What is caregiver training?
Caregiver training is when a physiotherapist shows the people who help at home, such as a spouse, child or foreign domestic helper, how to assist safely. It covers moving in bed, standing up, walking, getting in and out of a chair or the car, and exercises to encourage.
It is practical, done on the person’s own bed and stairs, with the caregiver trying each move.
Why does it matter for a patient or family?
Most of the work of rehabilitation happens between visits, with the people at home. A well-trained caregiver can help the patient practise safely, while a poorly trained one risks falls and a back injury of their own.
It also reduces worry. Knowing exactly what to do and what to avoid makes the day calmer for both sides.
What do we learn?
- How to guide a movement without lifting.
- How to use a gait belt, slide sheet or aid, if recommended.
- How to set up the bed, chair and bathroom.
- What to watch for, and when to call a doctor or us.
- How to protect your own back and take breaks.
An everyday example in Ipoh
A foreign domestic helper cares for an elderly man after a stroke in a Greentown house while the family is at work. The physiotherapist teaches her, in simple words and with demonstrations, how to roll him, sit him up and help him stand from the bed.
The family records short videos of each step on their phones for reference, and the helper practises with the physiotherapist watching until she feels confident.
Related terms and our pages
- Bed mobility: rolling, moving up the bed and sitting up.
- Discharge plan: the hospital’s plan for going home.
Read about caregiver participation, helper training for patient care, caregiver strain and back care and back pain after lifting a parent.