As you probably know, this is the English translation of the Japanese word caregiver. If you look it up in the dictionary, you will find that it simply means “to provide direct physical and personal assistance and support to sick, elderly or disabled patients”. That’s true, but one of my teachers at school told me that there is another job that is very important. After visiting more than 35 people in a week, I realised that this is the most important and also the most difficult part of the job.
I also remembered what a Canadian guy said to me when I was chatting with him on the Skytrain on my way to school.
“The job description of a caregiver is basically the same for everyone, but when you meet a really good caregiver, you will be very happy and you will treasure him/her for the rest of your life.”
More than 10 years later, I realised that these words were referring to the feelings that underlie the actual care of the person.
As one person who worked in an institution for 10 years and then quit to work as a home care worker said, you can do things in home care that you can’t do in an institution. In a government job there is a lot of regulation and it’s hard to do that, but in a private company it’s possible. However, the freedom that comes with it can also be a challenge.
I hope that the clients and families I meet will feel the same way about my work as the person I was talking about earlier. Every day is a learning experience. 。。。。 From K, a carer