Live In Caregiver Duties and Responsibilities

Before everyone get confused, I know some of you are. ^-^ Just want to make it clear that I am a live-in caregiver. Maybe you noticed also that I mentioning here "nursing home". Yes, because I was employed with an old lady who lived in a retirement home. So, I was with her for about four years and unfortunately she died at the age of one hundred one and half. (101.5).

When I was living with her in a retirement home , I was also a live in caregiver, works only with one person privately. A huge difference when I was there are  I didn't do any cooking, no cleaning, no laundry. The home provide everything. She even have a woman who showered her everyday and give her breakfast.  My  sole responsibility is to look after my patient with love and care. 

Unlike today  I'm  a live in caregiver  to a lady (Sara) living in her own apartment by herself.  I have to do all the household work. In short "yaya ni lola" I have to do the food shopping, I have to cook for her, to clean the house, do the laundry, ironing and etc.. even entertaining visitors. But I'm happy because I can practice my cooking and also I have a private room wherein I can have my privacy. The job is not difficult eventually, I'm  always in holiday. I sit with her every  morning by the pool or I can swim and use the pool if I want too and I have an afternoon rest for 2 hours before tea time. A wonderful job that I have difficulty to give it up.

Fundamentally, a caregiver provides compassion, care and assistance to those who need help in everyday living. Thus, caregiver should have patience, understanding, and compassionate. I have listed few duties and responsibilities as a caregiver based on my experience. 

Personal Care :

1. Assist in shower and personal hygiene

2. Provide personal grooming, nails, hair and oral care.

3. If the patient is in the wheelchair - transfer her/him from bed to wheelchair.

4. Toileting assistance and incontinent care.

5. Encourage activities in accordance to patient's needs and capabilities.

Health Care

1. Make an appointment if patient's needs to see a doctor.

2. Report of sudden changes of the patient's physical mental or emotional health to his/her family or if your in a retirement home, report it to the nurse on duty.

3. Provide good skin care and avoid bed sores.

4. Give the right medication according to doctor prescription.

Household Management :

1. Maintain the cleanliness of the patient's house or apartment.

2. Make the patient bed and change the bed sheet regularly.

3. Wash and dry the patient's clothes regularly.

4. Wash the dishes and all kitchen utensils.

5. Do food shopping and etc.. 

Changes or Things To Be Aware Off:

1. If your patient's has a high blood pressure - Be sure to check her/his blood pressure regularly and report it quickly if there is high and low changes. 

2. Changes in Blood Sugar

3. If the patient falls

4. Swelling part of the body

5. Vomiting

6. Confusion and Hallucination

The Voice of Reason

She is 92 years old, petite, well poised, and proud. She is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with her hair fashionably coiffed, and her make up perfectly applied, in spite of the fact she is legally blind.

Today, she has moved to a nursing home. Her husband of 70 years recently passed away, making this moved necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home,  as I was asked to accompany her, she smiled sweetly when told her room was ready. As she maneuvered her walker to the elevator, I provided the visual description of her tiny room, including the eyelet curtains that had been hung on her window.

I love it, she stated with the enthusiasm of an eight year old having just been presented with a new puppy. Mrs. Jones, you haven't seen the room.. just wait, I said. Then she spoke these words that I will never forget; "That does not have anything to do with it she said gently. Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged. It is how I arranged my mind. I have already decided to love it." "It is a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice. I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body had no longer work, or can get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do work. Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes is open, I will focus on the new day and all the happy memories I have stored away... just for the time in my life"

In addition , she said "old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you have already put in. And she believed that the background of circumstances may influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become".

With what she said , I realized that she is a very optimistic, and strong woman. She didn't fell sorry of what she got. In fact she accepted it with all her heart. I wish all the people are like her. But it's not, everybody is different.

My first week in Israel

I almost forgot this Meme -  Busy? No, certainly  not but I am too lazy to blog. I'm tired and rather set and watch the tennis Wimbledon semi-final. Until I remember that I have some work to do including this lovely meme of Rose of  Nostalgic Marveling  ^-^ .

First I can't think of anything what I can share with you because mostly of my stuff are sent home. Yes, I'm ready to go home in two-three months time after seven years here. I can literally hear now the word "pasalubong ko" LOL!

Anyhow, going back to my nostalgic entry this week and  hence I'm talking about going home, I want to share my first entry ,first job, adventure of this so called Holy Land.

Year 2003, when I left Philippines. When the plane boarded to Hongkong, I told myself that I'll be going back my home country after two years. But that was never happened. Anyhow, I landed  at Bengurion Airport here in Israel, at 3 o'clock in the morning, I dropped a 1 peso coin as my mother told me.  Her superstitious belief that I'll be away from evils eye and should have good health since its my first time in this country. After three hours of waiting an agency person arrived to pick us up. I was sent to the flat of caregivers where they stayed during the weekend for their days off. After two days, the agency called me to be prepared because I'm going to start my job. Gosh, I was shivering and nervous but I managed to control .. (takot lang yon kasi walang alam)Honestly, I never had a caregiver training, nor learned a Hebrew language. I just watched the video how to take care elderly people and got some notes of basic Hebrew words. Unlike today, caregiver certificate and Hebrew language certificate is necessary.

I've met my employer (an old lady) who doesn't know to speak English. She spoke Arabic and little Hebrew  together which was so hard to understand. So, I did sign language just to comprehend. But sometimes was very difficult really specially on meal time.  Hence, I wheeled her to the kitchen and opened the freeze what she wants. LOL! Every word she said I wrote it down and when I'm in the flat I asked the girl what's  the meaning of the word. Thus, I learned a little bit of  Hebrew and Arabic every week.

The thing that I cannot forget was when I went to a partime job. That was my first partime after a murdered week working who cannot understand each other. Somehow, I have to think my placement to be paid quickly the reason why I grabbed the opportunity to work on my day off. It was frightening because she is alzhiemer at the same time a bed ridden woman who has a very loud voice.. waaaaaaaaaa.. I cried I thought she shouted at me. She made poh on the bed, and the smell was horrible. Then, I cried again when I looked back the swivel chair, the computer, the ledger, and air conditioned room. The adjustment of the job was absolutely difficult.

By the time I finished my 22 hours part time job , I called a taxi to take me to my flat. However, the taxi driver dropped me to the place called Kanyon (Mall). He might thought that's the mall I was talking about.   I don't know either what the name of the  mall I was going too LOL. I just told him kanyon gadol (big mall) I didn't have a cell number so I cannot phone any of my relatives. And I cannot explain to him that it wasn't the right mall. My trademark is the building design of the mall. Huh, what an experienced it was, I used a sign language again  but neither way he cannot understand me. I left nowhere and don't know where to go. I just followed people walking, everytime I asked them they cannot understand me. So, I just continue walking until I found the main street that looks familiar to me. It took me an hour before I saw the place where I supposed to go home.

For seven years here, I adopted the life here. I learned the language, the religion, the culture and learned to love the job. I realized that I am pretty lucky being here. GOD gave me the opportunity to tour around his place, Holy Land.

TNT Life in Israel

We all know, the moment we left our home country we are taking the risk, especially to those who have children. We go to the foreign land that we don't even know how to speak the language. However we learned and we adopt the culture and tradition.

Israel is one of the beautiful destination of OFW in terms of work  situation.  They are open only for Filipinos  in nursing specifically Caregivers who look after disabled children and elderly people.

What's good in Israel are? Caregivers have freedom to chose their own patient. If you don't like the person you look after, you can complain to the agency. Whatever complains you can report to your manpower agency. But on the other hand, you should minimize your complains because some agency  didn't believe you. Secondly, we can get all our Philippine holiday's and benefits. If the employer ask you to stay then they have to pay you extra. And that happens more often because they don't have patient to look after their old mother and father. You can get good salary most especially if your patient live in an old age home. Most people lives in that certain home are rich people who employ private carer. But I assure you, choosing job is all a matter of luck as well. All I can say , being a carer is not an easy job. Looking after elderly person for almost 18 hours a day, 7 days a week, if you are lucky to have a day off then you can have only 6 days a week. Some old people don't want anybody to be with them and  that is very difficult for a carer.
 

In the other way, working here also have limitation. Your work or visa status will depend only the life of your patient. The maximum stay in only 52 month's equivalent to 4 years and 3 months. However, if your patient are still alive even after that, your visa is, continues until she died then you can decide to stay or be a TNT(illegal worker, TAGI NG TAGO)

 This is why there are a lot of TNT in Israel. Carer chose to stay for many reasons. Mostly came here with a huge amount of placement fee and they haven't, finish to pay it back, some  have children, brother or sister who go to school, some are breadwinners and some are afraid to go back home because they  can't find a job to  their home country
 

Definitely, these people are not criminals but they felts that they are like thieves, killer because that's the way they treated by the people here. They don't work the way they used too. In fact, they work like a horse, cleaning from house to another. Some work as domestic, looking after 2,3 or even 5 children. Clean the house, does the cooking, gardening etc.. Some work as a freelancer, if somebody want a day off or want a vacation for a month and they need a reliever, this person are willing to replace you whenever you call them. And  TNT who have children are in the most worse  situation. Their children are traumatized because of what they been through. They treated badly also in school because their parents are foreign worker.
 

I felt sorry for themselves and I pitied them but we have to obey ruling of the government. We are only workers in their country.  If you think its enough then you don't need to suffer all this. A lesson to be learned, while you still got a visa then save for yourself. At least a 100$ a month, then when time comes, you always ready to go home.

on my unforgettable experience

As I mentioned before, life abroad is not easy. Sad thing about, living a career, very from your family, friends and love ones. We have also moments to think about what if I didn't go abroad? What will be my life in the Philippines?What happen to my family? On the other side of the coin, you might also think, I can leave there without going abroad. I have a career. But the fact its only good for my self, not enough to help my family. I guess this is the reality to those people who's working abroad.

Five years ago, I had a funny experience here. I considered this as my unforgettable experience. When I shared it to my friends they started laughing at me and can't believe I did it.

After 2 years working with my alzhiemer patient, I left her because they didn't have a sufficient funds to pay all my required benefits including my basic salary. Was so sad for me because I was so attached with her, and so she was. But I thought of my self , I'm not here to look for a family I'm here for work and to earn and save money. At that time , I'm not finish my placement fee loan. So I decided to move out and find an employer who can pay give me a good pay. They were very angry with me, and they don't even give me a release paper which required by my prospect employer. I don't have any money and all I got was the bounced check my patient's son issued to me. I went to that lawyer, I showed the bounced check and he gave me a letter of release. Imagine I didn't pay the lawyer, I just told him that I was connected of the agency, I gave the name of my agency and said I'll pay you later if I can find a new job.

It was time to meet my prospected employer, 2 rides and 2 hours travel by bus from where I was. I got 14 shekels penny in my pocket, and that money was only good for one ride. I was sitting in the middle of the stairs of my flat and think of a solution. All my friends are in  their prospective work,and my Aunt was in the Philippines. I was alone and keep looking my watch and the 14 NIS I got in my wallet. After an hour of thinking, I was walking back and forth til the fourth times, I just went straight to the station of mini bus. I arrived in tel-aviv and I don't know where to go. I don't have money at all. While walking in the street I remember my friend who recommended me the job. I called and told her I don't have money. I was so very lucky to have a friend like her, since I don't know the place (nursing home) she told me to take a taxi and she'll pay when I get there. So I did, I came at that place and met my employer though it was late and they understand that it was traffic.. LOL they didn't know the reason why I was late. Fortunately I was hired.

When I look back that experience, it made me laugh. Neither my self cannot believe how I did it. I was hopeless then but still believe that GOD was with me. I was determined to get that job and he guided me all along. I was so happy working with my English lady patient until the day she died at the age of 101 years old. And I was so blessed again to have a lovely lady who kept me though there are problems regarding my situation here. I hope I am always lucky with jobs.

Relationship between a carer and a patient

No one can do  a job like a carer or caregiver does to their patient especially us Filipinos. Sabi nga ng iba detach your self with your patient  because they are not here forever, otherwise you end up hurting yourself. She or he is not your family.

My last employer died at 101 1/2 yrs old, she had a fantastic memory even though she was in the wheelchair but I learned life for her is valuable every minute. She enjoyed life as long she can breath. Sometimes she felt sorry for herself that her family has no patient to talk to her. She felt sorry that she can't walk, can't hear clearly but she told me I am here and I have to be thankful for what she gave me. She was amazing really, though my relationship with her was only a carer patient relationship. She was strong woman and a person who didn't used to show feelings. But 3 days before she died , she told me 'THANK YOU VERY MUCH, YOU'RE  SUCH A NICE GIRL, I LOVE YOU" . After working with her for 4 years , that the 1st and the last word she gave me I LOVE YOU. I hugged and kissed her with tears in my eyes and told her I LOVE YOU TOO.

I cannot detach my self to my patient, because they are part of my everyday routine. When I am angry or happy they are part of it.

I attached the vedio of my friend here  and her relationship with her patient :

Click the Link

Emelie and Her Patient

Giving up the so called Career and be a carer!

How do you feel giving up a so called career and be a carer???

So difficult to think.

Professionals, like Teacher, professor , accountant, or even graduated in colleges and universities in the Philippines giving up their career just to work as a carer.

How hard it is for us, for you?

Buhay Caregiver sa Israel

For seven years being a caregiver in the Holy Land, I love the religion but not the way of lives in here. Kakaiba pa din sa atin pero atleast nagiging forward and utak. Madali ang pera, mag partime ka lang sa day off mo ayos na. Solve na ang pang card mo para sa mga mahal mo sa buhay. Pero mahirap mag alaga ng mga makukulit n matanda, noong bagohan ka pa as I said earlier you will hate your job but If you used to it ayos na lang, kumikita ka ng dolar. You can't imagine a professor, nurse in the Philippines ang trabaho dito nagpupunas ng puwet ng matanda. If your patient will be alzheimer naku po humanda kayo maghabolan sa bahay niya o di kaya humanda ka din malakas ang resistensiya mo kasi wala kang tulog. Kaya ang solution pag tulong si lola (our so called endearment for our patient)tulog ka din para hindi ka lugi.Hehehe!!! Some patient also live in a Nursing Home, mas maganda nga pag nasa Nursing Home ka , kasi di ka magluluto, di ka maglilinis. Asikasohin mo lang talaga ang matanda. Malaki pa ang sahod, and mostly carer are stayed in with pay sa mga day offs nila. Di ba mas madali yayaman daw. Pero laki sahod, laki gastos. Kahit ano pa sahod mo , di pa din kasya para sa padala mo. May mga pasyente naman na may mga utak din , nakakalakad pa, at kahit nasa wheelchair na sila, sila pa din ang boss sa sarili nila. Kung alam mo na mali sila kung pasabihan mo naman sila nagagalit sayo. They will tell you " Who is the boss?" Kakairita din minsan they are racist at baba ang tingin nila sa atin. They thought walang wala talaga sa atin, kaya kaw pag may opinion na maibibigay mag react ka talaga. Better to say we have the same like this and like that in our home country rather than to say we have nothing at all. Otherwise they treated you like a rag or a dump. One of my patient told me palibhasa daw we are premitive people. Oh! GOSH I was shocked, and I argue with him. We are educated people who gave up our profession to work abroad for our family. Kaya sabi ng tao sa atin ganda ang work niya pala caregiver pero di nila naisip what is the life of a caregiver being with their patient for 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Kapapasok pa lang, Ayaw mo na!

Caregiver is a person who assist or attend the elderly by performing a number of task.

View the Link to clearly understand

http://www.ehow.com/facts_5091120_job-description-caregiver.html

I am working as a caregiver here in Israel for a quiet 7 years. I am not a professional caregiver but I learned a lot working for years in here.

Naisip ko gumawa ng blogs na ito out from my boredom.

Ang buhay ng isang caregiver ay hindi po madali. Lahat pwde mong daanan. Kung ikaw ay tapos ng magandang profession sa atin at mag trabaho sa abroad bilang isang caregiver I am absolutely sure at the start you will hate your job. That was I felt when I started working as caregiver. Umiiyak ka sa inis lalo na yong mga walang pasensiya o kulang ang pasensiya sa matatanda. Nagagalit ka sa gobyerno sa atin dahil bakit ka sa ibang bansa nagtrabaho ng ganito which the fact you have a good profession back home. Nagagalit ka bakit walang makitang trabaho sa atin at nagsakrispiyo na magtrabaho sa ganitong sitwasyon. Ganun ang ma feel mo kung bagohan ka pa lang.