A caregiver or carer is an unpaid or paid person who helps another individual who has an impairment with his or her activities of daily living. A person may need care due to loss of health, loss of memory, the onset of illness, an incident (or risk) of falling, anxiety or depression, grief, or a disabling condition. Without this home-care, most of these loved ones would require permanent placement in institutions or health care facilities at a great cost.

Despite facing serious health and social risks as a result of stress associated with continuous caregiving, the carers at Ithembalethu Outreach Project tend to put the needs of others ahead of their own.

These ladies often gladly go beyond the call of duty. They don’t just offer home based care; they also often partner with the Department of Social Development to supply vulnerable children and orphans with food parcels, school uniforms and toiletries. The Ithembalethu Outreach Project team also run a soup kitchen, which forms part of a feeding scheme and operates from Monday to Friday weekly.

Their typical duties might include managing medications, helping to bathe or dress someone who is frail or disabled or taking care of household chores or preparing meals for someone who cannot do these things alone. The role of caregiver has been increasingly recognised as an important one, both functionally and economically. “A fundamental part of giving care is being a good communicator with the person getting care.

“Care is given with respect for the dignity of the person receiving care. In the course of giving care, the caregiver is responsible for managing hygiene of themselves, the person receiving care, the living environment and their health also needs to be monitored in a reasonable way,’ explained Sister Maureen Aron from Ithembalethu Outreach Project.