Giving an injection as a caregiver: first learn

Giving an injection to someone close to you is something you do not just do casually. First you learn exactly what is needed for that one injection and for that person. That prevents mistakes and makes care safer.

May you give an injection as a caregiver?

Some care is reserved, such as giving injections, administering insulin, or giving tube feeding. For professionals, strict rules apply. Those rules do not apply to you as a family member or caregiver.

So you are allowed to do such tasks. There is one condition, though. You must have enough knowledge and skill to do it properly and safely. So never do it just like that. First have the nurse or doctor explain and demonstrate it clearly. Practice together if necessary. Keep asking questions until you feel confident.

Are you unsure, or do you notice it is becoming too much for you? Then you do not have to do it. Discuss this with the district nurse or your general practitioner. Together you can then find a solution.

What do you need to learn first?

Before you take over anything, you need to know what you can do safely. First you learn exactly how it should be done. This is especially true for having someone else give insulin, using a glucose meter, and glucagon. Always have this explained by a professional before you start.

With diabetes, it is also important that you know which signs matter in your situation. Ask the diabetes nurse or doctor about this. Keep an up-to-date medication overview and contact details. Also agree on what your loved one does themselves, what you help with, and when professional help is called.

Do not use information from the internet to adjust doses or treatment. If you notice that the responsibility is becoming too great, discuss handing over tasks to home care or the diabetes team.

Who provides the explanation and training?

For diabetes, the diabetes nurse or doctor provides the explanation. For home hemodialysis, your loved one first receives training and guidance from the dialysis center. A partner or other loved one can help, but only after appropriate training.

Sometimes a nurse or district care worker helps out. That depends on the hospital and the time of the dialysis. That help is not an obvious duty.

The same principle applies to other medical procedures. Ask for clear instruction, practice, and backup. That way you know what you are doing and when to call for help.

When is it better to stop?

Stop before continuing too long. Do not wait until a procedure becomes unsafe. That is important with a muscle disease or increasing loss of strength, but also with other care that becomes more demanding.

If you notice that it asks too much of your body, that is a clear signal. Do not lift or move your loved one in a way that damages your body. You do not have to take over nursing or technical care as a matter of course. Ask in time for advice about aids, the home, and professional help.

An occupational therapist can look at how daily tasks can become less strenuous. Current providers of district nursing in Zoetermeer and independent client support can also help.

Who decides if your loved one cannot decide for themselves?

If your loved one can no longer make a decision properly themselves, they are called decisionally incapacitated for that subject. This applies per decision, not to everything at once. For example, someone may still be able to say what they want to eat, but not decide about surgery.

The doctor assesses whether someone can make a specific decision. If they cannot, the doctor looks at who decides on behalf of your loved one. The order is fixed. First a court-appointed representative, such as a guardian or mentor. Then a written authorized representative. Then the spouse or partner, a parent, a child, and finally a brother or sister.

The representative decides as much as possible in the way your loved one would have wanted it themselves. As a loved one, you may co-decide, but always in your loved one’s best interests.

What can you do if it concerns home care or transfer?

If the responsibility becomes too great, you can discuss this with home care or the diabetes team. If help is refused, you can also start small. A familiar face who just stops by can help. Or take over one task.

Sometimes it helps if someone else starts the conversation. That can be a family member, your general practitioner, or independent client support. At Mantelzorg Zoetermeer, you can discuss how to deal with the refusal and where you can find support yourself.

So with home care or transfer, it is all about clear agreements, a calm build-up, and asking for help in time.