Adapted from Episode 2 of The Caregiven Podcast
Conceptually, caregiving has occurred as long as humans have existed. Each and every one of us ages, and eventually requires extra help navigating the tasks of everyday living.
Historically, family units provided care to elders; it wasn’t unusual for grandparents to live alongside their children and grandchildren. Think of the classic Charlie and the Chocolate Factory scene! For centuries, this was the best and most common way for seniors to get the help they needed.
There was a large reason this model worked; the single-income family. Up until the middle of the 20th century, families could easily live off of the income of one person in the household. That left plenty of time for homemakers to keep up with an extra workload of caring for mom or dad. While it wasn’t ever easy, the extra workload made more sense than the financial commitment of professional care. This was often called the “Sandwich Generation,” as they cared both for their children and their parents.
Over time, things have started to change. In a matter of 50 years, two-income families have become considerably more common. It is now much less likely that families can live on just one salary, meaning there isn’t anyone left to fill the need of a caregiver. This was the true onset of professional caretakers stepping into the role of senior care.
Now more than ever, families are open to bringing professional caregivers into their loved one’s home. Caregivers help with activities of daily living, or ADLs. These are the things everyone normally does without challenge on a daily basis; bathing, toileting, eating, etc. As we age, these ADLs can become more challenging and even get to the point where we aren’t able to do them for ourselves. Caregivers can provide the most benefit in this area and help many people continue to live more independently despite growing challenges. We’ve seen many times where one or two ADLs go unsupported, then create a snowball effect that creates more challenges for that individual. Caregivers can mitigate these challenges, will helping those in their care avoid additional challenges.
So how do you get started with a caregiver? We try to keep the process very simple. There are 3 main steps to getting a caregiver for you or your loved one.
Call a home care agency. It might sound self-explanatory, but the earlier you get them involved, the more help they can be. Even if you don’t need service now, it’s better for you to know who you’d eventually like to work with, and to create a contact for when the time comes.
If you are currently in need of care, the next step is to schedule a home visit. This is where the home care agency will visit with you and your family in your loved one’s home. This is the agency’s chance to learn more about your needs, what caregiver might be the best fit, and how the family will be involved in the care. Likewise, the family will get the chance to know the agency and ask any questions they might have.
Be open to learning as you go. Caregiving is an evolving relationship and both the agency and the family will continue to learn about each other and the best way to support the person in need of care.