When an elderly or sick client requires assistance 24/7, a live-in caregiver is there to help him. The live-in caregiver can take care of a person who is dealing with dementia, stroke, cancer or any other conditions. The live-in caregiver has to live with the patient day and night.
When a family hires a live-in caregiver, they decide that if the caregiver has to stay there for four five days a week, the caregiver must be there 24 hours a day. Usually, there are more than one or two caregivers who split the week and also switch turns on weekends or even on holidays.
As a live-in caregiver, he has to make sure he is always available for the care recipient. Companionship like sharing conversations and giving company to the care recipient is very important. Another significant thing is that the live-in caregiver assists his care recipient in bathing, dressing, or any other necessary support.
What is a Live-in Caregiver?
Qualifications and Requirements
Being a live-in caregiver is not as hard as being a doctor or a nurse, but they both have the same responsibilities; saving lives and caring for others. When it comes to educational background, a person doesn’t need any higher education requirements to become a live-in caregiver.
Anyone with a high school diploma can apply for entry-level caregiver jobs quickly, but they must get some job training before getting a job.
While talking about the skills, a live-in caregiver needs to be compassionate, understanding, well-organized, and more. He should be healthy and fit physically plus mentally. A live-n caregiver should be able to work like going up and down stairs, carrying shopping, helping the care recipient move and handling.
His mental health should also be healthy, so he will be able to deal with working alone or in social isolation. Another important requirement is that the live-in caregiver be good at personal hygiene and ensure a tidy, appropriate dress sense.
Responsibilities of a Live-in Caregiver
There can be a lot of responsibilities of a live-in caregiver, is you are trying to be one, then make sure to discuss it with the hiring family so you know what they are expecting from you. The most important and mandatory thing is that a live-in caregiver has to make sure to take care of the personal assistance of the care recipient.
A live-in caregiver can also get hired to help the family or the owner with household chores like cleaning, buying groceries, organizing the house, taking care of everyone’s needs, cooking and more. At the same time, there are a lot of families who hire a live-in caregiver for emotional support. There can be a patient or a person of a family member who is alone, then the live-in caregiver is only hired to be there for them, like be a good listening ear or make them feel loved and accompanied.
A live-in caregiver is also responsible for the time management of the care recipient’s health and schedule. Keeping track of their meditation is also a part of it.
Benefits and Challenges
Along with different benefits, there can also be a lot of challenges that a live-in caregiver can face. The live-in caregiver and the care recipient will also get many benefits, but the caregiver ensures they have zero challenges.
Benefits for the Care Recipient
Comfortable and satisfied with the services of the live-in caregiver.
Will get a lot of respect and love from his loved ones.
Get take care of his health and wellness.
Will be able to get personalized care from a trustworthy person.
It will get healed quickly because of the individual attention.
Cost-effective care
Home cooked meals
Benefits for the Caregiver
Sense of doing something that makes him feel fulfillment.
Having solid relationships with the patient and his family.
Caring for the patient and living with a new family will significantly help him grow personally.
There are a lot of physical benefits of caregiving available.
Challenges Faced by Caregivers and How They Can Deal with It?
Mental health issues. A live-in caregiver has to take at least two days off a week to give time to himself and stay connected socially.
Physical health issues. While taking care of others a live-in caregiver should also take care of himself as well, otherwise he will deal with weakness or fatigue.
Personal challenges. There might be a time when the caregiver has to attend something very important but must be on duty. So, make sure to balance your professional and personal life.
How to Become a Live-in Caregiver
Become a live-in caregiver is not that hard. You also don’t need a higher education level for it. A high school diploma is enough to enroll as a caregiver. If you are new and don’t have any experience in this field, then all you have to do is fill out the application and apply to different institutes or hospitals. After getting selected for the job, you will go through job training and be ready to be a live-in caregiver!
Finding Job Opportunities
After getting live-in caregiver training, you can now apply for jobs. There are a lot of different websites and apps that people are using. On that app, a caregiver can submit his information and contact the people who need a live-in caregiver.
If you don’t want to go through all this, joining an institute is the best; they will give you clients quickly and pay you well. All you have to do is build a strong resume or cover letter to provide an excellent impression to the family.
Conclusion
In this blog, we have mentioned different details of a live-in caregiver. This role is noble work, and a person who is a live-in caregiver or any other caregiver deserves a lot of respect if you are also trying to be a live-in caregiver, that is wonderful! We have also mentioned information about it.
