This month marks the 17th Anniversary since the Caregiving Welfare Association (CWA) has been set up, so that we can recognise, support and empower caregivers of the silver generation. Change is inevitable in life, and over the years, the climate of caregiving and even CWA has evolved. I would like to take this moment to revisit the importance of caring for our caregivers and the elderly, and reflect on the role that all of us have to play in caregiving despite a climate of change.
What are some of these many changes? Over the years, families have gradually become smaller, and so have living spaces. The responsibility of care naturally becomes distributed amongst less people, and it is increasingly more difficult to expect the family unit to be the sole source of support for both caregivers and the elderly. The elderly also often live alone or with a domestic worker, which can further worsen problems of isolation. More resources also need to be put in to maintain environmental safety and monitoring. Over the years, we have become increasingly digitized, which is a double-edged sword – for some, having to deal with technology can be bewildering and upsetting. On the other hand, technology is already increasingly being used to help with aspects of safety monitoring of the elderly, timely access to medical care, medication reminders and keeping socially connected, among many others.
Challenges that Caregivers face
The rigours of life sometimes put us in a place where we compartmentalize ourselves in terms of work, personal commitments and family. For a caregiver however, the role of caregiving remains overarching amidst all the other duties and daily activities such as juggling with jobs, children and social activities. Unsurprisingly, this often leads to tremendous difficulties in many areas for the caregiver. It is important therefore that caregivers should have the necessary support systems in place, so that they do not need to feel like they are alone in this labour of love.
Caregiver burnout is not uncommon, and can lead to difficult emotions such as anger, resentment and guilt over our loved ones. It is very often a lonely undertaking, and many are unaware of the vast breadth of resources and help that are available. Left unaddressed, these difficult emotions can negatively impact the emotional health of caregivers, predisposing them to conditions such as anxiety, depression and physical health problems.
Caregiving is also physically taxing for families. Many of our seniors have mobility problems, and require assistance in transfers, walking, showering and even eating. These can be further complicated by medical issues, such as frequent toileting in the middle of the night or day-night reversal symptoms in dementia. Caregivers often find themselves physically exhausted and lacking even basic sleep, and many end up having to forgo self-care and their own social interactions as a result. Unfortunately, these further add on and perpetuate a vicious cycle leading to worsening caregiver stress and burnout.
Finally, caregiving can lead to significant financial strain. In addition to regular expenses such as medications and doctors’ visits, there can be other unexpected financial expenditures such as medical emergencies. Some of the elderly also require physical modifications or mobility aids, or even dedicated transport services. These add up to significant amounts over time.
Changing to better support our Caregivers
CWA as an organisation has also evolved over time. CWA was formed many years ago (initially known as Caregiving Counselling Welfare Association before our name change in 2010) in order to be a focal resource to support caregivers and provide them with resources and knowledge. In that same year, the Caregiver Support Group was set up so that caregivers can come together to share and learn how other caregivers have coped with similar difficulties.
Over the years, CWA has expanded the scope of our services to direct eldercare services to help them age better, as maintaining the independence of seniors is another important aspect of alleviating the stress on caregivers. In addition, avoiding premature or unnecessary institutionalisation often provides a higher quality of life and medical outcomes for the seniors.
One key challenge many caregivers face is having the practical help they need at home, and therefore the CWA Home Nursing Care and the Eldersitter Program were initiated in 2013 and 2015 respectively. These programs were later consolidated under CWA’s Home Personal Care service in order to provide comprehensive and personalised care that fits the needs of the elderly and their families. Under the Home Personal Care service, CWA has focused on training local Community Caregivers who are able to communicate effectively with the seniors that they help to care for. Currently, the Home Personal Care service covers a wide range of services including assistance with basic care and toileting, companionship and social engagement, and accompanying them for appointments. In short, these are tasks that our Community Caregivers and volunteers take over from time to time, so that the family caregivers can have periods of respite to focus on other things that matter as well.
We have also focused on public education and raising public awareness through forums such as the Annual Caregivers’ Week since its inauguration in 2016. In addition to talks, the Caregivers’ Week also consists of workshops that help caregivers alleviate stress and frustration. We have also launched the Community Outreach Program where our volunteers conduct home visits to identify isolated and vulnerable seniors and encourage them to be socially engaged through the activities provided at CWA Centre. In Nov 2017, CWA launched the Caregivers’ Sanctuary located at the National University Hospital Medical Centre to bridge the transition from hospital care to home care.
Unexpected Changes and Changes of the future
In the last year or so, one significant aspect of change was brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Our generous supporters and donors have helped us tremendously in raising funds that keep our programs running, via different means such as online donation platforms. Our staff and volunteers have also tapped on available resources such as making periodic calls to seniors under our care, to keep in touch and to ensure that any emergent needs are met. For Caregivers’ Week 2020, we adapted to the times by bringing the event online instead. One aspect that the pandemic has highlighted is the importance of this human touch and connectedness. In the course of my clinical work, I have seen unfortunate seniors that have suffered and deteriorated as a result of reduced physical contact and social activities. This really brings to light a magic beyond what we do in science and medicine – the importance of having caregivers and services as a part of their lives.
It is my hope that CWA’s services will continue to evolve for the better, even as things around us change over time. But at the same time, we need to preserve the core of why we do what we do, and from time to time revisit our mission to address the needs of both caregivers and seniors. Despite any changes that happen down the road, we will still strive to meet their unmet needs, tap judiciously on new and emerging resources such as technology, while maintaining the core essence of a human connection to let caregivers and seniors know that they are not alone in this journey.
Dr Tan Hong Yee
President
Caregiving Welfare Association
All information is accurate at the time of publishing.