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.
Get your FREE PRINTABLE copy of the Caregiver Responsibilities Checklist here. It will open as a .pdf and you can then print.
For more tips:
Home Safety Checklist For Seniors