Paid caregiver for disabled family member- clinical?

[elloL]

Hi,

I'm an alternate caregiver through a healthcare organization for my grandmother, meaning that I help care for her in medical (take her insulin, blood pressure medication, help with physical therapy, etc) and non-medical roles (drive her to appointments, facilitate communication because she doesn't speak English, walk up and downstairs). I am part of her team, including a nurse and her primary caregiver, my mother. I do these things often, but I am an "official" caregiver for her when my mother decides to take a break 7 days a year and I am primarily in charge of her and am paid for these days. I am about to start my second shift as an alternate caregiver this year and will have about 140 hours at the end of it. I don't know if I should list it in my activities sheet, since it's for my grandmother, and if so, is it considered clinical? I ask because I have about 200 clinical hours and 400 nonclinical hours, so I would prefer to list it as being clinical.

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[Doctor-S]

Hi,

I'm an alternate caregiver through a healthcare organization for my grandmother, meaning that I help care for her in medical (take her insulin, blood pressure medication, help with physical therapy, etc) and non-medical roles (drive her to appointments, facilitate communication because she doesn't speak English, walk up and downstairs). I am part of her team, including a nurse and her primary caregiver, my mother. I do these things often, but I am an "official" caregiver for her when my mother decides to take a break 7 days a year and I am primarily in charge of her and am paid for these days. I am about to start my second shift as an alternate caregiver this year and will have about 140 hours at the end of it. I don't know if I should list it in my activities sheet, since it's for my grandmother, and if so, is it considered clinical? I ask because I have about 200 clinical hours and 400 nonclinical hours, so I would prefer to list it as being clinical.

This is a topic that might be subject to differing opinions, by different individuals, including various adcoms. Just saying.

First, according to AAMC:

"Serving as a caretaker for an ill family member can provide first-hand experience with the types of challenges patients can face when dealing with chronic illness, such as the costs of obtaining medication, the impacts of nutrition on patient health, and the difficulties of scheduling and attending medical appointments. Some students have developed empathy as they supported family members in this way, and have shared this experience on their application or personal statement." [see Five Ways to Gain Experience Without Shadowing]

Second, please be aware:

1. Some adcoms contend that a family member, who is caring for another family member, is making a personal and benevolent choice to provide caregiving services to their family member, for the greater good of the family member who needs the caregiving services. It's a benevolent family expectation.

2. Other adcoms contend that the delivery of caregiving services to a family member is an experience that may be listed as a clinical or non-clinical experience, depending on the totality of the circumstances. It is an "experience." As noted by AAMC above, this service may be a topic of discussion in a personal statement as a meaningful first-hand experience with the types of challenges patients can face when dealing with chronic illness.

Here are my general comments:

Based on the actual wording in your post, it sounds as if your "paid hours" can be listed as "clinical employment" because you are receiving financial compensation from a healthcare organization in exchange for providing services to your grandmother (the patient). In other words, you are a "paid employee" of the healthcare organization that is providing professional care to your grandmother.

No matter what (and if you have not already done so in connection with the 200 clinical hours you already mentioned in your post) ... it is advisable to obtain additional clinical experience with patients (who are not solely family members) to demonstrate you have a greater understanding and appreciation of the breadth, depth and responsibilities of a physician who is expected to provide care, advice and treatment to patients of different demographics, including patients who are impoverished, homeless, less fortunate, etc. Suggest you obtain some of those types of clinical hours, too.

Thank you.

 

[Goro]

My take: You're a good grandchild, but you're supposed to take care of loved ones.

It's taking care of strangers that we want to see.

 

[elloL]

Makes sense! Thank you both!

 

[chemistry hahgdgjjhdf]

Makes sense! Thank you both!

I emailed schools that I wanted to apply to and asked them about this. I was a personal support worker/caregiver for my cousin that has Cerebral palsy. Most schools said yes this is clinical experience and some said no. I would probably find other clinical experience to go with it. I currently work in hospice so that was my way of showing them I am passionate about taking care of non-family members also. Hospice is a great experience and you learn a lot from it. i would recommend it if you need more clinical experience.

 

[elloL]

I emailed schools that I wanted to apply to and asked them about this. I was a personal support worker/caregiver for my cousin that has Cerebral palsy. Most schools said yes this is clinical experience and some said no. I would probably find other clinical experience to go with it. I currently work in hospice so that was my way of showing them I am passionate about taking care of non-family members also. Hospice is a great experience and you learn a lot from it. i would recommend it if you need more clinical experience.

I actually had hospice volunteering that I was supposed to start last spring, but it was canceled due to covid *sigh*

 

[Tenk]

So unless you tell a school that you’re taking care of your grandmother it could technically be a HIPAA violation for them to find out. Also, why would they inquire about this to begin with, they would have no logical reason to since it’s a position through a company so the chance of you taking care of a family member is like 1:1,000,000.

I’d list it and talk about it and just not mention it was a family member.

 

[Banco]

I agree with above, why ever say it was your grandmother? You have an official position through a firm doing this. How you managed to set up such a situation is bewildering to me (is your grandmother paying this firm that in then pays you...?). Either way, no need to specify who it is.

 

[elloL]

I agree with above, why ever say it was your grandmother? You have an official position through a firm doing this. How you managed to set up such a situation is bewildering to me (is your grandmother paying this firm that in then pays you...?). Either way, no need to specify who it is.

It's through the government, and no payments are made for the arrangement.

 

[chemistry hahgdgjjhdf]

I actually had hospice volunteering that I was supposed to start last spring, but it was canceled due to covid *sigh*

Oh man that sucks, I’m sorry.