What caretakers do, how much I value them

Kathleen Anderson

“Too often we under estimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”

- Leo Buscaglia

I recently met an interesting young woman. She is the mother of a three-year-old daughter, a college student pursuing a degree in business administration, and a caregiver for Above Home Health. 

Senior Action Network, the independent senior-services organization based in Olympia, is hosting its 24^th annual Caregivers Recognition Dinner tomorrow, so it seemed like a serendipitous opportunity to discuss what professional caregivers offer their patients.

Sarah has been a caregiver in California, where she trained as a Certified Nurses Aid, and in Texas, and Colorado before moving to Washington last June.

She explained the choice of her degree in the following way:  

“After I get my degree, I plan to work in the health field. Being a caregiver allows me to understand the side of the clients and what our caregivers go through so that when I climb the ladder in administration, I can have a holistic viewpoint of how my decisions affect our clients and those on the floor. So being a caregiver is a great asset for that.”

My next question was, what do caregivers do?

It turns out they can offer medication reminders, assist with bathing, dressing and personal care, meal preparation, pet care and housekeeping. They can also drive their clients to and from the doctor’s office for scheduled visits and pick up prescriptions from the drug store.

Charting is also an important part of their responsibilities. Notes on duties preformed, client’s moods, and wishes are recorded along with observations of the client’s overall well-being.

The charting is then reviewed by their supervisors to ensure the approved care plan is being followed.

If a spouse or family member shares caregiver responsibility, professional caregivers offer a chance for that person to have a little time for themselves to run errands, socialization, or just much-needed “me time.”

Sharing their knowledge is another gift that can be shared with family caregivers, such as how to turn a patient safely in bed, calming music for dementia patients and the importance of body language and listening.

So often, our caregivers, both paid and family members and friends, are taken for granted. They give their time, patience, skills, and knowledge without expecting anything in return. But for most of them, it is much more than just a job.

While family and friends may find themselves suddenly or unexpectedly needed, for professionals, it is a calling to heal, learn, share life experiences, meet fascinating people, and enjoy the satisfaction of knowing someone’s life is a little bit brighter because they cared enough to help.

Every year for the past 24 years, Senior Action Network has honored both professional and non-professional caregivers with a Caregivers Recognition Dinner. Nominations are now closed and once again this year’s dinner is sold out.

So, I would like to thank Senior Action Network for honoring this special group. It is a perfect way to thank those who dedicate their time and healing gifts to those we love.

Kathleen Anderson writes this column each week from her home in Olympia. Contact her at kathleen@theJOLTnews.com or post your comments.