An Urgent call to caregivers to help families and care providers access the best care for their loved one. Understanding the different types of caregivers and their role is an important part of choosing the best care plan. This will eliminate stress, for the family and ensure your loved one is provided with the right type of care.

What is a caregiver?

A caregiver is a person who oversees the care of an individual that has limited ability to care for them selves. There are paid caregivers and unpaid caregivers. If you identify as a caregiver you already understand the challenges you and the individual deal with on a daily basis. Let’s explore the different type of caregivers as well as the different types of challenges you may experience while searching for the right type of care.

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Connect with our Online Community Center and learn ways you can we get involved as a caregivers family member or friend. In the next few months I will be studying and sharing the new resources for caregivers in Ontario and other Canadian Provinces.

Take an inside peak at my life as a caregiver and enjoy my daily or weekly blogs as I learn to live my life one day at a time! Learn the value of self care and about the serious health risk, Caregiver Burn out.

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Are You a Caregiver?

What Type of Caregiver are you?

• Family Caregiver-A family care giver can be a relative friend or neighbor who provides long term or short term assistance for a chronic illness, temporary illness, mental illness or Brain injury. There are several other lifestyles changes that may need temporary assistance which would include, loss of home, loss of income, sudden move or divorce.
• Assisted Living Facility Caregivers–Professionally trained and paid for employees that provide personal aid and physical aid for your loved one. These Facilities are a supportive community and offer residents opportunities for a stress free lifestyle. Assisted living caregivers provide several services which would include personal hygiene, medication management, bathing, feeding as well as personal support and companionship.
• Hospice and Palliative Caregivers– Palliative care and Hospice care are two types of care for a person with a serious illness that requires end of life care or very similar but some care may differ.
• Palliative care offers medical care, improve a persons quality of life, treatment to slow or cure the illness. This usually requires a team of caregivers which can include family caregivers so they can receive care at home. A team of caregivers help prevent or ease suffering as well as make difficult health decisions. In many of these cases you can seek homecare services to assist the caregiver and loved one. You can also receive specialized palliative care in a facility such as a hospital, Palliative care unit or nursing home or at home. Palliative care can occur at anytime in a persons life.
• Hospice care-Hospice care aims to improve quality of life for a person that is given 6 months or less to live. This usually requires help with coping skills to help families deal with illness and death. They also assist patient with an advanced care plan for spiritual, emotional and pain relief.
• Non-Medical Caregiver-The role of a non-medical caregiver is to provide convenience, security, comfort and stability for the client. It is a home care business that hires minimal staff and hire other employees on a paid contract. The role of a non-medical caregiver is to provide convenience for client. This can range from grocery shopping, preventative measures for fall risk, communication between client and family member, assisting with toiletry, cleaning, meals and so much more.
• Senior Facility Caregivers-Senior Facility care is a unconventional small home based facility that provides services to seniors who do not require 24 hour nursing care. Seniors choose to live in a Senior Facility when they can still manage a lifestyle but require some assistance on a daily basis. This type of facility usually accommodates up to 20 residents. They provide room and board, housekeeping, supervision, as well as personal care.
• Volunteer Caregivers-People who are willing to help others with activities of daily living. These individuals are not professionally trained and work for free.
• Certified Nursing Assistant-CNA’s work directly within the health care field such as hospitals, nursing homes, assistant care facilities home health care. Nursing assistants are paid employees that work under the supervision of a Registered Nurse or Licensed Practitioner Nurse.
• Adult Day Care Facility Caregivers-Also known as Adult Day Services these programs offer a social outlet that is organized through community and interactions with others.
• Independent Caregivers-Private caregivers are affordable Caregivers hired by family members . They can provide services such as medical aid if trained, emotional support, fall prevention and safety measures. Caregivers assist with the well-being and independence for their client. It is important to know that family members are liable for allowing someone in their home.
• Personal Care attendants-Working caregivers who are employed by home care and support agencies, private households or self employed. These caregivers provide care for the elderly, recovery or disabled clients . They assist with routine activities which include mobility support, personal hygiene, household chores, Menu planning and preparation, as well as companionship and emotional support.
• Skilled Nursing Home Caregivers-Skilled Nurses provide specialized care to patients recovering from illness or injury. Hospitals requests care and send a reference regarding the patients special needs. Patients will benefit from services such as rehabilitation, showering, getting dressed, fall prevention and so much more. Facilities provide a safe and secure home for your loved ones.
• Agency Caregivers-A caregiver that is not required to be certified is hired through a agency to assist a Certified Nurse. The role of an Agency Caregiver is to help with housekeeping, meals, transportation, and other non medical duties. A good agency will request a background check and provide ongoing training for staff.
• Home Health Aides– Are trained and certified to care for their clients in the comfort of their home. They provide care for clients with a chronic illness or disability. The role of a Home Health Aide is to communicate health care changes to supervisor, provide personal care, administer and track medication, care for infections and wounds, track vital signs and offer companionship.
• Informal Caregiver-These are unpaid caregivers that provide a variety of support to family members, friends and the health care system. In many cases they become overwhelmed and put their own health at risk.
• Private duty Caregivers– Clients hire their own Professionally trained Private Duty Caregiver to provide non-medical and support services. Private Duty Caregivers can be hired through an agency or directly. Caregivers support an independent lifestyle that respects the clients need to live with dignity and a comfortable lifestyle. They provide personal care up to 24 hours.
• Virtual Caregivers-These are online health care resources that offer a large variety of support through virtual appointments This allows you to access services in the comfort of your home.

This information is carefully researched from online resources such as google search engines. .