The Role of a Caregiver: A Caregiver's Many Hats
January 21
Living Free Every Day®
A ministry of LivingFree.org
Today's Scripture
"If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking." (James 1:5 NLT)
Thoughts for Today
What is a caregiver? According to the Family Caregiver Alliance, "A caregiver is anyone who provides assistance to someone else that is in some degree incapacitated and needs help."
A caregiver often wears many hats. Some of them are described below. If you are caring for someone, you may be wearing one or more of these hats.
- Advisor: Offer recommendations to help the care receiver identify potential challenges, talk about concerns, and consider alternatives that may help maximize their independence and quality of life.
- Advocate: Look out for care receiver's best interests, helping to ensure they get the information, care, support, and treatment they need and deserve.
- Coordinator: Arrange for services needed, schedule appointments, and coordinate deliveries.
- Evaluator: Assess care receiver's ability to live independently. Identify and evaluate programs and services that best match the care receiver's needs and wishes.
- Mediator: Facilitate communication among family members and others involved, resolving issues in a positive and helpful manner.
- Protector: Step in and take charge when necessary to ensure care receiver's safety and well-being.
- Provider: Provide assistance when care receiver is not able to care for himself due to physical or cognitive limitations.
Consider this …
Perhaps you are already a caregiver. Or maybe your parents are aging and you are seeing signs they may need your help in some area(s) of their daily living. Whichever category you fall in, the decisions you face can be overwhelming. Reread today's scripture. God wants you to call on him for wisdom. Wisdom to provide the right help at the right time in the right way. Wisdom in contacting others who can help. Wisdom in communicating with your parents or whoever you are caring for.
Ask God. He will guide you step-by-step.
Prayer
Father, help me be the caregiver you want me to be. The challenges and decisions seem overwhelming at times. Please give me wisdom to make the right choices at the right times.
In Jesus' name ...
These thoughts were drawn from … Caregiving: Caring for Aging Parents by Charles Puchta. The purpose of this curriculum is to provide hope and direction to those concerned about the health and well-being of aging parents or an ill spouse or relative. We address predominate issues most families face. Each session is designed to discuss a specific area of concern such as the purpose of a caregiver or end-of-life planning. It will become clear to participants that the Bible provides encouragement and direction to help them through this caregiving journey. Note: This curriculum was written especially for small groups, and we encourage people to use it that way. However, it can also be used effectively as a study for individuals or couples.
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