Caregiving is a complicated art. It takes too much of a person’s time and effort. However, the fruit of the labor cannot be paid by money. The fulfillment that caregiving gives to the caregiver is something that is beyond ordinary. Knowing that you have taken care of someone for a particular period of time is a matter that makes your heart warm and happy. Also, the length of the time that an individual allocates to the person that needs care creates a strong bond between them.
A caregiver — that is what people call the person who gives primary care to those in need of it. There is neither a formal method nor a proper training that a caregiver undergoes. Maybe some caregiving agencies have formal training but commonly, especially for those informal caregivers, there is none. Caregivers may teach themselves by observing the process. When these caregivers report to work every single day, they can slowly discover and understand what the patient likes and dislikes.
There are different types of people that caregivers attend to, such as a person that is old, disabled, ill, or a combination of the three. The common duties of the caregiver include taking care of the person, communicating with his or her family, administering medications, keeping in touch with the medical personnel, helping the person to eat, assisting the individual in taking a bath, and ensuring his or her safety. To assure that these things are being done, the caregiver and the other party can make some living arrangements.
Caring for the elderly has the same requirements and demands as caring for someone that is young but is unable to fully take care of themselves. These elderlies can be the caregiver’s distant relative or family member. Thus, family caregivers are also an important and more beneficial kinds of care providers for they already knew the condition, likes, dislikes, and other details of the one that needs care. There are, on the other hand, plenty of pros and cons present when it comes to providing care to those in need. So, laid out below are the advantages and disadvantages of caregiving.
The Pros of Caregiving
Creates a Strong Bond
Spending most of your time by taking care of an elderly, may he or she be a family or not, gradually creates a bond between the two of you. This bond is something special and cannot be compared to other relationships that you have. It makes you create a soft spot for that person and understand their pain. The more time you spend with that someone, the stronger your bond become.
Improves Patience
Simply taking care of a normal person takes a lot of patience, how much more someone that is of old age and with vulnerable health? That is why patience is an important part of caregiving. Although everyone has different patience level, the more time spent on providing care can harness and improve the patience of the caregiver.
Learns to Develop Compassion
Caregivers are compassionate people because if they are not, then why would they put some effort and spend some time taking thorough care for an old, ill, or disabled person? Thus, caregiving definitely helps in developing an individual’s heart for helping and giving aid to the ones who need it. Caregiving is another way of showing love and support to those who are in need.
Understand the Value of Sacrifice
Caregiving is also sacrificing. A person that is given the obligation to provide special and thorough care to others has to sacrifice his resources in order to fulfill his or her duty. Time, effort, and recreational activities — these are some of the things that a caregiver typically sacrifices in order to attend his or her patient. This can be a little too difficult at first but as time goes by, it will all be worth it and fulfilling.
The Cons of Caregiving
Sudden Change in One’s Routine
The responsibility of caregiving will put a swift change into the carer’s everyday routine. There will be less time for him or herself and for doing plenty of leisure activities. There is only working each day and providing care to the patient or the one who needs it for a specific period of time. It can be truly frustrating that you will have a lesser time to spend to yourself or to your family because you need to focus on your job as a caregiver.
Too Much Stress
Caregiving can cause plenty of stress for the caregiver. It is because every person has different beliefs and ways of living. The caregiver’s patient can be strict and sturdy regarding the methods on taking medications, bathing, eating, and other activities that he or she needs assistance. There will also be arguments that will emerge between the caregiver and the person that is being taken care of, especially if the latter will have mood swings. These situations can get into the caregiver’s skin and sometimes will fill his or her temper. Times will be hard and stress may overflow the glass. The worst case scenario is that the caregiver will get depressed due to the frustrations and negativities surrounding him or her.
Risk of Developing a Health Problem
The difficulties and stress that come along with caregiving can make the caregiver feel worn out to the point that it becomes risky to his or her health — both mental and physical health. The person can develop fatigue, anxiety, insomnia, depression, and any other health conditions. There is a big possibility that these issues can become severe if these will not be given enough time and attention.
Trina’s Travel 