Caregiver vs nurse
Do you need a caregiver or a home nurse?
Many families search for a "home nurse" when what their loved one mostly needs is a caring, reliable person to help with daily life. Here's an honest guide to the difference — and exactly what I do.
A caregiver (what I provide)
- Bathing, grooming, dressing, toileting and continence care
- Helping with walking, getting in and out of bed or a chair, preventing falls
- Preparing simple meals, helping with feeding and drinking enough
- Reminding the client to take medication their doctor already prescribed
- Noticing changes (appetite, mood, confusion, breathing) and telling the family straight away
- Companionship, conversation, light exercise suggested by a physio
- Accompanying to appointments and keeping notes for the family
- Overnight or respite cover so family members can rest
A registered nurse or doctor
- Injections, drips (IV lines) and setting up or adjusting oxygen
- Wound dressing, pressure-sore treatment, catheter and tube care
- Starting, stopping or changing any medication or dose
- Clinical assessment, diagnosis and treatment decisions
- Managing complex conditions that need clinical monitoring
In Kenya, nursing is a regulated profession. Only nurses registered and licensed by the Nursing Council of Kenya may practise nursing. If your loved one needs these tasks, ask their doctor or hospital about a licensed home-nursing service — I can work alongside them for the everyday care.
Which one does my family need?
If your loved one is medically stable but needs help with daily living, company, or someone reliable while family is at work or abroad, a caregiver is usually the right fit — and more affordable than a nurse for long hours.
If they have open wounds, need injections, or their condition is changing quickly, involve a registered nurse or doctor first. Often the best setup is a nurse who visits for clinical tasks, and a caregiver for everything in between.
In an emergency, call 999 or 112 or go to the nearest hospital.
