The Fundamental Concepts of Caregiving: Caregiving Is More Than a Career; It Is a Process of Building a Relationship

The Fundamental Concepts of Caregiving is uniquely written to address the current and future concerns about caregiving in America and what is needed to enhance the care recipient and caregiver relationship. It provides research-based information on caregiving in America and other countries. This book also recommends practical, logical, and system-thinking approaches to caregiving that are based on the author’s twenty-four years of experience, knowledge, training, and passion as a caregiver. The book discusses why caregiving is a unique career and an opportunity to demonstrate one’s humanity to others. It also discusses why caregiving is more than a career but a process of building a relationship by considering the following: barriers to caregiving; the Push and Pull Approach; the roles of care recipient and caregiver; the roles of stakeholders and provider agencies; diversity; interconnected support teams; staff training; polarization; the political and social determinants of health; abuse; and system thinking.

This book will help readers understand the values and responsibilities of a caregiver and guide them on how to develop a lasting working relationship with care recipients. The book is a practical tool for executives of provider agencies, directors of home health care agencies, direct support employees, and care recipients and their family members.

Murphy Vatikeh Sirleaf Anderson is an advocate of community organization and the promotion of social justice, equality, human dignity, and freedom for all. He is the current director of programs for the Association of Liberian Lutherans in the Americas (ALLIA) and the former chairman of the Board of Directors of ALLIA and Liberians in Columbus, Inc. (LICI). He is a member of the National Black MBA Association and the Capital University and Central Michigan University Alumni Associations, and is a case manager with Franklin County Department/State of Ohio.