type of care needed, availability of caregivers and length of care needed.

Method

In this field experience, I interview two participants both were females. The first one goes by the name of Patricia Dunwell from Macon who works at Southern Community. Miss Patricia works as a caretaker of four disable person between the ages of 55 to 75 years old. The second participant goes by the name of Francilia Harris of Lake Park FL. Francillia is my cousin who has been working as a caregiver for 20 years now. Her patient is a 92 years old lady who needs assistance at home.

The data were collected by telephone interview. The question I asked was very easy questions regarding working as a caregiver. I believe the participant was honest since I know them personally. They were not compensated or bride for doing this interview. I asked each participant five job-related questions.

Questions asked:

1. How old is your patient?

2. Do you work in a home or assisted living?

3. What is typical day working in your current job like?

4. What do you find rewarding about working with the elderly?

5. What are some of the challenges you encounter on a daily basis?

Results

From the responses, I get from Miss Patricia she seems very happy and comfortable working with disabled patients. When I asked what a typical day was like caring for her four disabled patients. She explained that all four patient was different and she had to give each of them unique attention. Since they are disabling they have to be treated like kids. She says that there was four patient one includes a female name Jennifer who is very unstable on her feet so she needs persistent care when moving around. She mentions three other names all males.

The first was Johnny the oldest who was chewing on his clothes, Wendell who was biting everything Michael who was very quiet and did not like to be bothered. Since she has been working with them for about four years now, she knew how to take care of each individual’s personal needs. Which lead me to ask her what was rewarding about the job. She said that what she finds rewarding about the job was recognizing that her patient needs are met and they are happy makes her feel good inside. Being able to help them and seeing the smile on their face is rewarding. They have communication barriers because of that a lot of people think disable patients are not smart but by being around them she realized they are very smart and each of them has individual way of communicating. My fifth question I asked about some of the challenges she faced with taking care of the disabled patients? She said the physical aspect of caring for her patient she knew how to handle, but her patients have very abusive backgrounds and it is sad when family members do not involved in their lives. She explains often she has to bring her patient out to events and the process often takes time to get them in and out on the van. Occasionally when they get sick it is hard to understand what is hurting because of the communication barriers but other than that she enjoys taking care of her patients. From what I gather Miss Patrica seems content with her patient since she feels comfortable around them and knows how to take care of their individual needs,

Francilia was the second person I interviewed. She takes care of a 92-year-old in a private home setting. Francillia stated that although her job was liked a companionship job, she did have certain duties on the job. When I asked what was a typical day was like? She said that she had to help her patient with bathing dressing up, cooking, and light housekeeping. She said despite the patient was not like a typical old lady she like doing things like going out to do her hair and playing cards games with a friend. When did I ask what was rewarding about the job? Her patient was a very good patient who did not ask for much and she felt very comfortable working with her.

The challenges she faces right now is that the patient is running out of money for private duty care so now she has to be placed in an assisted living place next week. She went on to explain that patient had a husband who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at an early age so she spends about ten years taking care of her husband until he passed on. The patient thought she would not live long so did not plan to reach that age. Now that she reaches 92 all her saving is gone and she has no children of her own to care for her so she has to depend on Medicare to pay for her bill. Francillia enjoys her job as a caregiver. She knows that since she works as a private duty caregiver her job is not always guaranteed but caregiving is a very demanding job in Florida so after her patient is gone she will be able to find another job soon.

Discussion

Caregiving can be a very rewarding job for some people especially those who do it as a profession. With the elderly living longer, the demand for caregiver will be higher. The age 65 and older group is expected to double to 70 million people by 2030. There will be an increase of family member caring for their aging parents while joggling with their own personal problems.

Many of those families at some point will need assistance while caring for their aging parents. It is important that family member have the adequate information when they need help caring for their aging parents. The aging population should be educated about step to take in advance before their health becomes worst.

There should be more services available to teach aging parent and their family member how to properly organize their finances so that they can plan in advance so their children do not carry the burden paying for their care when they reach past old age. The aging population who do not have children should be provided with advice and be educated about advance preparation in the event of memory loss,

References

“Caregiving.” Caregiving | Family Caregiver Alliance, 2009, www.caregiver.org/caregiving.

Patricia Dunwell

Caregiver

1481 Forest Hill Rd Apt 702

Macon GA 31210

Tele:478-957-6051

Francillia Harris

CNA

809 Murono dr Apt 303

Lake Park FL 33403

Tele: 561-632-0219