A fundamental part of giving care is being a good communicator with the person getting care. Care is given with respect for the dignity of the person receiving care. The carer remains in contact with the primary health care provider, often a doctor or nurse, and helps the person receiving care make decisions about their health and matters affecting their daily life.
In the course of giving care, the caregiver is responsible for managing hygiene of themselves, the person receiving care, and the living environment. Hand washing for both caregivers and persons receiving care happen often. If the person receiving care is producing sharps waste from regular injections then the caregiver should manage that. Surfaces of the living area should be regularly cleaned and wiped and laundry managed.
The caregiver manages organization of the person’s agenda. Of special importance is helping the person meet medical appointments. Also routine daily living functions are scheduled, like managing hygiene tasks and keeping health care products available.
The caregiver is in close contact with the person receiving care and should monitor their health in a reasonable way.
Some people receiving care require that someone take notice of their breathing. It is expected that a caregiver would notice changes in breathing, and that if a doctor advised a caregiver to watch for something then the caregiver should be able to follow the doctor’s instructions in monitoring the person.
Some people receiving care require that the caregiver monitor their body temperature. If this needs to be done, a doctor will advise the caregiver on how to use a thermometer. For people who need blood pressure monitoring, blood glucose monitoring, or other specific health monitoring, then a doctor will advise the care giver on how to do this. The caregiver should watch for changes in a person’s mental condition, including becoming unhappy, withdrawn, less interested, confused, or otherwise not as healthy as they have been. In all monitoring, the caregiver’s duty is to take notes of anything unusual and share it with the doctor.