For individuals no longer capable of caring for themselves, whether due to age, illness, or other circumstances, someone near them will need to step up to provide them with assistance. We refer to this necessary role of support, which encompasses services like personal care, medical assistance, and emotional support, as caregiving.
Caregiving is a broad discipline, and the scope of support provided will depend on the individual in need of care. For example, in-home companion care often specializes in professionals who provide companionship and assist with household tasks rather than medical support and personal care, which can be hugely helpful for overburdened family members.
Read on as we discuss the many kinds of caregivers available to the elderly.
There are many types of caregivers for elderly from all kinds of backgrounds, each bringing unique skills to the table and (hopefully) being appreciated for the crucial services that they provide by those receiving them. People generally talk about the following three levels of caregiving:
Let’s dive into the specifics of what these levels of caregiving mean.
First, let’s cover some of the many types of professional caregivers available to those in need. These can include:
There are also multiple kinds of unpaid informal and intermediate caregivers. These include:
The most common type of caregiver is often the most accessible one: the family caregiver. This is because they are typically the individuals who love an aging individual the most and are closest in both emotional care and physical proximity. Oftentimes, the person in need of support already lives with or near family members who are willing to step up further into their care. While most family caregiving roles are selfless in nature, some states do compensate family caregivers in paid Medicaid and state-specific programs.
We’ve covered multiple kinds of caregivers in this blog. Here are the most widely seen 4 types of caregivers:
Caregiving is a critical profession that is, unfortunately, currently facing a shortage. While caregivers will range in backgrounds and skill sets, there are usually some key qualities they have that make them ripe for these important assistive roles. A few of these include:
Considering hiring extra help for the aging loved ones in your life? Senior Home Companions has been leading the senior companion industry for more than 30 years with companion caregiving specialized to your family’s and loved one’s needs. Reach out today to learn more about the benefits of in-home companionship.