What is the term used for the person that a carer is looking after?
I was doing some research into the role of carers in the community and wanted to differentiate between carers, the people that they look after and also someone who is/was a carer and is now being looked after by a carer as well.
Since I couldn't find any references to the word "caree", I assume that there is some other term that is used?
UPDATE
I seem to see the term 'recipient' used in some of the organizations that provide services for carers and the people that they care for.
Solution 1:
I can only speak for my experience here in the UK and our situation where care is provided by small Companies rather than a public body. The company would always use the term Client for the person they are caring for.
It becomes a little more difficult when the carer is looking after a friend or family member - or even if they are giving more personal care on a one-to-one basis, when "Client" seems too impersonal, but we don't really have a better term to use.
"Ward" is very old-fashioned in British English and is never used today except in formal legal contexts.
Solution 2:
It depends upon the relationship:
Ward or charge for a person who is the caretaker of someone where guardianship is the primary nature of the relationship. There may or may not be a financial component to this relationship.
Client or patient if the arrangement is more health/wellness based. If the caretaker is a lay person, (e.g. a home aide) I'd use client. If a nurse or other medically trained professional, then patient is more appropriate.
Solution 3:
The most frequent term is the admittedly awkward and ugly "the cared-for".
Law for social workers has hundreds of instances.
It seems Google Book's viewer has recently made it impossible to copy and paste snippets.
It is recognized by some dictionaries, at least.
cared-for
1 adj
having needed care and attention
“well- cared-for children”
Synonyms: attended, tended to
having a caretaker or other watcherhttps://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/cared-for