NOT ALL HEROES WEAR CAPES
Some wear scrubs and care for the elderly
The Importance of Elder Caregivers
care·giv·er /ˈkerˌɡivər/ noun: a family member or paid helper who regularly looks after a child or a sick, elderly, or disabled person.
Earlier this month, Mike Smith, MSN, RN, and I, Meredith Hale, went to North Little Rock High School to meet with students studying to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). Initially, we were there to tell them what being an elder caregiver with CareLink looked like, but it turned into more. We found ourselves talking more about the importance behind the different tasks caregivers have instead of just what they do. All because of something Mike, our training and compliance nurse said.
“While it is true that there is some light housekeeping involved, each customer is considered as an individual, whatever it takes to help someone to be able to stay in their home, we try to do. This may involve cooking, repositioning and transferring, assisting with activities of daily living, or spending time helping to clip coupons. The Caregiver is often a companion and alleviates some of the isolation and loneliness that occurs with some older people. Caregivers receive more training than a maid would.” – Mike Smith
Throughout my time at CareLink, I have read our agency brochure so many times it is as if I am a walking brochure. Each time, I think about the various services our caregivers provide like light housekeeping, grooming, laundry, medication reminders, and meal preparation. And I think back to what Mike said. For an older person living on their own, or even with another older person, these once basic tasks are now threatening their chance to live in their own home.
Being a caregiver is not a maid service, it is a life service that helps older people stay in the one place they want to be, their homes. This isn’t because they’re stubborn or in denial about their challenges, it’s because when they look around those walls, they see all the memories that fill those rooms.
So, if you’re reading this, it’s not too late.
It’s not too late to get the help you need to remain independent. It’s not too late to get the help mom, dad, grandma, or grandpa need.
Call us today at 501.372.5300 or toll-free at 800.482.6359. Or send us an email at info@carelink.org. We’re ready to help you even before you think you need us. And visit our website for more information about family caregiver services.
It’s not too late to embark on a career path that will change you and the lives of those you provide care. We are always hiring caregivers with a heart for older people, as well as family caregivers.
“It is a great way to feel that one is contributing to society and helping others. We want to treat our elderly population the way that we want to be treated when we are that age. It is a great feeling to know that one is helping the older person to age in place and postpone or eliminate the need for nursing home care.” – Mike Smith
If you aren’t a CNA or RN, no problem. Mike Smith will get you the training you need to be an understanding and nurturing caregiver as a primary care attendant (PCA).
“A PCA is trained for elder-specific care, including learning about the normal aging process, understanding – and hopefully appreciating – what it is like to be elderly, and interventions to assist in the challenges that the elderly face. A CNA is trained in a more general way to include all age demographics.” – Mike Smith
The 40-hour-long training teaches skills that can be applied in the professional realms and our personal lives, like:
- Professionalism
- Communication
- Safety
If you think this is the role for you, apply today to be a CareLink caregiver. We also hire home care RNs.
