How A Personal Caregiver Can Help Improve Quality Of Life

By Lessie Kaufman


There has been a marked increase in the number of people that need some form of assistance in order to lead their day to day lives. The average age of the population in many developed countries is steadily rising. Many older people need medical or personal help on a regular basis. Institutions caring for people with disabilities or the terminally ill are also under increasing pressure. In many cases the ideal solution is a personal caregiver.

Without a doubt people that need care are better off if they receive care in familiar surroundings, in their own homes. There are certain cases, however, where the level of care required is such that it is best provided by a specialized institution. People that suffer from potentially dangerous psychological conditions, for example, often cannot stay at home because they pose a danger to themselves or even to others.

The biggest percentage of people that need help are not a danger to anyone. They will benefit greatly from being able to receive care and attention in the comfort of their own homes. Familiar surroundings are comforting and patients tend to be more content when they are able to determine their own routines. A live in private assistant is only a minor inconvenience when compared with the inconveniences necessitated by living in institutions.

It is not only elderly people that make use of the services of private assistants. Many people simply need help for a period while they are convalescing from surgery or a serious illness. Others have disabilities that make it difficult for them to move around or to perform household tasks. They are certainly better off hiring private help than depending upon family members or neighbors.

Employing a live in private helper holds many benefits. In many cases the patient is lonely and isolated. The assistant can play a very important role in keeping the client company. Families that are not able to personally visit ill or infirm relatives are also more at ease within the knowledge that there is a responsible person that will make sure that their loved ones are cared for.

When considering candidates for a live in position it is important to check their credentials very carefully. After all, the patient will be reliant upon this individual. There should be no criminal record and the candidate should be able to provide valid references. In most cases it is best to choose a candidate that shares interests with the patient and people of roughly the same age often establish close bonds very quickly.

The fact that someone lives in the home of his client does not mean that the person concerned should be seen as a family member. There should be a contract. The contract should stipulate the duties that are to be performed by the private assistant. Matters such as remuneration, off times and personal privileges should all be agreed on from the word go. This will prevent conflict at a later stage.

The inability to look after oneself is almost always humiliating and frustrating. Those unfortunate individuals that are forced to enter into institutions have to deal with many real and imagined indignities. Being able to stay at home and enjoying the services of a personal assistant is infinitely preferable.




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