A story as told to Suruvi – Care for Caregivers by Joash Oduo (Facebook: King Joash)
How did you become a caregiver? Is it something you chose to do or did the role find you?
I have always wanted to be someone who could bring about a positive change or make an impact on the lives of others. Especially for the less fortunate, the incapacitated or sickling individuals, and the elderly, children, and persons with disabilities. When I heard that there are colleges in the country that are offering caregiving courses, I immediately scouted around for one and enrolled in the training in order to equip myself with the necessary skills that could enable me to discharge the responsibility professionally. So I can confidently say that I deliberately chose to be a caregiver or better still, I was ordained by God to be one.
What fulfilment/insight has the role provided you with?
Finding a purpose. In today’s confusing and stressful world, it is often difficult to find meaning in your life. Caregiving provides an act of giving that increases the sense of one’s well-being. When someone becomes a caregiver, they gain clarity in their lives through the purpose of helping others. This purpose creates positivity in all aspects of their life.
Finding appreciation. No matter the circumstances in your life, sometimes you have to see the world through another person’s eyes. Whatever negative things you are going through, when you care for someone who needs your help, it gives you a chance to challenge that negativity. Through caregiving, you can learn to appreciate yourself and your contributions to our greater world. Whether silent or otherwise, you also gain the appreciation of those around you.
Building confidence. When you help those who cannot help themselves, you develop confidence. Caregiving will give you the opportunity to nurture relationships where someone can rely on you to support them. As a caregiver, I inspire confidence in others and harness internal confidence in myself. You will also continually learn new skills and test your capabilities when working in this critical role.
A meaningful career. Being a caregiver is an exciting and rewarding opportunity. You will be able to pursue a career path that you can be proud of and you also have an opportunity to better other people’s lives.
What challenges have you wished for support for?
I have wished for many different kinds of support, concerning health, advocacy, resources, and within the family.
I made a list of these concerns, which I am sharing with you here.
Mental health concerns
– Depression
– Anxiety
– Subclinical stress
– High rates of negative affect including guilt, sadness, dread, and worry.
– Ambivalence about care
– Witnessing the suffering of relatives/care receiver
– Becoming easily irritated or upset
– Feeling isolated or abandoned by others
– Anticipatory grief
Physical health concerns
– Fatigue
– Sleep problems
– Risk of illness, injury, mortality
– Weakened immune system
– Lower self-rated physical health compared to that of others of the same age and sex
– Adverse changes in health status
– Greater health services use and medication use
– Dysregulation of stress hormones
Functional and cognitive impairment
– A greater need for help with ADL assistance (especially among dementia caregivers)
– Difficulty with memory and concentration
Secondary strains
– Work – employment (e.g., reduction in work hours, family-to-work spillover, and work-to-family spillover)
– Financial strains
– Relationship stress
– Loss of time for self-care (e.g., sleep, diet, exercise)
– Reduced quality of life
Care decisions
– “When is it time” for various services?
– Residential placement
– End-of-life care planning
Advocacy for care
– Interface with service systems
– Coordinating systems
Resources and eligibility for services
– Housing
– Healthcare
– Community services
– Respite
Family concerns
– Conflict about care
– Lack of support for the caregiver
– Balancing needs of healthy and sick family members
– Behavioral issues
– Interpersonal conflicts
– Lack of cooperation by the care recipient
What motivates you to keep going, keep caring, and keep doing what you do?
I enjoy working with people and also enjoy jobs where I have one-on-one interaction with others. I enjoy taking care of elderly members of society and I feel that I can get along well with a variety of elders regardless of their conditions. To me, it feels meaningful to do work that has the potential to make a positive impact/difference in someone’s life, and I don’t subscribe to the “that’s not my job” mentality, but instead, I like pitching in to do whatever is needed. I take pride in my attention to detail. Furthermore, I don’t want a desk job; I like being physical in my job and using my body as well as my brain and I feel engaged when in a career with growth opportunities. Lastly, I feel that when am older, I’d want someone like myself there to help me if I need help.