A "caregiver" or "carer" "attends to the needs of a child or an adult." In Old French, "carriera" meant "street;" in Medieval Latin, "(via) carraria" was "road for carts." in Latin, "carrus" was a "Galic type of wagon." In all these meanings, the word "care" is related to a journey. If we think of the role of "caregiver" as designated driver of a vehicle on a journey that can take one in many directions, with alternative decision-making options, rather than as one road, then the role becomes richer, more variable, and open to exploration, learning, and infinite possibilities for both enhancing the care of loved one, for self-care, and for deepening family relationships.
This interpretation may seem absurd to many who are in the midst of the caregiving process and who hope for one day to be free of caregiving responsibilities and the need to solve problems collectively with other members of the family support team. However, as boomers (who comprise the largest sector of the population in Western society) grow older, the caregiving role is becoming increasingly important. When aging relatives pass, family members and other loved ones in our own generation will need care. In addition, we shall spend more and more time caring for our own aging needs.
"Career" is the "progression of one's working life or one's professional achievements." It can include both paid and unpaid work. "Caregiving" is a career that includes both responsibility and the opportunity for self-development and shared growth with other members of the caregiving team.
Family members usually don't address caregiving needs until we are thrown into a caregiving situation out of necessity. At this point, it's all "on the job," "by the seat of our pants" training. Family members who have not had a working relationship with each other are thrown together to solve problems that require immediate attention. Family dynamics, such as "expected role in family," and issues, such as "balancing work/personal life and caregiving needs," "asset distribution," and "senior move management," throw family members into unfamiliar territory or back to family relationship dynamics that were never addressed in the past.
The Family Caregiver Counselor Certificate was created to provide counselors with the skills and knowledge to help family caregivers work in collaboration with a support team to provide positive, high quality care for the loved one and to take care of themselves in the process. Whether paid or unpaid, the role of family caregiver is an honorable career in the true sense of the word.
