Four types of caregivers. The most common types are nannies, private nurses, certified nursing assistants, and caregiver assistants. These terms aren’t always what you think they are. Nannies are generally young women who live in the parents’ house caring for children. Nurses are medical professionals trained to provide nursing care to patients in hospitals and clinics. Caregivers are a broad category and include family members, neighbors, friends, and volunteers. A caregiver performs hands-on care providing services directly on his patient. A nurse, for example, gives medication or cares for wounds. A companion helps with daily living and provides emotional support. A therapeutic aide works with others to facilitate behavior modifications. An educator teaches patients cognitive, behavioral, or developmental techniques.

Caregivers often perform complex activities like nursing, feeding, dressing, transporting, bathing, and walking. At least 16 million Americans provide unpaid care to someone who requires assistance due to chronic illness, disability, or age.

There are many common terms for what helps make a caregiver effective. Here are just some definitions of some common terms used when discussing the responsibilities of a caregiver:

• Caregiver is the person who cares for another person. Caregivers assist the patient in terms of both medical care and personal care such as housekeeping and bathing.
• Companion care is the provision of some non-medical assistance to make someone as self-reliant as possible, and includes the process or treatment that the primary caregiver provides to enable the patient live at full capacity
• Care worker is a staff member of a caregiving entity

A: Yes, there are many kinds of caregivers, including medical professionals, psychologists, counselors, and therapists. It can even include social workers who specialize in caring for people with dementia or Alzheimer’s.


Home Care workers come in different forms and are hired for different purposes. Typically, caretakers can be divided into three basic categories: Personal Care Workers (Pcw), Personal Support Workers (PSW) and Companion Workers. Each of these jobs may fall into both the Personal Care Worker and Family and Domestic Services worker category, as well. To qualify as a domestic or family caregiver, the worker must perform most of his or her job duties within the home setting.

A: Caregivers perform five basic and critical functions related to caring for someone who has a cognitive disability. They assist their loved ones in all aspects of daily life, from bathing and dressing to using the bathroom and grooming themselves. They can also help with meal preparation, shopping and cleaning. Each caregiver, whether paid or unpaid, plays multiple roles during the course of a single interaction with an elder, providing him or her with personal assistance, emotional support, advocacy, counseling, spiritual guidance or moral support. In summary, caregivers are tasked to provide a safe, clean environment for their patient. Ensure adequate nutrition, hydration and rest. Offer spiritual counsel or guidance. Maintain a sense of humor. Finally, to encourage independence.