Handy, Helpful Caregiver Responsibilities Checklist

Whether soon to be a caregiver or looking to hire one, determining all that caregivers need to do can be overwhelming. With this free helpful, caregiver responsibilities checklist, quickly identify caregiver duties that apply to your unique situation.

The main areas of the Caregiver Responsibilities Checklist include:

Dressing And Personal Hygiene

Many people first notice that loved ones need a hand because of lapses in personal hygiene. From clothes put on incorrectly to a general unkempt look, these signs indicate it is time to step in yourself or hire an outside caregiver for:

Bath/Shower Assistance
Lotion Application As Needed
Tooth Brushing And Dental Appliance Cleaning
Shaving
Brushing/Styling Hair
Makeup Application And Removal
Finger And Toenail Care
Picking Out Clothes And Dressing

Throughout the day

Toileting Assistance
Monitor And Change Incontinence Underwear/Medical Devices As Needed
Change Soiled Clothing If Necessary

Medication Management And Following Medical Orders Caregiver Duties

Remembering to take medication properly and following doctors’ orders can be tough for all of us, but especially for individuals with physical or mental health challenges. Caregivers can:

Remind And Aid In Taking Medicine
Refill And Sort/Organize Pills (See my article Handy Devices To Help You Remember To Take Medicine for organizing and dispensing solutions.)
Monitor And Keep Record of Blood Pressure, Blood Sugar Readings, Etc…
Assist With Home Exercises Prescribed By Physician, Physical, Or Occupational Therapist
Attend Medical Appointments And Provide Updates To Doctors And Nurses

Eating Properly

Proper nutrition and hydration is key to overall health. Caregivers may need to:

Help With Or Do Grocery Shopping
Prepare Meals And Snacks
Assist With Eating
Aid With Drinking To Ensure Proper Daily Fluid Intake

Help Getting Around

Safe transportation to appointments and daily activities serve as a huge area of caregiver responsibilities for many people. Be prepared to:

Take To Doctor’s Office, Grocery, And Activities
Transport To Social Activities, Church, And Exercise Classes

Companionship

Caregivers help others lessen loneliness and social isolation because they:

Listen, Play Games, Watch Television, Read Together, Etc..
Encourage Others To Visit

Light Household Work

Daily living can get messy! Plan for caregiver responsibilities to include:

Clean Kitchen Counters After Food Prep
Vacuum Or Mop Up Spills
Wash Dishes And Run Dishwasher
Do Laundry And Put Away Clothes
Take Out Trash In Kitchen And Bathrooms
Make And Change Bed As Needed
Wipe Down Bathroom Sink And Shower
Retrieve Mail And Help With Bill Paying If Necessary
Maintain File of Receipts For Records

If financially feasible, try to hire housekeeping help to do periodic deep cleaning of the home. Caregivers generally are hard pressed to find time for this with all the other responsibilities.

Communicate With Family

The importance of maintaining open lines of communication between those being cared for and family cannot be overstated. Help to:

Update Family Members And Keep Apprised Of Significant Health Or Behavior Changes
Alert Family About Doctor’s Appointments And Outcomes

In Conclusion

No! Caregiving is not easy. It is both physically and emotionally demanding. By identifying your family’s unique needs, you lay out a framework of what will be required of you or an outside caregiver.