Clarifying the definition of 'primary' caregiver in the context of in-home elder care.

Our family assumed the meaning of Primary referred to one person designated to manage Mom's care - one person in the role and taking on the responsibility of Mom's caregiving needs.

A list of caregiving areas of knowledge:

1. Medical

   1. Doctor

      1. Booking, attending appointments

      2. Carrying out instructions

         1. Lab Appointments

   2. Home Visit Nurse

      1. Carrying out instructions

   3. Palliative Care Registry

      1. Periodic review

         1. Fielding nurse phone calls, answering questions

      2. Shift to long term home based care

         1. income assessment

         2. benefits change

            1. red cross adjustable bed

   4. Chronic Care

      1. COPD medications

         1. Spiriva

         2. Altavent

         3. Ventolin

         4. Hydromorphone

      2. COPD Pneumonia

         1. monitoring for changes in breathing

         2. administering appropriate medication combinations

         3. monitoring for weakness

            1. fall prevention

      3. Low Blood Pressure

         1. monitoring for dizzyness

         2. fall prevention

   5. Infections

      1. urinary tract infection

         1. monitoring for infection

            1. confusion

            2. weakness

            3. fall prevention

   6. Prescriptions

      1. Daily Administration

      2. Liaising w/ Pharmacist

         1. infection medications

         2. weekly deliveries

         3. medication renewal

      3. Pick up from pharmacy

2. Dental

   1. Denture care

      1. Daily teeth in / out

      2. Polident supply

   2. Denture replacement - not applicable at this time

      1. Denture fit - changes to mouth shape over time

3. Personal Hygiene

   1. Daily personal care

      1. Personal Caregiver (BC Health)

         1. infection prevention

         2. feeling / looking / smelling fresh

         3. scheduled visits

            1. receiving (variable arrival times, different personnel)

      2. Assisting w/ bathroom functions

4. Diet

   1. Nutrition

   2. Cooking

   3. Grocery Shopping

   4. Regular meal times

5. Exercise

   1. Physiotherapy exercises

   2. Getting outside

      1. Fresh air

      2. Wheelchair walks

6. Social Connections

   1. Family / friends visits

      1. Food / beverage

      2. Games

      3. Music

      4. Reading aloud

      5. Wheelchair walks

      6. Storytelling

7. Enrichment

   1. Cooking / reading recipes

   2. Dogs - observing, companionship

   3. Playing music

   4. Reading aloud

   5. Watching home life

   6. Family dinners

   7. Out to the store to buy treats

   8. Watching favourite tv shows together

8. Clothing

   1. Fashionable

   2. Comfortable

   3. Easily washable

   4. Mom can dress herself - not too difficult

9. Shelter

   1. Mom's own room

   2. Shared common areas

   3. Bathroom modifications

10. Transportation

    1. Personal car

11. Safety and Security

    1. Covid protocols

    2. Covid vaccines

    3. Mobility - access to physician care (walk-in clinic; video call, nurse visit proxy)

12. Sleep

    1. Putting Mom to bed each evening

    2. Attending to Mom when she wakes up in the morning

       1. Teeth

       2. Tea

       3. Empty Commode

13. Banking / Finance

    1. Depositing cheques

    2. Payments from Mom's account

    3. Filing Mom's tax returns

    4. Compiling financial reports for caregiving institutions to qualify for care

14. Housekeeping

    1. Dishes, Laundry, Floors

    2. Bathroom cleaning

    3. Commode cleaning

15. Laundry

    1. Daily clothes, towels, wash cloths

    2. Weekly bed linens

    3. Intermittent - launder floor covers