While professional caregivers certainly exist, most people who shoulder the responsibility of caring for someone else do so out of familial or personal obligations, with little or no compensation, as informal caregivers.
In many countries in Asia, the family unit is the primary long-term caregiver and an important resource for persons with specific needs, whether physical or mental disability, chronic diseases or age. With life expectancy rising due to improved healthcare systems and increased investment in healthcare, there is an expected increased reliance on professional and informal caregiving services to support the expanding elderly population for years to come.
In 2020, there was additional pressure from streamlining resources to accommodate the influx of Covid-19 patients and the suspension of “non-essential” services, including senior activity centres, dementia daycare centres, and outreach rehabilitation programs. As a result, many patients are experiencing a severe disruption in their usual care. More and more people are stepping into the role of caregiver for the first time and providing longer hours of caregiving due to decreased psychosocial support from more structured or professional support services.
Caregiver burden is the caregivers' challenges concerning their physical and emotional well-being, family relations, and work and financial status. While caregiving, more often than not, stems from a place of selflessness, the toll it takes on the caregiver cannot be underestimated. The hours are long and sometimes indefinite, and a caregiver’s responsibilities strain them physically and mentally.
Without proper care or attention to their well-being, caregivers run the risk of burnout (a state of physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion) in the long term, with more and more caregivers reporting depression, anxiety, and elevated stress. Coupled with the fact that most care recipients were more susceptible to Covid-19, i.e. those who were immunocompromised and the elderly, paranoia and anxiety levels within caregivers were skyrocketing.
Considering the mounting pressures on caregivers, their health and well-being have become a major concern, requiring more attention from healthcare professionals, policymakers and peers.
Care for caregivers
Despite the negative effects of long-term caregiving, many can be alleviated partially through:
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Caregiver education and support programs run by local organisations and support groups.
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Delegating caregiving duties to other family members or looking into respite care* provided by professional caregiving services to reduce the burden.
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Consulting with a professional about any questions and concerns regarding treatment for the person being cared for, as well as advice on caregiver health and how to take better care of themselves.
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Financial support to alleviate the economic stress of caregiving.
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Early intervention screening for caregivers.
It is important to recognise the physical and psychological signs of a caregiving burden and to take swift action once these symptoms arise. While it is easy to get swept away by the pressing need to provide constant care, it is important for caregivers to remember that the state of their health will also affect the quality of care they can provide. Taking care of their needs and the person being cared for isn’t an easy balancing act, but it is necessary.
*An example of a care service provider with respite care services is Homage, which works with care recipients with mobility and medical conditions.
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