If you are providing basic care to a person who has been diagnosed with a chronic condition you are a caregiver.
A chronic condition is described as an illness that lasts a long time or doesn't go away at all.
Chronic illnesses can be cancer, multiple sclerosis, dementia, stroke, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease.
Care giving requires a lot of your time, patience and strength.
As a caregiver, you have to do for the person what they can no longer do for themselves.
There are many responsibilities a caregiver has that go far beyond just cooking and cleaning.
They are: o Bathing - When a person is no longer able to properly care for and maintain their hygiene it is up to the caregiver to take over this responsibility of bathing and personal hygiene.
o Turning him or her in bed - Once the person you are caring for has become bedridden you have reposition them in order to relieve the pressure on their body's pressure points so they don't end up with bed sores.
Bed sores are extremely painful and if not tended to can deteriorate the skin down to the bone.
So changing their position multiple times a day is very important.
o Feeding - Again, once the person you are caring for has reached a certain level of "deterioration" they will no longer be able to do the simple things anymore like feeding themselves.
Also, you will have to alter the textures of the foods.
It is not uncommon for those with chronic conditions to have to eat pureed foods because their reflex to swallow has slowed causing them to choke on more solid foods.
o Lifting - Whether or not the person you are caring for is completely bedridden or not you will still have to do some kind of lifting.
It may be to transfer them from a stationary chair to a wheelchair, their wheelchair to the toilet or wheelchair to vehicle.
Any type of lifting is hard on your body.
There are ways to transfer a person to minimize the stress on your body.
If you are caring for a person that needs transferring, get yourself a transfer belt and have a health care professional show you how to use it and how to transfer safely.
o Giving Medicine - Most often chronic illnesses require multiple medications that need to be given at varying times throughout the day.
Some may need to be given with food, some with out, in the morning, or at bedtime.
It is your responsibility as the caregiver to ensure you are giving the proper medications at the proper times.
o Emotional Support - When a person loses the things they are used to doing, simple daily activities like walking, eating, brushing their teeth, combing their hair, and going to the bathroom on their own, it is emotionally draining for them.
As a caregiver you have to be able to offer or provide them the emotional support they need.
Before you agree to bring any family member into your home it is important that you know everything that is involved in being a caregiver.
Talk to a healthcare professional and the doctor of the person you will be caring for.
The responsibility at times can be overwhelming so you have to make sure you are up to the task.