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Taking on the duties of caregiving can be very overwhelming, but is also rewarding. If taking care of others is something you are passionate about, this may be something you want to pursue and make a living out of.

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Valley VNA relies heavily on its caregivers, not only because they are exceptional at their jobs, but because without them, our organization couldn't function. Our caregivers interact with our residents on a daily basis and provide them with the care they need and deserve. Caregiving can be challenging, but a perfect job for some people.

Characteristics of a Good Caregiver
A good caregiver possesses the following characteristics :

Selflessness - A good caregiver will always put the resident first. Their first thought is how they can assist the elder in any situation.

Patience - Dealing with seniors can be difficult because of effects associated with aging, such as loss of hearing, limited mobility, memory loss and poor eyesight. Certain tasks may take longer than expected, but a good caregiver doesn't mind and understands.

Listening - Sometimes residents have trouble verbally expressing their feelings and pain. A good caregiver must be able to listen, but also pay attention to nonverbal cues a resident may be giving.

Communication - As the old saying goes, "Communication is key." Sometimes residents may have a hard time getting used to a new caregiver, so remaining respectful while communicating is important. Open lines of healthy communication will benefit caregivers and residents.

Tolerance - Some senior care residents have diseases associated with aging. These can cause physical pain and mental deterioration. It's important that caregivers don't take offense to any off-putting behavior from the elders because they are likely in pain or unable to control their actions.

Passion - Caring for others is in a caregiver's DNA. Putting others first is second nature.

Reasons to Become a Caregiver
What should you know if you're thinking about becoming a caregiver ?

Rewarding - Caregiving is an extremely rewarding job. Caregivers take care of our elders, the people who have given so much to this world. Taking care of people is something you can be proud of. Caregivers and residents also develop special relationships. Caregivers give the seniors someone to talk, laugh and interact with which benefits the mental health of the senior and the caregiver.

People person - Since caregivers interact with residents and other caregivers for much of the day, they must enjoy working with people. These should be people that light up and smile while talking with others.

Making a difference - Caregivers can impact lives. Some residents become lonely or sad, but a great caregiver can help them change their mood for the better. Residents truly appreciate all the help caregivers provide, especially the things that aren't in their job duties.

Many tasks - From helping elders bathe to assisting them during meal times, a caregiver does a variety of tasks throughout the day.

Does this sound like you or someone you know ? Well, caregiving may be right for you! As always, if you have any questions related to caregiving or need assistance, call one of our team members at (920) 727-5555.

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Why Become A Caregiver? - Valley VNA Senior Services

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Valley VNA relies heavily on its caregivers, not only because they are exceptional at their jobs, but because without them, our organization couldn't function. Our caregivers interact with our residents on a daily basis and provide them with the care they need and deserve. Caregiving can be challenging, but a perfect job for some people.

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What are the personal benefits of paid caregiving?

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What are the personal benefits of paid caregiving?

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1. Caregiving Gives You a Purpose

2. You’ll Find Appreciation in Your Clients

3. You Learn New Skills

4. Caregiving Helps Build Confidence

5. A Flexible Work Schedule

6. Caregiving Fulfills Your Desire to Help

7. You Meet New People with Unique Lives

8. You Build a Meaningful Career

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1. Caregiving Gives You a Purpose

2. You'll Find Appreciation in Your Clients

3. You Learn New Skills

4. Caregiving Helps Build Confidence

5. A Flexible Work Schedule

6. Caregiving Fulfills Your Desire to Help

7. You Meet New People with Unique Lives

8. You Build a Meaningful Career

Then, 4 more benefits of being a caregiver for your loved one.

1. You Know They're Receiving the Care They Need

2. It Strengthens Your Bond

3. You Learn to Focus on What's Really Important

4. You See What Care You May Need in the Future

Now, let's start looking at each of these benefits of being a caregiver in more detail.

8 Benefits of Caregiving

1. Caregiving Gives You a Purpose

Caregiving is, by definition, an act of giving that devotes your time and attention to someone that needs it. Your client or clients need your care, support, and companionship; giving you a sense of purpose each day. When you care for someone, they become your focus, and you work to ensure you meet their needs.

2. You'll Find Appreciation in Your Clients

While it may not always be explicitly stated, when you become a caregiver for someone, they will most likely appreciate your care. The families of your clients should also be thankful and appreciate the work you do, knowing you care for their loved one.

3. You Learn New Skills

When you're a caregiver, you'll have to learn various skills to keep up with your client or family member's needs. Some are standard practices, like meal prep, cleaning, and driving, while others may be administering medications and checking blood pressure. If your client or loved one has Alzheimer's or Dementia, effective communication skills may be a valuable skill you learn to interact with them better.

4. Caregiving Helps Build Confidence

Your clients rely on you to provide the care they need. This enables you to rise to the level necessary, giving you the confidence and ability to care for your clients. Your confidence also helps you when learning the new skills you need for your role.

5. A Flexible Work Schedule

Caregiving is an ever-changing job; no two days are the same. It allows you to travel between clients, and in some cases, you can create your own schedule. It doesn't confine you to a 9-5 position but instead is flexible based on the needs of your loved one or client.

6. Caregiving Fulfills Your Desire to Help

Being a caregiver grants you the opportunity to help those who truly need it. Nothing is more admirable than helping those through the later years of their lives. You'll form a true bond with your client and feel satisfaction and gratification for caring for them as you would for a friend or loved one.

7. You Meet New People with Unique Lives

Building relationships with your clients is a key part and benefit of caregiving. Companionship allows you to get close to people you might not otherwise. Our seniors have a magnitude of experiences and stories from their life that have ultimately shaped them into exciting people to be around. Your time caring for them creates a unique bond, and you'll find that caregiving is gratifying and personable.

8. You Build a Meaningful Career

Another benefit of caregiving is it's rewarding experience and career. Caregiving is an appreciated career path and something you should be proud of doing. You'll know that your actions have a direct impact on someone's life for the better and that your care, support, and companionship actively enrich someone's life.

4 Benefits of Caring for a Loved One

1. You Know They're Receiving the Care They Need

One of the benefits of becoming a caregiver for your loved one is you guarantee they're getting the care they need. When you care for your loved one, you are actively part of their life and see the care and support they need to get through each day.

2. It Strengthens Your Bond

Caregiving is a highly personal job, and undoubtedly you will build a closer relationship with your loved one than you'd ever imagine. You'll gain the opportunity to learn more about them, build a unique bond, and be there for them when they need it most. These experiences won't go unnoticed.

3. You Learn to Focus on What's Important

When you care for a loved one so closely, you'll gain a greater perspective of life and the things that matter. In addition, it puts into perspective how things change and what becomes important as we get older.

4. You See What Care You May Need in the Future

One last benefit of becoming a caregiver is it offers a unique perspective into your future. As someone who cares for a loved one, you'll become well aware of what you may need or want as you get older. This can be anything from home care, insurance, home modifications, and even support groups.

In addition, you may gain the insight to recognize the signs that certain changes may become necessary for you. Identifying the beginning phases of Alzheimer's gives you the headstart you need to get the proper accommodations in place.

Benefits of Working with a Caregiver Agency

Caregiving can make a world of difference in someone's life, so it's important to have the tools you need to best care for them. We ensure our Caregivers have the proper training and support to enrich the lives of their loved ones and clients. We know how important it is to make sure your loved one is properly cared for, so at JEVS, we offer a variety of benefits to help you make caregiving your primary focus.

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Benefits of Being a Caregiver: 12 Benefits of Caregiving | JEVS

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Caregiving Gives You a Purpose You'll Find Appreciation in Your Clients You Learn New Skills Caregiving Helps Build Confidence A Flexible Work Schedule Caregiving Fulfills Your Desire to Help You Meet New People with Unique Lives You Build a Meaningful Career Then, 4 more benefits of being a caregiver for your loved one.

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Current headlines regarding paid caregiving

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Current headlines regarding paid caregiving

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Many employees reduce their hours or stop working to help ailing family members. But it may be years before they fully return to the work force, studies indicate.

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Federal Government Caregiver Resources:

Alzheimer’s Caregiving - Find out from the National Institute on Aging how to be a caregiver for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. Learn skills for coping with a loved one’s behavioral changes.

Caregiver Resources - The National Institute of Health's MedlinePlus site has an overview of caregiver services. It also offers resources to help you protect your own health.

Caring for the Caregiver - This resource from the National Cancer Institute is for family and friends who are caring for a person with cancer.

Managing Someone Else’s Money Guide - The family member you're caring for may not be able to handle their bills themselves. Get information about managing their finances from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

The VA Caregiver Support Line helps people caring for veterans. Find services and benefits for your loved one and get support for yourself.

Office on Women’s Health Caregiver Page - Get tips on how to prevent or relieve caregiver stress and how to find and pay for home health care services.

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Some government programs pay family or friends of people with disabilities to help with daily activities including personal care, giving medicine, cooking, cleaning, and more.

State Medicaid programs

If someone with a disability already receives Medicaid, their state may allow a family member or friend to become a paid caregiver.

Many states call this a consumer-directed personal assistance program. Each state has different requirements and rules. Contact your state's Medicaid office for more information.

Long-term care insurance

Some long-term care insurance policies allow family members to get paid as caregivers. Contact your insurance agent and ask for a written confirmation of benefits.

Veterans programs

There are two programs available for veterans:

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Get paid as a caregiver for a family member | USAGov

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Some government programs pay family or friends of people with disabilities to help with daily activities including personal care, giving medicine, cooking, cleaning, and more.

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A caregiver is a person who is in direct partnership with their loved one. It can be a family member or a friend. It is anyone the recipient calls upon to get help with their personal healthcare. Caregivers are referred to as either "formal" or "informal." "Formal" caregivers are paid for their services and have had training and education in providing care. This may include services from home health agencies and other trained professionals.

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Five Theoretical Frameworks developed to conceptualize care work

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The "devaluation" perspective argues that care work is badly rewarded because care is associated with women, and often women of color.

The "public good" framework points out that care work provides benefits far beyond those to the direct recipient and suggests that the low pay of care work is a special case of the failure of markets to reward public goods.

The "prisoner of love" framework argues that the intrinsic caring motives of care workers allow employers to more easily get away with paying care workers less. Instead of seeing the emotional satisfactions of giving care as its own reward, the "commodification of emotion" framework focuses on emotional harm to workers when they have to sell services that use an intimate part of themselves.

The "love and money" framework argues against dichotomous views in which markets are seen as antithetical to true care.

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Stress from caregiving is common whether you are paid or not. Some common stressors that caregivers face can include:

Feeling overwhelmed or constantly worried

Feeling tired often

Getting too much sleep or not enough sleep

Gaining or losing weight

Becoming easily irritated or angry

Losing interest in activities you used to enjoy

Feeling sad

Having frequent headaches, bodily pain or other physical problems

Abusing alcohol or drugs, including prescription medications

Strategies for dealing with caregiver stress include:
Joining a support group, taking time for yourself, focusing on what you are able to provide, setting goals, seeking social support, talking to your doctor, etc.

Often times paid caregivers also feel that they are not making a good salary for the amount of work they do and stress they face.

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Caregiver stress syndrome is a condition characterized by physical, mental and emotional exhaustion. It typically results from a person neglecting their own physical and emotional health because they are focused on caring…