What Is Caregiving?
Maria has been caring for her elderly mother with love and dedication for years. Maria’s life is beginning to show the toll of working so hard for so long. Due to high stress, she hasn't been able to spend as much time with her husband and children as she would like. Maria’s family must find a professional caregiver for her mother.
The situation Maria and her family face today is common among many families. From caring for aging parents to caring for elderly friends, children and friends often drain themselves. Caregivers who help their relatives live functional, beautiful life have another option.
Various methods of care are administered by professional caregivers. Today, there are five types of caregivers in the medical field. There are many different types of caregivers, from registered nurse to unlicensed employee who helps grandma cook. A simple investigation into the responsibilities of each caregiver can greatly simplify the choice between two candidates. BrightStar Care of West Portland provides a large selection of each of these positions, making the transition to home care for your loved one as easy as possible.
Five Different Types of Caregivers
Registered Nurse (RN)
Registered nurses (RNs) are the most well-known professional caregivers. No doubt registered nurses work in hospitals, but they also work in assisted living homes and the homes of their elderly patients. This option not only offers a caregiver with the highest skill set right at the family's doorstep but also allows the patient to remain at home.
A registered nurse is a highly trained professional. While practicing, they must pass a state certification exam and continue their studies. By doing so, they can refresh and expand their medical knowledge. Nurses with this certification perform many valuable tasks, especially for patients with more acute and specific needs. The role of a registered nurse involves basic caregiving tasks like keeping track of symptoms and ensuring the patient receives his medication daily. In addition to educating the family about the patient's condition, they create plans for the patient's medical care. A registered nurse can also present doctors' orders to families in a way that helps them make the best decision for their loved ones.
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
A Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) undergoes less training than a Registered Nurse (RN). As a result, their repertoire of abilities is usually smaller. In addition to immunizations, these nurses establish treatment plans for patients and understand their ailments. Nurses who are licensed practical nurses often work with teams and can manage stress levels, multitask, and make sound decisions. Licensed practical nurses can provide in-home care to patients with noticeable needs that do not require the attention of a registered nurse.
Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA)
Licensed nursing assistants (LNAs), or CNAs, perform tasks very similar to licensed practical nurses (LPNs). Among their skills are keeping track of vitals, communicating clearly with patients, and documenting diets. A registered nurse or an LPN performs more complex medical tasks than these nurses, which is because they have less training than an LPN or a registered nurse. As an entry-level hospital position, the LNA can provide hospital-level care in the home, but cannot perform the variety of tasks that RNs and LPNs can. Families in need of basic, knowledgeable care for their loved ones, but not the full skills of a registered nurse, might find a licensed practical nurse ideal.
Home Health Aid (HHA)
In addition to the care a family can provide, there is Home Health Aid (HHA). A Home Health Aide is often responsible for providing care to patients who are elderly, suffer from chronic illnesses, or have long-term disabilities. As a result, home health aids have less experience with helping patients with major medical issues, even if they assist them with daily tasks, cleaning their homes, and organizing their medication schedules. Since the home health aid has experience working with patients with different needs, they can provide more care than a family member.
Caregiver
Professional caregivers are the last and least trained option. There is no specific medical training for these individuals. They communicate with their patients, provide medication assistance, and monitor things like body temperature and unusual behavior. There are many benefits to having a simple caregiver. The caregivers focus on maintaining the patient's mental health and building relationships with the patient. It may be appropriate to hire a caregiver if you need someone to watch over the patient, not to help with complex medical issues.
Which Caregiver Is Right for You?
Many families indeed face the same difficulties as Maria, but these challenges do not have to continue. Home care provides a safe and healthy alternative, offering caregivers a variety of skills. To find the right caregiver for your family, it is important to consider the caregiver's environment. Nurses from BrightStar Care of West Portland come from a compassionate and friendly environment. BrightStar Care of West Portland works with you to find the right caregiver for you and your family, from the unlicensed but loving caregiver to the registered nurse. Our nurses and staff hope to make this season easier for you and your loved ones by offering a helping hand. BrightStar Care of West Portland happily offers compassion and the best standards of care through any of its five caregiver positions.
Contact BrightStar Care of West Portland Today
Schedule a free consultation today, or if you are a nurse looking to work in a compassionate environment held to a higher standard, apply today. We invite you to contact us today if you would like to learn more about our services, as well as our other wide range of caregiving services! You can also reach us by phone at 503-620-6011. Hopefully, we'll hear from you soon!
