Creating Caregiver-Friendly Faith Communities

A caregiver is a paid or unpaid individual who provides care and assistance to another person. The recipient of care may have limitations related to illness, injury, or disability, and includes conditions such as mobility limitations, dementia, behavioral or mental health conditions, developmental disability, etc.

Caregivers provide assistance with medical tasks, activities of daily living and other aspects of life, such as housekeeping and financial assistance.

A caregiver may be providing support on a temporary or permanent basis.

Caregivers provide a wide range of support, such as:

Personal care

• Activities of daily living like bathing, personal hygiene, dressing and toileting
• Assisting with mobility, such as getting in and out of bed or a chair and walking
• Meal preparation and feeding

Medical care

• Organizing and dispensing medication
• Managing and attending appointments and maintaining medical records and information
• Managing therapies and treatments
• Arranging nursing and other medical supports
• Performing basic medical tasks, such as wound care and cleaning/managing tubes

Other life management tasks

• Shopping for food, clothing and other essentials
• Providing transportation or organizing transport
• Managing finances, paying bills, planning for the future
• Housekeeping and home maintenance
• Managing communication with others
• Arranging respite care providers

Caregivers may providing care for:

• Older adults, including a spouse, parent, or grandparent
• Children or adults with disabilities or complex medical needs
• Siblings, family members or another individual with a chronic health condition or disability
• Non-family members needing support, like neighbors or friends

Parenting a child with typical development comes with its own obligations and responsibilities, but parents caring for children with disability and/or chronic medical problems often find these tasks to be much more demanding and unpredictable. A parent who is also a caregiver is providing assistance to their child beyond what is typical for a person of similar age.

Caregiving can sometimes feel all-consuming. A dependent might rely on their caregiver for daily living activities such as meals, transportation, appointment arrangements, and personal care. In some cases, assistance with personal care might be required 24/7. This high level of commitment can increase stress in other areas of the caregiver’s life.

Furthermore, a dependent might also require a caregiver for an unknown length of time, ranging from a few weeks or months to the span of an individual’s entire life. There will be events and crises popping up unexpectedly that require immediate attention, which can make it difficult for caregivers to establish a consistent routine and find their rhythm.