 Health & Nutrition
Thoughts on
Aging
Caregiving: Seeing the care receiver as a whole person - June 2, 2011
(1 minutes: 47 seconds)
 WMA (audio
only)
Audio/Video Script:
Dr. LaVona Traywick
Assistant Professor - Gerontology
[Announcer] Welcome to Thoughts on Aging with Dr. LaVona Traywick,
Assistant Professor of Gerontology with the University of Arkansas Division of
Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service.
[Dr. LaVona Traywick] A primary concern in formal and informal caregiving relationships is the
failure of caregivers to fully understand and treat the care receiver as a whole
person. While many caregivers provide quality care and demonstrate warm
relationships, others treat older adults like objects or medical charts due to
frailty, behavior problems, decline and dependence. In order to work with and
provide compassionate care to an older adult, caregivers require a range of
knowledge.
It is important for caregivers to know a person’s medical condition,
physical needs, and psychological status. In addition, caregivers should be
familiar with a care receiver’s identity and personality, family and social
history, and future medical wishes. Such knowledge can be gained when caregivers
and receivers work together to document and record personal life and health
histories.
Proper understanding of life story and health history is linked to
enhanced caregiving relationships for both the caregiver and care receiver.
Positive relationships lead to higher levels of caregiving satisfaction and
well-being.
[Announcer] Thank you for listening to Thoughts on Aging with Dr. LaVona
Traywick. To learn more about this and other topics, contact your local county
Cooperative Extension Service office.
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