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A Caregiver’s Guide to Coping with Stress and Burnout

Most caregivers don’t worry about their own health- they’re solely focused on the person for whom they’re caring. But those who provide care to an older or disabled loved one tend to live with high chronic stress and skimp on self-care — factors that raise the risk for negative emotional and physical health outcomes.

Not surprisingly, caregivers report higher levels of psychological stress compared to non-caregivers, according to a 2019 report by the National Center for Biotechnology Information. The numbers are staggering: of study participants, 19% of caregivers had burnout and 22.6% were at risk of developing caregiver burnout syndrome. And the CDC has reported that 53% of caregivers experience a decline in their own health, making them more likely than the general public to have a chronic illness (82% versus 61%). 

“Caregivers tend to be a special personality type: big-hearted, sensitive, responsible, well-intentioned — people who are motivated by and take a deep satisfaction in doing right by their loved one,” says geriatric psychiatrist Ken Robbins of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “But that’s often to the exclusion of taking care of themselves.” Adding to health risks: Most caregivers are at midlife or beyond themselves, ages when their own illness and physical challenges tend to surface.

But if you’re used to putting others first, how can you shift to not putting your own self last? “Making the connection between your well-being and your ability to continue providing care is often the ‘ah-ha’ realization for caregivers whose own health is suffering,” Robbins says. “Only then do many make their own healthcare a priority.”

In this guide, we’ll provide more detail on caregiver burnout to help you identify if you may be at risk. We’ll also provide some ways to manage stress and offer coping strategies for caregiver burnout so that you can continue to care for your loved one and care for yourself. 

Caregiving and COVID-19

COVID-19 has exacerbated the stress that comes with caregiving for millions of family caregivers in the U. S. The epidemic forced some families to make the difficult decision to delay or cease professional senior care for their loved ones, leaving family caregivers without paid support and resources. The ripple effect has taken a serious toll on the lives of people who need care and their families and loved ones. 

COVID-19 has made it more difficult for caregivers to balance their responsibilities at home and their work obligations. This is particularly true for women, who make up two-thirds of caregivers and often have to balance caregiving for an older loved one with caring for children and working outside the home. According to the CDC, female caregivers have a higher risk for poor health outcomes, such as depression, anxiety, and a higher incidence of physical illness.

Although women may be more likely to face competing priorities of caring for children and an older loved one, all caregivers are managing the increased pressures brought on by COVID-19. Keep reading to learn more about how you can manage caregiver stress and burnout. 

What Is Caregiver Burnout?

Caregiver burnout, also called caregiver fatigue, is mental, emotional, and physical exhaustion that may develop through the responsibilities of supporting and caring for another individual. “Caregivers often focus so intently on the needs of the individual receiving care that they may neglect their own health and wellness,” says Darren Sush, Psy.D., a licensed clinical psychologist in Los Angeles.

The ongoing obligations of providing care for a loved one causes caregivers’ exhaustion to intensify further, impacting different aspects of their lives, as well as their effectiveness and compassion as a caregiver.

Sush says that burnout may be easily misunderstood as simply feeling overly tired, or even occasionally exhausted. “Unfortunately, while being tired can often be resolved by taking a break, getting a little more sleep, or actively trying to relax, burnout is more often less easily relieved. Individuals who experience caregiver burnout, tend to face an all-encompassing fatigue that impacts multiple areas of their lives,” he says.

Caregiver burnout can happen to anyone who is providing care for another person, whether it’s hands-on care, occasional care, from a distance, or even at the “managerial” level, says Zina Paris, MSW, associate director of Clinical Services at Alzheimer’s Greater Los Angeles, a local non-profit that helps families affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementias. “It happens when you feel that the experience of caregiving is overwhelming and that you do not have the support – physically, mentally, emotionally, financially – that you need in order to successfully care for the person and to take care of yourself adequately at the same time,” says Paris.

Know the Caregiver Burnout Symptoms

Very often, caregivers can find themselves accustomed to the routine stress, worry, and discomfort that comes with providing care for a loved one. And as a result, you may not know the warning signs of caregiver fatigue until it already starts affecting your health and ability to provide care. 

Below, we explain some common symptoms of caregiver burnout. If you notice yourself experiencing these symptoms regularly, it’s an indication that it may be time to take some time for yourself.

1. A Short Fuse

Losing your temper easily or feeling angry toward friends, family members or even the person you’re caring for is one obvious sign of caregiver stress. Frustration may particularly increase when obstacles or challenges come up, whether major or minor.

2. Emotional Outbursts

If you find yourself crying or feeling despair unexpectedly or more often, that could be another warning sign. Of course, if you’re caring for a loved one with a declining condition, it’s natural to grieve, and caregiving can stir up a range of complicated emotions. But if you’re increasingly emotional or feeling emotionally fragile, there may be something more going on. Depression is a real risk for caregivers. Even if you’re not clinically depressed, emotional outbursts can be an unconscious outlet for feelings of being overwhelmed.

3. Sleep Problems

If you’re having trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up tired, that could be another warning sign. Caregiving — especially full-time caregiving — requires tremendous physical effort, but the emotions involved can lead to sleepless nights. Sometimes the issues your care recipient may be suffering from, like wandering or waking up in the middle of the night in pain, can cost you opportunities to rest on top of the tiring work you do all day. It can be a vicious cycle too, as trouble getting to sleep or staying asleep can also be caused by stress, anxiety, and depression.

4. Significant Weight Change

Suddenly gaining or losing weight can be another warning sign. For some people, stress can result in weight loss when they can’t seem to find time to eat adequately or nutritiously. Anxiety often lowers the appetite as well. For others, feeling stressed leads to weight gain from emotionally triggered eating, frequent snacking, or quick but unhealthy food choices.

Changes in eating and sleeping habits can also indicate depression. If your weight has changed by more than five or ten pounds since you began caregiving, your body may be sending you a signal that you need help.

5. Physical Ailments

If you find yourself getting headaches more often or feeling like you just catch one cold after another, that could be another warning sign. Or if you’re getting chronic back or neck aches or developed high blood pressure. Mental and emotional stress can cause physical disorders. For example, stress can lead to headaches that are more frequent, more persistent, or stronger than you’re used to. You’ll also lack the time or inclination to properly take care of yourself, setting the stage for more stress. Stress lowers immunity, which is part of the reason caregivers have a higher rate of chronic disease compared to non-caregivers.

6. Social Isolation

If you find yourself going entire days while seeing no one but your care recipient or are dropping out of your usual activities to care for someone, that can lead to burnout as well. Getting out can simply be hard if you’re responsible for providing care. You may feel you lack the time for your former pursuits. Your care recipient’s changes in behavior may also make you feel embarrassed or make going out in public too onerous to attempt. Whether intentionally or not, you may become withdrawn. Unfortunately, social isolation itself contributes to stress, whereas being with others and taking time for yourself are both replenishing.

Ways to Manage Caregiver Stress

Caregiver stress doesn’t just affect you mentally- it can also lead to physical problems, including chronic pain.  “The mind and body are connected. When you experience stress, there are a whole range of physiological changes — every organ in the body is affected,” says Vicki Rackner, a clinical faculty member of the University of Washington School of Medicine and the author of Caregiving Without Regrets. We recommend the following strategies to help you maintain your own wellness while supporting your loved one. 

1. Seek Professional Guidance and Support Groups

Many people choose to seek the help of a therapist or support group to manage their caregiver stress. “That provides a safe, sympathetic, and constructive environment where caregivers can express their wants and needs,” says Darren Sush, Psy.D., a licensed clinical psychologist in Los Angeles. Support groups for caregivers, even highly tailored ones such as for Alzheimer’s caregivers or particularly for men, may also be available in your area, though most caregivers find it difficult to get out of the house for support groups in their limited free time. Ask at local hospitals, senior centers, places of worship, or the Alzheimer’s Association.

2. Ask Family and Friends for Help

Find others who can step in and give you a break. It can be hard to ask for help, but know that your good friends and family want you to be happy. Not only will it give you some time to relax, but those filling in will better understand both your needs and your care recipient’s needs. Make sure to express your gratitude: It’s sometimes a good idea to compensate family or friends informally with things like gift cards, a bag of their favorite coffee, or a dessert to-go. When approaching potential helpers, be specific about what’s required and get a solid commitment about the days and times they’re available to avoid uncomfortable arguments down the road. 

3. Bring Your Employer Into the Loop

Caregivers are often reluctant to bring up caregiving distractions at work, but you may be eligible for caregiving-related programs, including leave time, flex time, free needs assessments by geriatric care managers, and more. Not all companies offer such programs, says Gail Hunt, president of the National Caregiving Alliance in Bethesda, Maryland. But of the 18 percent of the workforce that’s eligible for such programs, only 2 percent are using them, she says.  

4. Adopt a Problem-Solving Approach

Try to break down the tasks of caregiving into specific puzzles to be solved: If bathing is stressful, try to figure out exactly why and what might be done about it. Do you fully understand why people with memory problems say and do the things they do? Are you intimidated by a piece of medical equipment? Defining concrete problems and identifying possible solutions puts you closer to getting help with them and helps you avoid feeling overwhelmed by the big picture.

5. Listen When Your Body Talks

“Pain in your body is like a warning light in your car,” says Vicki Rackner of the University of Washington School of Medicine. “You ignore the ‘E’ on the gas gauge at your own peril. Your body is no different.” Chances are that ignoring a new symptom isn’t going to help it go away; it will only start shouting at you by getting worse. When you start to feel the effects of caregiver fatigue, take it as a sign that you need to give yourself a break. This may involve calling on friends and family for assistance, or considering some form of formal respite care. 

6. Connect With Your Loved One’s Doctor

“Everyone is better served — including the caregiver — if the caregiver is included as part of the team,” Rackner says. Research shows that when doctors find ways to address the unique needs of individual caregivers, the stress load is reduced. Your loved one’s doctor may have some suggestions to reduce your fatigue that can benefit both you and your loved one.

7. Schedule Yourself In

Caregivers spend an inordinate amount of time with a loved one’s doctors but seldom see their own. Make your own appointments for regular exams, flu shots, dental visits, and the like at the same time you arrange a loved one’s. Some practitioners allow simultaneous visits for pairs who share providers.

8. Find Healthy Emotional Outlets

Caregivers need at least one safe place to vent. Maybe this is a friend who agrees to listen without judging, or a diary that’s scribbled in and then burned. Peer support from others in similar situations is ideal. Online caregiver forums provide safe places to vent 24/7.

Lifestyle Tips to Alleviate Caregiver Fatigue

1. Allow Yourself to Have a Social Life

You may be feeling isolated or upset that your old circle no longer seems to check up on you and how you’re faring. But is it possible that you’ve turned them down so often because of your caregiving duties, or that caregiving concerns so dominate your life and conversation, that they may think you’re just not interested in them? So when you do see them, don’t just talk about caregiving. If every conversation concerns one subject, it’s a warning sign that the topic is monopolizing your life.

2. Take a Mini-Vacation

Vacations are really hard when you have an elderly or disabled person in your care, but a short break can work wonders for caregiver fatigue. Your vacation doesn’t have to be three weeks in France- start small. A simple overnight at a friend’s house or a local B&B, a stay-cation at a nearby hotel to try a new restaurant, or even a day trip to a hiking trail or park. If you’re able, schedule some “vacation time” to simply do something for yourself.

3. Explore a Hobby

Your hobby doesn’t have to be a conventional one like stamp-collecting or bird-watching, it just needs to be an outlet away from caregiving. Reading novels uninterrupted, taking up knitting, joining a book club, taking, being a matinee-movie addict, or enjoying your children and grandchildren all count, too. Anything that takes you away from caregiving for bursts of time. Bonus points if it takes you out of the house, too.

4. Plan and Prepare

Constantly refill what’s depleted so you’re not stressing about running out of anything. Learn as much as you can about your loved one’s condition(s) and how it/they typically progress. Caregivers are sometimes reluctant to “read too far ahead” for fear they can’t relate to later disease stages. They also may fear ‘jinxing’ — worrying that if they think about something, it might come true.

Diseases are realities, not wishes. Ask your loved one’s doctor to be candid about the prognosis and course of the disease, read information online, ask others who’ve been there. If your loved one has dementia, understand the various stages, where your loved one likely is, and what to do next.

It could also help to focus on some “if this, then this” scenarios. This type of thinking helps you at least begin the process of considering where you might find more help, what kind of home modifications would help and how you’d get them done or alternative living situations.

5. Find New Ways to Manage Overwhelming Care Tasks

Make sure you’re not trying to solve the problem alone. Brainstorm possible solutions with other family members, a social worker or geriatric care manager, doctors, and friends — including virtual ones — who may have experienced similar issues.

Be sure there’s been a thorough physical exam to see if a problem, such as incontinence, is fixable. Adult diapers and toileting schedules, or a change in medications, may make incontinence more manageable, for example. Frequent falls and problems getting up are other physiological problems that may be treatable. For behavioral issues such as wandering, learn the basic ways to address the problem (for example: floor alarms, locks, reducing anxiety) and see if they make a difference

Respite Care Options for Family Caregivers

All caregivers face a time when they need alternative care options for their aging loved one, whether that be for some personal self-care time, a family emergency, or a work trip. Today, there is a wide range of respite care options for times when family caregivers have to tend to personal obligations. What follows are some of the most common respite care options for elderly adults.

1. Companion Care

An in-home companion care aide can prepare meals, do light housekeeping, help with laundry, shop for groceries, run errands — and, most important, offer companionship to the elderly person you care for when you can’t be there. Its cost can range from free services provided by local volunteers to $20 or more per hour for help arranged through an in-home care agency, depending on the type of care needed and the time of day. Medicaid or a similar state program may help pay some of the costs of respite care from a licensed provider for those who have low incomes and few assets.

From local sources to national groups and organizations, there are many sources for companion care. If you know of a neighbor, friend, or family member who’s been able to find a good match for companionship needs, ask how — and whether he or she might be able to recommend others for the position.

Start your search by using Caring.com’s In-Home Care Directory to find an agency near your elderly loved one, and to see ratings and reviews from current and former clients.

2. Personal Care Assistants

Personal care assistants provide a slightly higher level of care than a companion aide. In addition to helping with household tasks, errands, and companionship, personal care aides can also assist with the activities of daily living (ADLs) like bathing, dressing, toileting, and grooming. They still can’t provide medical services, but they can help administer prescribed medications and — if they have the proper training — help move those who have mobility limitations. Costs range from $15 to $40 per hour for intermittent help; $120 to $200 per day or more for live-in care.

You can locate in-home care agencies in your area by searching Caring.com’s Senior Living Directory.

3. Adult Day Care

Adult day services, also known as adult daycare, provide some health monitoring, mind and body exercise, social activities, meals, transportation (often door to door), and other support services. Most offer a safe, supervised environment for clients as well as respite for regular caregivers. Facilities include stand-alone centers, churches, hospitals, and nursing homes. The cost from a licensed provider ranges from $25 to $150 per day; many offer sliding-scale fees and accept Medicaid and some types of insurance coverage.

It’s best to contact and tour possible adult day services providers to find the best fit for your loved one. Two good places to find leads: Use Caring.com’s Senior Living Directory to search for adult day services by city or zip code — and to see ratings and reviews. Or contact the staff at your local Area Agency on Aging and ask for a referral.

4. Assisted Living Respite Care

Though they typically cater to long-term residents, many assisted-living facilities, continuing care retirement communities, and nursing homes (also known as skilled nursing facilities) also offer short-term stays for older adults who need help with everyday tasks. Time frames range from a partial day to several weeks. The stay allows residents and their families peace of mind, knowing that a caregiver is always close at hand. A possible added benefit: The arrangement allows a commitment-free way for a potential resident to check out whether the facility might be a good fit down the line. Many facilities offer hourly, half-day, full-day, overnight, or extended respite stays. Costs will depend on the amount of care needed; some places impose minimums and maximums on the number of days for a respite stay.

Some facilities offer respite stays only when not at full capacity, and some don’t advertise their respite services openly, so you may need to do some investigating to find a local facility that offers the service. Some places to contact for help: Go to Caring.com’s Senior Living Directory and search for assisted living facilities and nursing homes by city or zip code.

5. Caregiver Co-op

A Caregiver Co-op is an organized group of caregivers that take turns caring for one another’s loved ones and clients in exchange for some time off. The arrangement not only gives caregivers more time for themselves; it also fosters a sense of community among both those who give and receive the care. There’s usually no charge; members qualify for respite services by volunteering time caring for other co-op members’ loved ones.

Talk with neighbors or friends who have similar needs; in such cases, it is usually a good idea to have a central person charged with keeping track of the availability and scheduling of the volunteer caregivers. Or check with local community centers or adult day service providers to see if one has already started a co-op.

6. Support for Veterans

The Veterans Administration (VA) offers a number of programs and support for veterans and for some wartime veterans who are caring for their spouses — all designed to give the primary caregivers some help and time off. Many local VAs operate adult day healthcare centers, open Monday through Friday, which offer caregiver respite and focus on rehabilitation for veterans.

The VA’s home-based primary care program delivers care such as meal planning and preparation, medication management, nursing, and social services to some veterans whose medical issues make it difficult to leave home. A similar VA program, Skilled Home Care, offers this care from licensed non-VA medical professionals. The VA also provides qualified veterans with up to 30 days of respite care each year at home or through temporary placement of a veteran at a VA community living center, a VA-contracted community residential care facility, or an adult day healthcare center.

The services are generally free or offered for a minimal amount for qualifying veterans and their family members. Both a telephone hotline and website can help you in this search.

Staff at the VA’s Caregiver Support Line, available Monday through Saturday at (855) 260-3274, can explain what assistance is available from the VA and help callers get access to other local services. Also, most VA offices are staffed with licensed caregiver support coordinators who can help match callers with services for which they’re eligible. Find the local coordinator by searching by zip code on the VA’s Caregiver Support Page.

7. The ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center

The ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center helps caregivers and professionals find respite services in their local area to match their specific needs for emergency or planned respite care. Although it doesn’t provide an exhaustive list of all possible providers, it can be a helpful source in helping to jump-start a search. The service is free; the cost of respite services varies greatly. About 30 states run Lifespan Respite Programs funded by the Administration on Aging that helps fund local respite services.

Resources for Managing Caregiver Stress

The following resources may be able to help you manage your caregiving responsibilities and stress. Below, you’ll find caregiver support groups and online forums, ample online resources, and service and provider directories. 

Organization

Contact 

How It Helps

Aging Care Caregiving Forum 

Website: Click Here 

This is an online support group for caregivers where they can share their experiences, offer advice, and connect with others going through similar challenges. 

Family Caregiver Alliance

Website: Click Here

This nonprofit offers services for caregivers including care planning, operating wellness programs, publishing helpful resources, and more. 

National Respite Locator

Website: Click Here
Phone: (703)256-2084

This tool helps caregivers find respite services in their state and local area to match their specific needs.  

Caregivers Connect

Website: Click Here

This is a community for family of caregivers, caregivers, and related care-industry professionals to connect and share their experiences. 

Working Daughter

Website: Click Here

This is a space for women, and men, who are balancing caring for an aging parent with their home, career, and life.

Caregiver Action Network Family Caregiver Toolbox

Website: Click Here

The Family Caregiver Toolbox from CAN provides educational resources in 25 different specific categories to help caregivers manage specific challenges, including caregiver depression, bereavment, stroke care, and more. Resources include articles, video series, and service and provider directories. 

What You Need to Become a Caregiver

If you love to spend time with other people and want to get paid for it, Care.com could be the perfect fit for your future employment.

Care.com has helped care seekers in need find caregivers for their loved ones for more than a decade.

It matches care seekers with babysitters, tutors, caregivers for the elderly and special needs community, errand runners, pet sitters, and housekeepers.

The site has more than 22 million members in 19 countries.

With more than 6.4 million unique visitors per month, the Care.com site is one of the most highly trafficked websites in the world.

A new job is posted every 30 seconds on the platform.

Even if you aren’t looking for a dog walker, it’s hard not to appreciate the massive size of Care.com.

On the other hand, if you happen to be a dog walker, baby sitter, au pair, or any other kind of backup care provider you might be wondering how you can sign up to offer your services at Care.com.

We’ll show you how to apply to be a caregiver and break down the different categories of jobs you can do.

• Joining the Careforce
  • Care.com Requirements
• Categories of Care
  • Childcare
  • Tutoring
  • Senior Care
  • Pet Care
  • Housekeeping
  • Special Needs Care
• Paywall
• Care as a Service

Joining the Careforce

Care. com’s entire business model relies on premium caregiving.

So it’s no surprise that their screening process for caregivers requires more than just a name and an email address.

Care.com Requirements

The sign-up process is the same for everyone on Care.com regardless of the category you select.

You’ll be asked about your relevant work experience, pay range, and any additional skills or certifications you might have that would be relevant to the job.

Whether you plan on tutoring teenagers or cleaning mansions, you will need to complete a background check before you can get started.

However, once you’ve passed the initial screening, you can start applying to jobs.

Although you do not need any previous work experience to apply to Care.com listings, it will help you stand out.

If you’re serious about joining the careforce (yes, that’s what they call it), here’s how to get started.

Step 1: Visit Care. com and select “Find Jobs” under “I want a care job”

Step 2: Choose what type of service you’ll offer

Step 3: Tell them whether your profile will represent a small business or an individual

Step 4: Fill out the sign-up form with your name, address, and contact information

Now that your account is created, they ask for a few more pieces of personal information like your phone number, a brief bio, and a background check or criminal check to verify your identity.

Also, depending on the type of care you selected on the previous screen, you’ll be asked to answer a several screening questions relating to your experience as a caregiver.

If you’d like to start getting paid as a care provider you’re probably wondering how much experience is required, if you need any certifications, and how much each category of care pays.

Categories of Care

Here is each type of care offered by Care. com to help you get a sense of the differences between them.

Many experienced caregivers might already know they want to perform senior care, for example, or certain other care, so it’s important to understand their nuances.

Childcare

Childcare is the heart and soul of Care.com.

When the platform initially launched in 2009 it was their only category.

Even though they’ve added new categories over the last decade, childcare is still the most popular service.

The average pay for childcare jobs on Care.com is $11.75 per hour in the U.S. market.

Childcare professionals don’t need any special certifications to get started, but many of the profiles we reviewed showed many years of experience, and some even had CPR certifications.

There are many identical postings for basic babysitting in childcare, so a good way to separate yourself from the pack is to specialize in certain types of care like bilingual care, or offer daycare.

Tutoring

Tutoring is the highest paying job on Care. com, but it’s not for everyone.

Despite an average pay well above minimum wage at $14.25 per hour, tutoring can be tough on brand new care providers.

If you think you’re ready to hit the books, be warned that the most successful tutors come from academic backgrounds and typically have experience teaching or tutoring.

English, math, science, and history are always in high demand, but you can also carve out a niche focusing on test prep or special needs tutoring.

Senior Care

If you were taught to respect your elders growing up then senior caregiving might be for you.

Most of the jobs listed in the senior care category don’t require much more than checking in on someone’s father, or helping Grandma get into bed.

For the right senior care provider, assisting seniors is an honor.

Although you don’t need any formal medical training for most of these jobs, experience with dementia, stroke, Alzheimer’s, and cancer patients is helpful.

At an average hourly rate of $12.75, senior care is the second most popular category on Care.com.

Pet Care

Life can be ruff if you don’t have a personal assistant to do dog walking or cat sitting when you go out of town.

Come to the aid of your furry friends and potential employers by becoming a pet sitter.

The average job pays $11 per hour, but for experienced dog trainers it’s often closer to $25.

Outside of dog training, you won’t need any special certification to get started, however, you should be comfortable around animals and love taking care of them.

Housekeeping

With the second highest average hourly pay ($13) and a very low barrier to entry, housekeeping might be the best category for beginner care providers.

You won’t need any certification or specialized training to get started, but you might need to purchase a few essential cleaning supplies before showing up for your first cleaning job.

If you find yourself falling in love with sweeping and scrubbing, then the live-in housekeeper sub-category might be perfect for you.

Special Needs Care

There’s nothing more rewarding than taking care of a special needs child.

If special needs caregiving is your calling, these jobs are for you.

Expect the average listing to pay $12.50 per hour and require your complete attention from beginning to end.

Many of the postings prefer RNs or LNAs to apply, but typically you aren’t providing medical care, just a backup care service.

Paywall

With 22 million members and counting, Care.com represents a huge opportunity for care providers — but there’s a catch.

You can’t have full access to communicate with care seekers without paying for credits.

While anyone can sign up as a service provider on Care.com for free, you can only see responses from the care seekers for jobs you’ve applied for if you pay for credits.

If you’d like to have premium access to Care.com, here’s how much the credits cost:

• 10 credits for $9 (only $0.90 per credit)
• 25 credits for $19 ($0.76 per credit — save 16 percent)
• 50 credits for $29 ($0.56 per credit — save 36 percent)

Pricing for each category is a little different, based on how much the different jobs pay.

Your best value is to buy 50 credits, but to just get a few jobs locked in, 25 credits is a great place to start.

There’s a loophole to get jobs without buying credits, according to Care.com’s forums.

To avoid paying the fees, you can apply to jobs and include your contact information with your application.

Several members of the forum reported getting jobs by getting in touch with care seekers over the phone.

Care as a Service

It’s easy to start your career as a caregiver with Care.com.

Although the sign-up process is the same for everyone, you’ll want to pay close attention to the specific requirements for the type of care you plan to provide.

As Care.com grows, it’s becoming easier and more profitable to make a living taking care of the people (and pets) in your neighborhood.

If you’re looking for a flexible job that makes a positive impact on the world, Care.com is for you.

Memo Fundamentals of patient care – All news

Nursing is a set of measures aimed at alleviating the patient’s condition and ensuring the success of his treatment.

It provides for:

creation of a hygienic regime,

fulfillment of all doctor’s orders,

monitoring of the patient, especially when his condition worsens.

Caring for the sick requires a lot of endurance and patience. Restrained and calm treatment has a beneficial effect on patients. All orders of the doctor must be carried out consciously, understanding what goals they are aimed at.

It is desirable for the patient to allocate a separate room or fence off part of the room with a screen.

The room must be regularly ventilated so that the air is always fresh and clean. In summer, the window or window should be open all the time, but you need to make sure that there are no drafts in the room.

Wet cleaning of the floor or furniture is carried out at least once a day. The window or window must be open at this time.

The patient’s head should be elevated. To prevent the patient from slipping, use a footrest.

The patient should not be left in the same position all the time, he should periodically turn to the other side, and, with the permission of the doctor, sit down.

The patient’s bed must be clean and fresh. Bed linen should be changed at least once a week. If the state of health allows, the bedridden patient is temporarily transferred to another bed, which makes it possible not only to change linen, but to straighten and clean the mattress.

Patient hygiene is to care for the skin, hair, nails, oral cavity, ears, eyes, perineum. Every day, morning and evening, the patient should wash his face, neck and hands with soap and water.

An important task of care is the prevention of bedsores that can appear in seriously ill patients, most often in the area of ​​the sacrum, less often in the area of ​​the shoulder blades, heels, occiput, buttocks and other places.

To prevent bedsores, it is necessary to change the position of the patient in bed every 2 hours. Places where bedsores are most often formed, wash with warm water and soap, and then wipe with camphor alcohol.

Properly organized nutrition of the patient in accordance with the doctor’s recommendations not only satisfies the body’s need for nutrients, but also is a means of actively influencing the course of the disease. For this purpose, a

therapeutic nutrition system has been developed, diets of various types, the principles of which should be used at home.

When organizing the nutrition of patients, attention should be paid to the following factors:0007

selection of food products,

nature of cooking,

time, frequency and methods of eating.

Food should be given in small portions and with sufficient pauses to enable the patient to chew it well. Drinking must be served from a drinking bowl.

If the patient is in bed for a long time and cannot, for some reason, take hygienic baths, care for his skin should be especially thorough, especially when caring for the sick and the elderly. Their skin should be wiped regularly with a damp towel or disinfectant solution, such as cologne, camphor alcohol, table vinegar, a mixture of equal parts alcohol and water. When wiping with a towel soaked in such a solution, wipe the skin behind the ears, then wipe the neck, back, armpits and chest. In overweight women, special attention should be paid to the folds under the breasts, where diaper rash often forms. After wiping, wipe the skin dry in the same order.

According to the GBOU Educational and Methodological Center for Civil Defense of the Orenburg Region

General care for patients – features of patient care

General care for the patient is one of the main conditions for a speedy recovery. 50 percent of the success of treatment depends on how well the patient care activities were organized.

What is sick care?

In everyday life, care in the medical sense is understood to meet the basic needs of a sick person and provide assistance to him. Basic needs are food and drink, cleanliness, accessible physical activity, emptying of the bladder and bowels.

Care involves creating comfortable conditions for the patient at home or in a hospital, which would include a calm psychological environment, a clean comfortable bed, regular change of linen.

In addition to general care, special care is distinguished, which may differ depending on the type of disease. It has its own characteristics in the care of postoperative patients, for seriously ill, oncological, cardiovascular and other diseases.

Fundamentals of General Nursing

The organization of care largely depends on where the patient is undergoing treatment or rehabilitation – at home or in a hospital setting. But in both cases, a number of general principles apply:

• The doctor organizes and supervises care, who gives detailed instructions regarding medication, diet, and physical activity.
• Nurses, nurses, relatives of the patient provide care for the sick.
• Compliance with the medical and protective regime, which is the key to peace and comfort of the patient. This implies a careful attitude to the patient’s personality, strict implementation of the doctor’s recommendations regarding the regimen, physical activity, and nutrition.
• Maintaining a sanitary and hygienic regime, including a set of measures aimed at preventing the occurrence and spread of infections.

It is important to provide the patient with the possibility of independent action. This has a beneficial effect on the patient’s well-being and mood, gives the patient confidence and strength. The simplest tasks – turn on / off the light of a table lamp, take a book from the bedside table – can significantly improve the situation and mood of the patient.

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What activities does general care include?

As part of general care, activities are performed that are necessary for patients of all categories, regardless of the nature of the disease:

• Taking medications according to prescriptions issued by the attending physician.
• Organization of proper and timely nutrition. If necessary, assist the patient in eating.
• Monitoring compliance with the regime of the day: the duration of sleep, the time of rising, wakefulness and going to bed. The patient’s regimen can be strict, involving a constant stay in bed in a horizontal position, or half-bed, as well as general, in no way restricting the patient’s movement.
• Regular wet cleaning of the room in which the patient is located.
• Making a comfortable bed.
• Assistance in the implementation of hygiene procedures – washing, brushing your teeth, washing your hair. Hands should be washed before each meal, feet – 2-3 times a week. A full bath or shower – once a week.
• Relief of the suffering of the patient, instilling in him the desire to fight the disease.
• Observation of the functioning of the body, measurement of temperature, pressure, pulse, etc.
• Prevention of complications such as bedsores, pneumonia, contractures.

Peculiarities of general care for elderly and aged patients

Age-related changes in the body worsen the functioning of all systems and organs: the acuity of hearing and vision decreases, the skin becomes less elastic. And the diseases themselves are generally more difficult to tolerate, often not just one disease is diagnosed, but a whole “bunch”, the likelihood of complications is high. In this case, the symptoms are blurred, difficult to diagnose.

• Drug therapy

The effect of drugs on elderly patients is weaker and less effective. The dispensing of medicines requires caregivers to be very careful. You can not give medicines for the whole day, use complex explanations to explain their principle of action. Elderly patients are often disoriented in time and space and can easily confuse or forget information received.

• The importance of the medical and protective regimen

For patients who are elderly and elderly, it is extremely important to maintain a sleep-wake schedule. Timely rest is of fundamental importance and its absence can render all drug therapy useless. Often, “age” patients suffer from insomnia, provoked by frequent urination. In this case, care should be taken to ensure that a ship is located next to the bed at night.

• Skincare

This item is of fundamental importance not only in the organization of care for the elderly, but also for bedridden patients. Violations of blood microcirculation can lead to pathological processes – the formation of eczema, bedsores, diabetic foot, etc. Soft natural fabrics should be used for clothes and underwear, soften dry areas of the skin with creams and oils, do not skip washing the patient.

• Departure of natural needs

One of the most delicate moments is helping an elderly patient with the body’s natural needs. Often diseases of elderly patients entail frequent urination, bowel dysfunction, leading to constipation. Putting enemas in such cases is not recommended. It is preferable to regulate the stool with nutrition: include foods that have a laxative effect – prunes, beets, apples. Laxative collections of medicinal herbs help well.

• Fight against physical inactivity

A sedentary lifestyle that many elderly patients lead has a negative effect on health and general well-being.