Rights and responsibilities of caregivers: A guide for families

When the time comes for a family member to need additional help in daily life, one of the most important decisions is choosing the right caregiver for the elderly. In this blog, we help you understand what quality and lawful cooperation with a caregiver looks like, and how to ensure safety, dignity, and care for your loved ones.

Who is a caregiver, and what is their role?

An elderly caregiver is a professionally trained or practically experienced person who assists seniors in everyday activities: from personal hygiene, meal preparation, to administrative support and social companionship. Their role is not only technical but also emotional – they are often the only contact elderly people have outside their families, making them key in preserving mental stability and a sense of dignity.

Rights of caregivers

Although there is no specific law that regulates caregiving as a profession in detail, the working relationship between a family and a caregiver must respect basic legal principles:

1. Employment or service contract – Every engaged caregiver should have a clearly defined contract regulating payment, working hours, responsibilities, and duration of engagement.
2. Health insurance and contributions – If a caregiver is engaged for a longer period, the family is obliged to arrange contributions (or through an agency that manages this on their behalf).
3. Right to rest – Caregivers are entitled to breaks during the day, as well as days off in accordance with the agreement. Overtime work and on-call duties should be clearly defined and compensated.
4. Safe working environment – Caregivers have the right to safe working conditions, including appropriate premises, equipment, and interpersonal relations free of violence or pressure.

Responsibilities of caregivers

Just as families have obligations toward caregivers, caregivers also have clear responsibilities toward the care recipient:

1. Confidentiality – All information about the elderly person, their health, and privacy must be kept strictly confidential and not shared without permission.
2. Respect and dignity – Care for the elderly must be provided with deep respect for the care recipient. Caregivers must not make personal judgments or behave offensively.
3. Responsibility and reliability – Regular attendance, consistent task performance, and timely updates to the family about the condition of the care recipient are among the caregiver’s core duties.
4. Rejection of harmful behavior – A caregiver must never use alcohol, drugs, or act aggressively in contact with the elderly person.

How can families protect both themselves and the caregiver?

Today, more and more families decide to hire caregivers through specialized platforms or agencies that offer vetted candidates with licenses and experience. It is important to maintain a clear communication channel and a possibility for feedback. Regular conversations with the caregiver, keeping records of responsibilities and care plans, as well as support through platforms like NANA Prime, can significantly increase the level of safety and satisfaction.

Conclusion

Investing in quality eldercare is not an expense, but an expression of love, responsibility, and respect toward those who once cared for us. The rights and responsibilities of caregivers must be clearly defined in order to avoid misunderstandings and to ensure that all participants – care recipients, families, and caregivers – are satisfied and secure. By professionalizing this relationship, we build a society that treats its oldest members with the respect they deserve.