May 7, 2021
Caregivers are known to be multi-taskers. One moment we are taking care of our patients on the bed, the next moment we are cleaning plates used by our patients, or discussing with the physician for a medical appointment. Because we Caregivers are responsible for the continuity of care or whatever that entails.
Our work is very challenging. Many thought that we only take care of the elderly, but no were not. We can be a babysitter, we can take care of PWD kids or adults, we can even be a tutor. But not only professional caregivers can do our tasks, because it is often addressed through several helping hands - can be a son or a daughter, a parent, grandchild, or any hired person.
Way back in the Philippines, my works include:
Monitoring the vital signs
Checking the inputs & outputs, and blood sugar
Assisting the patient to do his/her activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, eating, walking, etc.
Assisting the patient in defecating, urinating, and helping with personal hygiene and care
Encouraging my patient to do exercise and assisting in going to the hospital for consultations
Helping with mobility
Ensuring the cleanliness and tidiness of my patient's room and areas where they usually stay for leisure
Sometimes even includes buying foods for my patient
But in my last patient in the Philippines, I did other tasks that were out of the job description. I served a family of doctors as a private caregiver of their mother. And they have a maid with a disability that served them since she was 15 years old, and during my time she was, I guess more than 40 years old already. The maid doesn't even have holidays, so she's working 7 days a week from morning to evening. My patient adopted her because she doesn't have a family anymore and she became their maid ever since.
We, caregivers, felt pity for her, as her body was so small with eyes disability, and she looks so tired already. So every time our patient was asleep, we will go to the kitchen and help her wash the dishes. Sometimes, if the doctors (my patient's son and his wife, and two children) were out, we will help their maid to clean the house, and help her lift the pale full of washed clothes.
I just can't take seeing her lifting the heavy pale while going up the stairs as she needs to hang the clothes on the rooftop which was on the third floor. If I will measure her height, I guess she's only 3 feet, and her workloads are even heavier than her. We, the caregivers even asked each other, the family is rich, why can't they hire another maid so Nanay Sita (the maid) won't be so tired. There were six members of the family but only have one maid, while 3-4 caregivers were working alternately. So during our time, Nanay Sita was always happy and thankful because we help her lighten her works.
When I worked here in Hong Kong, I thought my job will be purely Caregiving. But I was wrong because I'm not just a pure Caregiver. Chinese really make sure that their money is worth it. Aside from doing Caregiving jobs, I also do other tasks.
I'm An Assistant And An Email Processor
My lady boss doesn't know how to speak English fluently, and the son is studying in England. Every time she received emails, she will always call me to help her reply the emails. The same thing every time the school of her daughter sent her emails that are needed to be replied to.
When she needs an assistant when going shopping and she knows that I am available, she will also call me and ask me to go with her. It's actually in favor of me, as I don't like staying the whole day inside the house. But what I don't like is when she's making me a chaperone. I always said to myself, "this isn't part of my job." But I can't complain or decline her request. But what I like is the free food she bought for me, and I can choose whatever I want for free.
Sometimes their family will eat outside, they will ask me if I want to eat with them. Sometimes I refuse, sometimes I eat with them. So in more than 3 years of staying here, I've been to different restaurants here in Hong Kong - Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Seafood rest., Italian, and Taiwanese restaurants. I'm a bit lucky actually, as not all Caregivers can experience the same with me.
I Am A Tutor
I mentioned here before about my boss' daughter that became my friend. She was only 10 years old and in primary 5 when I came here. Every after school, my boss will ask me to assist her daughter to do her homework and teach her when her exam was quite approaching. The subjects include English, Science, History, and Geography, she's very good at Math and I'm bad at it so she doesn't need my help. And since I was only new and trying to build a good reputation, I can't say no to my boss. When they found out that I like art, I was always tasked to do the kid's art homework and projects.
I liked it though, but what I don't like was the time I spent doing those tasks instead of resting. And to compensate for my hard work, my boss always gives me additional money especially if her daughter got high marks on quizzes and exams. But as time goes by, it became our bonding with the kid, that's how we became close to each other.
But when she reached secondary last 2019, I told her to become independent and study on her own, because it's not good to always rely on someone. I always remind her not to be lazy and dependent like her mother.
A Comforter And A Company
Caregivers should be empathetic. This plays a big role in taking care of a patient. Being empathetic is feeling and understanding the patient's experiences and emotions. And as a caregiver, we should have the ability to share someone else feelings.
Every time my patient is feeling down or grumpy because of someone or something, I need to give her reassurance that everything will be okay. It's actually frustrating when my patient is argumentative and grumpy, but through putting myself on her shoe, I will start to understand the root of her sudden change of mood and make sure that she won't feel alone, and give her reassuring words and comfort.
This is applicable not only for Caregivers but for anyone who's taking care of their beloved ones. Being sympathetic won't help our patients ease the pain and suffering, but being empathetic will make them feel better, and recognizing the reason behind their sudden change of behavior can change our reaction towards their words and actions.
It is what makes us Caregivers to be more compassionate, stronger, and more patient.
And I'm not just a companion and a comforter to my patient, but also to this kid at home. If you remember my article about, I have mentioned there that sometimes, these Chinese people always making simple things too complicated, or making simple issues too difficult to solve. Sometimes I pity her because she became the ventilator. If others can't express their anger towards another family member, they will gonna express it to this kid.
And since there's no other person who can give her comfort, I am always there to give her emmpathy. She's been my comforter as well every time I feel sad and tired. And she always makes me smile if I look stress already.
(Since I'm not allowed to post my patient's photos online, as per patient's privacy, I just posted my photos with this kiddo 😁)
Being a Caregiver is not so easy especially if you will work abroad and live with your patient. You will be tasked to do other things aside from Caregiving jobs. In some cases, they are even task to clean their employer's house and run some errands.
And being a caregiver is not something everyone is cut out for, and its rich rewards cannot truly be defined.
Thaks for reading!
I feel you miss Jane .I also experienced that when I was in Taiwan a caregiver for an old woman but still doing house hold chores . But keep fighting Lang po💚