Being a senior caregiver is a rewarding and enriching experience that benefits both the caretaker and the individuals under their care. But have you ever wondered what caretaking actually entails? To understand the process, read on to learn about a day in the life of a caregiver who supports a senior living community:
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A Bright and Optimistic Morning
Caregiving should always be approached with an optimistic mindset that helps you bring a positive attitude to those under your care. To start the morning in a good light, you might grab breakfast from one of the community’s on-site dining options, such as a breakfast cafe or coffee spot.
After a healthy breakfast, you begin your day of caretaking by checking in with your assigned residents. You’ll tend to any of their morning needs, such as by helping with hygiene or any medical concerns. And if they require morning medicine, you may need to remind them to take their dose.
Next, they’ll want a delicious breakfast just as you did. This might involve you prepping a well-rounded meal for them or accompanying them to one of the on-site dining locations. You may also bring meals to their rooms if they feel more comfortable eating in their private space.
Daily Duties and Running Errands
You can begin tackling the rest of the day’s errands once you’ve helped the older adults under your care meet their morning needs. Are there linens or clothing items that need to be washed or dirty dishes accumulated in the sink?
These things should be taken care of daily in order to keep a clean living environment. Maintaining a nice and tidy living space is essential for having happy, healthy residents in any senior living community.
The next part of your day might include running any necessary errands. Senior living communities require a large number of supplies to provide residents with everything that they need. Is there anything that you can go pick up for your facility?
You can always look around the community or speak with supervisors if unsure about what is left to be done. They’ll let you know of any supplies that need to be procured or tasks that need to be completed.
Dinner-Prepping and Evening Tasks
By the time your morning duties and mid-day tasks have been completed, it’ll be nearing dinner time. This part of your day will involve prepping residents for their evening meal or helping prepare it.
When the food is ready, you’ll help escort residents to the on-site dining hall to share their meals. Some might prefer to have their meals on their own, so you’ll deliver their meals to them nice and fresh.
Once everyone is finished eating, you can help clean up the dining area and gather dirty dishes for cleaning. If the cleaning staff needs any help, you can always give them a hand or tend to residents in the commons area.
The older adults in your care love relaxing in the commons after their evening meal. Their favorite activities include reading, playing board games, and watching movies. You can join in on a game or discuss their favorite movies with them. All of this helps residents stay sharp, active, and engaged.
Winding Down and Building Connections
After a few hours of fun and socializing, it’s time for residents and staff to start winding down. You’ll end the night by tending to residents’ bedtime needs. Anyone taking night-time medications should do so now, and some may want to wash up before bed and change into their sleeping clothes.
Before shutting things down for the night, you will make the rounds to ensure everyone is in their rooms and ready for bed. Many residents like to share a story or two before bed, and you can offer a listening ear if you have the time. Before you know it, the day is over, and everyone is fast asleep.
Returning Home and Resting Up
When your shift ends, you can return home while one of your fellow caregivers steps in to provide overnight duties. This is your time to rest and relax on your own terms, preparing for another day of caring for the older adults in your senior living community.
Need Further Insight on Caregiving?
Are you interested in experiencing life as a caregiver? Whether you’ve already started your caretaker journey or are learning about the process beforehand, there are many online resources that can help give you insight into life as a caregiver. You can also contact local senior living communities for more information.