– As Senior Alternatives’ Care Managers speak with adult children they often hear of the challenge and need to help an individual ease into the process of receiving much needed care.  This care is typically done by a caregiver.  When the idea of employing a caregiver is proposed it may come across as demeaning or as implying a certain level of diminished ability of the individual receiving the care. 

One way of re-framing the conversation is to replace the term caregiver with the term personal assistant, which sounds much more appealing to a loved one or an elder. Our focus as an organization is to be client-centered therefore we are constantly thinking of ways to appeal to the individual, in this case our clients.  There are many tactics to help convince someone to get the help they need, this is one of them.  

Personal assistants and caregivers have similar responsibilities as they take on an individual they are working with.  What do caregivers do?  They perform the same duties as a personal assistant might and so much more.  

Caregivers under our employment are equipped to do the following:  Companionship, grocery shopping, light housekeeping, errands, transportation,  meal preparation, pet care, screen phone calls, set up equipment at home, doing research on-line, making appointments and helping someone get organized.  They are also trained to help with activities of daily living or personal care services, especially for the elderly.  These services ensure people can live home successfully for as long as possible.  These hands-on services that assist a person with critical day-to-day activities are extremely necessary, most certainly if they are unable to perform them on their own.  These activities include: 

• Bathing
• Toileting
• Dressing
• Grooming
• Eating
• Medication reminders
• Mobility oversight

In conclusion,  personal assistants and caregivers perform most of the same duties, therefore using the term personal assistant when having that initial conversation with family members about getting help at home or in a community is a great way to bring about successful outcomes.  This may be a good tool to give family members peace of mind about starting the process of having successful conversations about care.