Caregivers who take care of aging loved ones say they often perform some kind of medical care, like changing bandages or inserting catheters, but many don’t have the proper training.

In a recent survey of long term caregivers by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, nearly half perform some kind of medical care, but only 47 percent say they got most or all of the training needed to do the job.

Heather Mulder is with Banner Alzheimer’s institute. She said, besides creating more awareness within the medical community, a caregiver has to be an advocate:

"And so if they’re getting put into a situation where they have to insert a catheter, or what have you, they need to push back on the medical provider and say 'Whoa, I don’t know how to do this. Can you show me how to do this? Where do I need to go to properly do this?'" Mudler said.

Despite those challenges, more than nine in 10 call their care-giving experience worthwhile.

Mulder said she’s not surprised by that, adding that many feel a sense of duty or honor to care for someone in need.

You can learn more about the many aging issues facing Arizonans with KJZZ's series: "The State of Aging in the Valley."