Blog Details
India needs professional caregivers to tend to the needs of the elderly
According to Population Census 2011, there are nearly 104 million elderly persons (aged 60 years or above) in India; 53 million females and 51 million males. A report released by the United Nations Population Fund and HelpAge India suggests that the number of elderly persons is expected to grow to 173 million by 2026.
Aging is a fact of life we simply cannot ignore, but it is not being resigned to your fate but enjoying the new phase of life with new opportunities and experiences. Aging is a natural part of life that should be readily accepted and the journey, instead of being rocky should be made easy like all the other elements that define our existence.
Unfortunately, it is difficult to convince senior citizens to accept outside help as they think it compromises on their privacy, self-esteem, and dignity. But elderlies can transition to a more comfortable and happier space with professional caregivers at home.
The most important act of caregiver is to put your patient’s needs above yours to ensure health and well-being. Caregiving can be extremely rewarding as it invariably makes someone else’s life easier and better
Most seniors rely on children or relatives to provide them the right kind of care. But a skilled caregiver can provide a lot more as they are trained to cater to their every small need (read emotional and physical) manage their time effectively and care for them when they are really sick. Communication is an integral part of caregiving ensuring you keep them happy and keeping them in the right health and well -being always.
Looking for the Perfect Caregiver
According to Satyendra Sinha, Founder & CEO at CareYogi, a Healthtech startup, that provides Professional caregivers such as rehabilitation therapists, home health visiting nurses, attendants, geriatric caregivers , and healthcare social workers, the therapies incorporated in the elderly care program are as follows- speech-language pathology, physical therapy, and occupational therapy including psychosocial and cognitive behavioral therapy. Professional caregivers’ services include helping the elderly not only cope at home but thrive in familiar home environments, aiding in the recovery and the rehabilitation process.
- Reasonable Qualifications of a Caregiver
- A caregiver who has the right credentials.
- A caregiver must be someone with whom you can spend time with.
- By being suitably qualified we mean that a caregiver must have the right experience and should demonstrate competency in the areas you or your loved one needs assistance.A caregiver must have the right skills backed by proper education and licensure
- Checking for the Right Credentials and References
- Think before you decide
In the quest for the perfect caregiver, you need to conduct a careful selection process before you hire one or you let an organization to do it for you. This is especially true because most caregivers do not come with a standardized licensure or certification procedure. When choosing a caregiver you must look for one
A caregiver with “Guided Care” (GC) training and aptitude is someone who is especially suited for chronically ill older adults, a registered nurse who has completed a supplemental educational curriculum.
According to Rohit Madhusudan, Co-Founder and CMO at The CareYogi , “Caregivers with ‘Guided Care’ credentials and training help in the delivery of services for comprehensive chronic care and enhance the health and well-being of patients and their family caregivers.
A caregiver must provide proof of credentials and provide better and more in-depth credentials than the usual caregiver selection process. A caregiver must take care of a lot of things such as health, safety, and privacy of the seniors under their care and must be worthy of their trust. This means that the professionals must come up with up-to-date resumes and references with the regular interviews and more often than not they also have to undergo background checks before they’re hired. Seniors are particularly vulnerable and they should only give the final nod to a caregiver who provides the right references and agrees to an in-depth interview and screening. Good companies must provide detailed information not only about the caregivers they hire but details about their business operations.
Choosing the right caregiver holds paramount importance. It is almost as if you are choosing your extended family. You sign on someone who is going to be with you for a specified period . Ensure you take considerable time before selecting the right individual caregiver or company. Don’t hesitate to spend some time before you make the ultimate decision. You not only have to spend time with that person but also someone you include in your immediate periphery, you have to get comfortable with the person, whom you never had any acquaintance previously. You may not like someone, if so, you can ask for someone else. Caregivers provide companionship benefits too. A caregiver is somebody who is amiable, somebody with whom you trust a lot, your sunshine buddy and also someone with whom you can share your saddest thoughts. Elders deserve the best in their twilight years and just a few measures taken with care ensures them that comfort and lends a helping hand to busy children in the long term.
