A caregiver is a person who has taken on the responsibility of looking after someone unable to care for himself or herself fully due to illness, frailty, disability or a mental health problem. This person could be a family member, partner, relative, friend, or neighbour.
Caregiving Journey and Resources
Providing care is a voyage marked by unexpected challenges and changes. Over time, the conditions and choices related to care will evolve. Caregivers, especially those without experience or knowledge about the specific needs of the care recipient, require guidance and information. This includes understanding the caregiver’s role, navigating through various stages of caregiving, and recognising signs that loved ones may require assistance. Eldercare can result in burnout without access to support services. Knowledge and guidance from such sources provide ample relief to a caregiver over time. Such services are available offline and online. Click on this link to access support services by SCCL.
Overview of Caregiving Roles and Responsibilities
A carer may provide support in many ways. This may be
- Personal care by assisting with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, and feeding.
- Medical care by helping administer and monitor medication and equipment, including accompanying patients on hospital visits. This will also include ensuring safety against falls and accidents.
- Psychosocial Support: Offering companionship, empathy, and comforting support during stress.
- Domestic assistance: Undertaking domestic tasks like meal preparation, maintaining cleanliness, managing laundry, and performing grocery shopping to safeguard the comfort and welfare of the individual receiving care.
- Care Plan: Assistance in coordinating and implementing care plans with family and healthcare providers.
- Managing finances and legal and future needs include daily expenses, insurance, property, and arranging for advance care planning and lasting power of attorney following the care recipient’s preferences.
The responsibilities vary with the support you get from other family members or formal help. However, it is a challenging role to fulfil, especially over a long period, unless you identify them and prepare accordingly.
Common Challenges and Stressors Faced by Caregivers
Acknowledging challenges and stressors is crucial in accepting support services and accessing resources to help carers cope with the demands of their role. Support groups, respite care, and access to information and assistance can significantly alleviate caregiver stress.
Some common difficulties faced could be:
- Financial: The costs associated with caregiving, including medical expenses, medications, and potential loss of work hours, can create financial strain for caregivers and their families. This, in addition to the unpredictable nature of the care recipient’s condition, coupled with uncertainty about the future, can contribute to stress and anxiety. Planning and knowing the options and reliefs available from the government will help reduce the carer stress.
- Emotional Strain: Caregivers often experience emotional stress due to witnessing the health decline of their loved one, dealing with their own emotions, and managing the potential loss. This is worsened by balancing caregiving with other life roles, such as being a parent or employee, which can lead to role strain and feeling overwhelmed. More often than not, caregivers often juggle multiple responsibilities, such as managing medications, coordinating medical appointments, and handling household tasks, which can be overwhelming. Effective communication with healthcare professionals, family members, and the care recipient can be challenging, adding to the caregiver’s stress.
- Physical Demands: The inability to deal with the physical aspects of caregiving, such as lifting, assisting with mobility, and providing hands-on care, can lead to physical exhaustion and strain. Lack of adequate knowledge of different types of caregiving (e.g., eldercare, individuals with disabilities, etc.) may lead to additional physical stress on the body, leading to caregivers’ ill health.
- Time Constraints: Caregivers often find themselves with limited time for personal activities, work, and socialising due to the demands of caregiving, leading to feelings of isolation. This also leads to caregivers struggling to find time for themselves, leading to burnout. Lack of respite care or breaks can exacerbate stress levels.
- Work-Home life balance: Click on this link Recommendations for healthy work-home life balance.
Coping with Grief for Caregivers
Caregivers often develop strong emotional connections with those under their care. When a care recipient passes away or experiences a decline in health, caregivers may grapple with grief. This grief can manifest in various forms, including feelings of sadness, loss, guilt, or even relief. Caregivers may mourn the shifts in the health and well-being of the person they were looking after, and they may also confront the impact of the caregiving experience on their own lives. Effectively coping with grief involves recognising and comprehending these emotions, allowing oneself to grieve, seeking support from others, and discovering healthy avenues to process and express the sentiments associated with loss. Caregivers need to acknowledge their grief, as neglecting these emotions can lead to burnout and negatively affect their well-being.
Resource Awareness
This is crucial as it enhances the quality of care given by caregivers while reducing carer stress by building awareness of solutions to potential issues that may come up. Awareness also includes knowledge of the ailment that the care recipient is facing. Click on the General Resources section for more information.