Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
W9a (Mehta) Informal Caregiving Attitudes - Coggle Diagram
W9a (Mehta) Informal Caregiving Attitudes
Results
Stress
Financial, physical, emotional, psychological stressors
Examples
Lack of appreciation
Financial issues (especially if patient has no medical insurance)
Tensions
Between siblings => "burden" of caring for ageing parent
FDW adjustment to household routine and care recipient demands
Lack of cooperation, physical abuse, behavioural tantrums (dementia)
:arrow_up: level of mental and emotional stress while caring for dementia patient
Lack of knowledge in self-care and caregiving skills
:arrow_down: effectiveness & :arrow_up: risk of injury
Career and caregiving
resignation due to difficulties balancing both roles
failed to reduce caregiving stress
loss of self-identity through loss of work role
retiring early scaling down to part-time
not viable due to financial repercussions
Filial Responsibility
strong sense of fillial duty key motivator in caregiving
emotional closeness with care recipient
serves as stressor and driving force
no choice but to provide care
part of Asian cultural expectations and reciprocity
Foreign Domestic Worker
close to half employed FDW to care for older family member
caregivers were also working
8 in 20 families caring for older relative with dementia
Limitations
care recepient with dementia may not be tolerant of perceived foreign intruder
quarrels and tensions
language barriers between care recipients and FDWs
FDWs from Indonesia, Phillipines, Myanmmar
interpreters necessary to deal with miscommunications
poor adjustment of FDW and family leads to :arrow_up: friction and tension
Benefits
ensured safety of older family member
provided companionship and could be identified as socio-emotional resource for older person
brought older person for medical appointments
medication management
Coping with work and caregiving
FDW perspective
Struggles
sleep deprivation when care recipients slept poorly
stress from demanding behaviour of care recipients
Coping
prayers
common for FDWs with religious affiliations
Socialising
talking to friends
sharing and laughing about concerns
Skills Training
:arrow_up: caregiving effectiveness and competency
Stats for FDWs
only 5 had prior training before coming to SG
only 3 sent to formal caregiver's training in SG by employers
commonly learnt on the job from nurses and therapists when care recipients are hospitalised
mixed opinions on preferences for caring for children and elderly
some preferred elderly
elderly were less active
believed learning how to care for elderly would help them take care of parents in the future
Policy Implications
Education & Training
for caregivers
Singaporeans usually do not go for training until caregiving problems arise
difficult to encourage family members to undergo preparatory training for health deterioration of ageing family members
Current situation
Grants offered to caregivers (as well as FDWs) to undergo training
Encourage voluntary welfare organisations to offer training
important to educate younger generation to improve positive attitudes towards older people with chronic diseases
Financial Support
Current situation
Policies
Medishield LIFE
Eldershield
Mental Capacity Act
allows senior to appoint guardian while he/she is of sound mind
family first line of defence and main provider of support for older adults
Problems
lack of comprehensive suite of policies that focus on family caregiver needs
need for integrated policies that promote affordable schemes and services to support family
Public awareness
Current situation
50% of caregivers in full-time employment
FDWs
caregiving as paid work
required to work around the clock with no clear daily off-work time
Improvements
widespread education on age-related diseases (eg. dementia) and on ageing and health-related issues
improve colleague / employer understanding on work-life balance needs
Social Policies in SG
Stats
NTUC survey
77% of working caregivers do not have eldercare leave
62% of respondents did not have flexi work arrangements
MOH survey
74% of caregivers for sick/frail family members are working
Less than 10% of SG organisations provide paid family care leave
Civil service => max 2 days unrecorded leave for eldercare
Foreign Maid Scheme
allowed FDW employment for work in households
introduced in 1978
Benefits
major source of support for working primary caregivers
facilitated primary caregiver's continued employment
allowed older parents to continue to live at home and age-in-place