How to Become a Caregiver (2024)

Home / Caregiving 101: Guide to Being a Caregiver / How to Become a Caregiver

• Updated on January 26, 2024
• Written By: Kayla Hopkins
• Reviewed By: Ashlee Zareczny

Summary: Becoming a caregiver means educating yourself and making plans with your family. There are several different requirements which vary from state to state that may matter for both professional and family caregivers. Over time, you’ll progress through each stage of caregiving and improve your skills along the way. Estimated Read Time: 31 mins

Table of Contents:

1. How To Become a Caregiver for a Family Member
2. What Do I Need To Be a Caregiver?
3. How To Become a Licensed Caregiver in Your State
4. Stages of Caregiving
5. How To Be a Good Caregiver

Learning how to become a caregiver for the elderly is an ongoing process. When you are first taking on the role of a caregiver for senior, you’re going to face a variety of barriers as most family members are ill-prepared to take on this responsibility. It’s important not to get overwhelmed as you are not alone; resources are available, and it’s all a part of the journey.

Becoming a caregiver involves many different steps. Even those with medical experience can find that being a family caregiver is a difficult place to be. At the end of the day, even if you have the skills and knowledge for care, it can be a huge undertaking to care for another.

However, with the right resources, planning, and support system, being an elderly caregiver for your family members doesn’t have to be a burden you face alone. Below, we’re breaking down what you need to know on how to become a caregiver for a family member.

How To Become a Caregiver for a Family Member

Family caregivers need to be prepared to handle a variety of tasks, but this is often challenging as many are facing limited resources. When you are a professional caregiver, you’ll have several caregiver requirements that are mandated by your state. Family caregivers, on the other hand, are left to learn the skills they need on their own.

Rather than taking formal classes, many seek out the information and resources on their own.

Here is how becoming an elderly caregiver breaks down:

Educate Yourself on the Duties of a Caregiver

The first step when becoming an elderly caregiver is educating yourself on what is necessary for your patient. Everyone has unique health needs, and you’re going to need to know what kind of care is required, where you can find credible resources to assist you, and the responsibilities you’re taking on.

Some key considerations are going to hinge on what your loved one is diagnosed with. For example, someone suffering from Alzheimer’s will likely have different needs than someone who is recovering from a stroke. While the specifics will change, here are a few universal areas all family caregivers will likely need to educate themselves:

• Know the specific risks and type of care needed for your loved one’s healthcare. This can include everything from the type of specialists they need access to, exercises to conduct at home, type of medication, and more.
• You’re also going to need to understand their needs that aren’t directly tied to healthcare. For example, assisting a loved one in setting up healthcare appointments, making sure they have the right benefits, ensuring their bills are covered, etc.
• Understanding the resources and programs available in your area is also important. Becoming a caregiver requires having support around you and the proper resources to access when necessary.
• It’s also important to make sure that your ducks are in a row as a family caregiver. This means setting up necessary permissions as needed, such as legal access to bank accounts, power of attorney, and anything else that may be needed.

Ultimately, the duties of a caregiver are going to encompass providing a wide range of needs as needed for loved ones.

Develop a Plan of Care

Taking care of a loved one is going to take more than an education and requires an actionable plan that can help you stay on track. Furthermore, by having a plan of care, you’re providing dedicated resources to your patient while also setting healthy boundaries for all parties.

When undergoing this step, it’s important to involve the loved one in receiving care as much as possible. While you may have to make some decisions for their own good, having your patient as a part of the process typically provides a better outcome for everyone. These are some key considerations you’ll need to remember when developing a plan as a family caregiver:

• The logistics of care take time. Making sure your loved one can access healthcare appointments, perform activities of daily life (ADLs), and balance your own life is virtually impossible without a plan in place.
• Having a plan for care is important, but so too is making sure that patients are comfortable. Don’t forgo or underestimate the importance of comfort for your loved one and the accommodations that will come with it.
• Financial stress is a huge burden for caregivers who have issues running from additional household costs to opportunity costs when taking on the role. Making a budget and sticking to it is going to help you ensure the important things are covered and your household has the resources necessary.
• Piggybacking off of the financial plan, it’s likely you’re going to need to make a new plan for your professional arrangements. Not everyone leaves the workforce completely, but work can often look different once taking on the role of family caregiver.
• It’s also critical that there is a plan in place for getting different care professionals, including respite care, in place for your patient. While family caregivers can do a lot, sometimes, rest is needed, and there are some needs that are best left to professionals.
• Comfort and healthcare needs are necessary, but you’re also going to want to have a plan for the end. Although an uncomfortable topic, failing to have a plan in the event a loved one passes can lead to confusion, resentment, and even more stress during an already difficult time.
• You’re also going to need to prepare a plan for what to do after your loved one passes away. Not only is it stressful to deal with planning a funeral and final wishes, but handling the execution of wills and distributing estates can be a process that takes years.
• Of all of the tips for caregiving out there, the one most overlooked is arguably taking care of yourself. Create boundaries and have a plan for self-care that focuses on your personal mental and physical needs.

Communicate Your Plan With Your Family and Place of Work

It’s one thing to have a plan, but if it’s not communicated to the other parties involved, you likely won’t find success. Caring for a loved one is going to mean change, and having a support system in place helps make it all happen:

• Once you have a plan in place, be sure to set guidelines that are respectful and firm. Communicate your role and the roles that others may take on in your family as a result of caring for a loved one.
• Because your work-life balance is undergoing a major change, it’s also important to speak with your place of work so that everyone is on the same page.
• Running your plan by the professionals involved in your loved one’s care is also critical. This can help avoid potential hiccups and ensure that your plan is a viable option for the patient in need.

You’ll want to give yourself grace during this process and use it to reassess your patient’s needs. Consulting with professionals can be helpful not only for getting everyone on the same page but for gathering new information. This means you can use their expert opinion to readjust in a way that is helpful for you and your loved one.

What Do I Need To Be a Caregiver?

Determining what each elderly caregiver needs will vary from person to person. You may be someone with medical training who is fully capable of fulfilling the healthcare needs of your loved one, but financial decisions are not your strong suit. The opposite is also true for those who understand budgeting and investments but aren’t prepared for healthcare needs.

There are several different roles of a caregiver and just as many, if not more, needs that also stem from loved ones. Here’s what you’ll need to become a family caregiver on a universal level:

• Self-awareness: You can’t become the right family caregiver if you don’t understand what your strengths and weaknesses are. Take the time to self-reflect and improve on the skills and knowledge that you don’t have while still leaning on experts for more advanced issues. Don’t be afraid to delegate to trusted secondary caregivers when needed.
• Resources: Having resources is one thing, but you’re going to need to make sure they are from trusted sources before following them. Government agencies, trusted scientific organizations, and credible charities are all great places to start.
• Support: This is exactly why you’ll want to communicate your role as an elderly caregiver to other family members. The job has many stress points and nuances that may require understanding and teamwork. Talk to your loved ones about ways to support each other during these times and be realistic about the changes caregiving for the elderly brings about.
• A Process: One of the leading issues anyone is going to face when taking care of a loved one is going to be caregiver stress. Without having the right process in place, you’re setting yourself up to fail before you ever begin. Make a plan, communicate the plan, and stick to it for the best results.

Always remember that your actions are aiming towards the goal of helping older family members retain dignity and a higher quality of life. Tailoring the skills you learn and the resources you keep to your patient is going to provide the personal level of care necessary for doing so. Focusing on how to become a caregiver for your family members according to their needs will set you both up for success.

How To Become a Licensed Caregiver in Your State

In order to become a caregiver on a professional level, you’re going to need to pass certain thresholds depending on your state of residence. This means undergoing training and fulfilling other caregiver requirements that will allow you to receive your state license for the profession.

Furthermore, there are several different types of professional caregivers, and standards may also vary depending on where you are employed. For example, states like Michigan are a bit more laxed for caregivers, where you’ll only need to get certified if your patient requires marijuana. On the other hand, in order to become a caregiver in New York, you are required to have extensive training of more than 70 hours.

Receiving these certifications can be helpful for any senior caregiver as they provide you with a thorough baseline of the skills you’ll need to take care of your loved one. Here’s how the caregiver requirements vary in each state:

*Note: The requirements above are subject to change as government agencies see fit. In addition to the training requirements, there may be additional caregiver requirements, Though not universal, you’ll usually need to be at least 18 years of age and have a high school diploma. Background checks are also commonplace.

Specific healthcare needs may also require certain training and certifications. For example, the legal administering of medicinal marijuana. Exceptions may also apply to those with the right healthcare-related experience, credentials, and certifications. You’ll also need to prove that you have reliable transportation and valid auto insurance.

If you are applying to be a CNA, the requirements are often much more extensive. You’ll likely need 75 to 100 hours of training to qualify. Furthermore, you’re going to have to potentially meet federal caregiver guidelines to receive compensation from Medicare/Medicaid programs. These requirements may remain even if there are no formal guidelines for home caregivers otherwise.

Other forms of compensation for being a family caregiver may be available for those who meet the training requirements. These standards may also vary from state to state, and you’ll need to apply to the corresponding state-run program to be accepted.

Finally, getting your license is one thing, but states may also have a variety of standards necessary to maintain them. You may be asked to take additional training over time throughout continued education courses. Training hours listed above, when required, may also be annually required by some states. Additional training and standards may also become necessary as new healthcare threats arise as mandated by state, local, and private entities.

Stages of Caregiving

There are generally six stages of caregiving that anyone taking on the role will go through. You’ll face obstacles and need to fulfill different roles as time goes on and things evolve. From the moments before you officially become an elderly caregiver through the time it will take to fulfill your duties, each stage has its own characteristics and will affect both you and our patient in different ways. Below is each stage.

Stage 1: The Expectant Carer

Acting as sort of a prequel to family caregiving; the first stage is going to be your chance to prepare. The role of a caregiver comes with a lot of responsibilities and lifestyle changes. When you begin to expect that a loved one will be in need of care, do what you care to get ready and provide them with the level of help they deserve.

It’s during this time that you’re going to want to go through and ensure that you’re doing your research and making a plan with others as needed. This can include other members of your household, your patient’s healthcare team, and anyone else who is going to play a role in helping them in any capacity.

You’re also going to want to establish guidelines and routines to carry through that will help you manage stress and balance your workload. Getting your affairs in order will help you build momentum and establish important self-care, career, and health habits that end up benefiting all parties.

Stage 2: The Freshman Carer

The second stage you’ll enter will take place during your initial actions as an elderly caregiver. During this time, you can expect there to be learning curves not only in how to care for your patient but how the healthcare industry works as a whole, along with other functions.

During this process, it’s advised that you pay attention to your relationship with your patient, the duties of a caregiver you excel at, and the ones you don’t, and identify both stress points and methods of handling said stress. You’ll likely have to cut some things off, but it’s a great time to assess the hobbies and interests that matter most to you to continue pursuing as your priorities shift.

Stage 3: The Entrenched Carer

While the first two stages are helping you get prepared and set up your care, stage 3 is when you’re thrust into action. This is why the first two steps are so important on how to become a caregiver because they are going to set the standards and processes of what you’ll need to use when tending to your loved one in this stage and beyond.

With that being said, you can still make adjustments here and as you go to better suit your loved one’s needs and your own. Remember, caregiving is an evolving journey. These stages prove it. Readjust accordingly and edit processes when needed to make the experience better for everyone involved.

Stage 4: The Pragmatic Carer

At this point, there isn’t much you haven’t seen. The stages of caregiving before came with much steeper learning curves, but now, you have much more of a grasp on various concepts, methods, and terms necessary for navigating the world of healthcare. Getting into stage four is also helpful for the rest of your journey because you can read and plan all you want, but experience is the ultimate teacher.

Stage 5: The Transitioning Carer

Perhaps your loved one has recovered, or maybe it’s just their time. Either way, a transition is taking place, and the end is your caregiver role is near. For many, hospice and other end-of-life care options have become bigger focal points. This may mean additional learning curves to understand the process better.

The transition here isn’t just about your role but how you approach things with your patient. Rather than focusing on healthcare concerns, there is a greater emphasis on the love and comfort you can provide.

When it comes to your own needs, stage five is when you’ll need to start to lean on others and plan how you will need to process grief when appropriate. Having the right people in your corner when your loved one’s time comes is essential to seeing through the process as smoothly as possible.

Stage 6: The Godspeed Carer

After everything you’ve been through, your job as an elderly caregiver has finally come to an end. This timeline will vary for everyone, but the information you now possess from first-hand experience continues to be highly valuable to others. Providing family members and friends with the lessons, tips, and resources you’ve gained through your experience helps others complete their own journey in a fulfilling way.

How To Be a Good Caregiver

The qualifications for caregiver roles for the elderly change from state to state on a professional level, but that’s just the technical side of things. While important, family caregivers are going to lean on the other traits of a caregiver if they are going to help their loved ones.

Tangible skills can come over time, and the technical side of things is still good to learn. Understanding the basics of first aid, learning more about the health conditions of your patient so that you can be more attentive, and knowing how to navigate the healthcare system are all necessary. But being a good caregiver goes a bit deeper.

Develop Your Emotional Skills

Emotional intelligence (EI or EQ) is arguably the most underrated of the skills you’ll need as an elderly caregiver. Often used in the world of business, make no mistake: EI is invaluable for family caregivers. This is because while its scope can encompass many different aspects, at its core, EI is going to deal with being able to manage your own emotions and read the emotions of others.

You can’t have empathy and compassion and provide care, excluding these qualities if you don’t first have control of your own emotions. Furthermore, you won’t adequately meet the needs of your patients if you are unable to assess what they need from you.

Provide Support, Love, and Care

All too often, the burden of healthcare becomes the sole focal point of caregiving, and this is a mistake. Not only is this incorrect, but you’ll add unneeded stress to you and your loved one in your care by doing so. There are doctors, nurses, and professional caregivers, more on that in a bit, but your job as a central support system should not be overlooked.

Providing care, often at the cost of personal sacrifice and without compensation, is essential for any senior caregiver. The emotional side of things for your patient is going to require love and care that only family can provide. Being there for them as your loved ones are facing difficult decisions, typically near the end of their life, is key.

Delegate to Experts

You’re going to need to learn new things and develop skills outside of the norm when caring for a loved one. However, it’s important to have self-awareness of what skills are better off left to those who are experts. When necessary, don’t forget to stick to your game plan and allow others to help, both within your family and those who are a part of your loved one’s healthcare team professionally.

Taking care of loved ones can be rewarding, however, caregiver stress is a real issue pressing for those taking on the role. Be sure to read our guide’s next chapter to help you overcome stress points with tips and resources.