Becoming and then working as a
caregiver for a friend or family member is a pretty tough
undertaking. Choosing to do so is more than just agreeing to
take on a few added responsibilities. It is in effect,
choosing a lifestyle.
Most people that require care are
in a continual state of
overall decline. There are exceptions to the rule, but
generally, the care recipient requires very little care to begin
with, but escalates over time and with decline in overall
condition. More tasks need to be added to the caregiver's list
and there are seldom any that are taken away.
This caregiver's handbook was
created with the goal in mind to give caregiver's an idea of what
may lay ahead, but most importantly, a reality check on the
situation at hand... what is reasonable, and when too much is too
much.
