Care for the Caregiver Program
The role of healthcare professionals is fundamental in patient care; they bring the knowledge and expertise to treat illnesses. However, achieving treatment progress, recovery, and evolution would be challenging without the support of caregivers.
Who Is the Caregiver?
“The caregiver is someone who assists or cares for another person affected by any disability, impairment, or incapacity that hinders or prevents the normal development of their vital activities or social relationships” (National School of Nursing and Obstetrics, National Autonomous University of Mexico). At Clínica CES, depending on the clinical condition, patients must have a caregiver who is entrusted with the responsibility of helping preserve the patient’s life during their hospital stay and at home.
Maria Alejandra Bohórquez, Head of User Experience at our Institution, explains that the User Attention Office emphasizes the importance of the caregiver’s role in comprehensive patient management. Their duties and responsibilities are guided by the nursing service and vary according to each patient’s needs.
Deison Ortiz Sosa, Nursing Director at Clínica CES, shares some caregiver responsibilities:
- Interact with the medical, nursing, and support teams about the patient’s clinical condition.
- Ensure the patient’s rights and duties are upheld.
- Contribute to the patient’s recreation: guided reading, audiobooks, painting mandalas, writing, and more.
- Continue routines established by respiratory therapy, speech therapy, and physical therapy to facilitate a safe and effective discharge plan.
- Ensure information from hospital progress updates is shared with other family members.
- Assist with passive and early movement.
- Alert the medical, nursing, and support staff about changes in the patient’s behavior, increased pain, physiological needs, or other requirements.
- Support the patient’s cognitive recovery through anti-delirium measures, such as showing the time on a clock, playing the radio, opening curtains, and orienting them to time and space.
- Make decisions if the patient deems it necessary, is conscious and oriented, or in case of an emergency.
Programa Cuidado al Cuidador
At Clínica CES, we offer the Care for the Caregiver Program, designed for caregivers of patients with chronic or terminal illnesses and COVID-19-positive patients. This program aims to enhance caregivers’ skills, mental health, and recognition of their role. It empowers them through self-care guidelines and emotional expression, enabling them to perform their duties more effectively and with greater quality.
The Care for the Caregiver Program provides comprehensive education through educational and reflective workshops with professionals from various fields, including social work, nursing, medicine, user experience, psychology, and psychiatry. By doing so, it contributes to more humanized care and, consequently, to the overall well-being of patients and their environment.
Access the Caregiver Guide here:
If you need more information as a caregiver, contact the User Attention Office via email at atencionalusuario@clinicaces.edu.co
