Caregiver Support

We often use the term caregiver, or simply carer, very generally. But, what is it exactly? By definition, a caregiver is anyone who provides care to another person in need. This person might be a child, an ageing parent, a spouse, or other members of the family. In some cases, the person needing care could be a friend or a neighbour. 

In the case of a professional caretaker, the person in need could be anyone whose family has sought outside help. As a professional carer, you might live in the person’s home or visit on a set schedule. You may also work in a nursing home or other care facility. While professional caregivers are in a slightly different situation than those caring for family members, they are every bit as susceptible to caregiver burnout and compassion fatigue.

Caregivers help those who struggle with various aspects of daily life. Their difficulty may be due to a young age or advanced age. The need for care might be a result of dementia, disability, or disease. 

In many cases, a carer is responsible for managing every aspect of a person’s daily life. This might include helping with everyday chores, bathing, eating, and managing medication. At a higher level, the level of responsibility can also extend to making health and financial decisions.

The Ministry of Health in Singapore defines a caregiver as anywho who assists an ill or disabled person who needs assistance with day-to-day activities. 

As Singapore is dealing with an ageing population, the number of caregivers is growing and it’s becoming a hot topic across the country. There is an increasing number of people over the age of 65 who need aid and ongoing care. This issue is likely to escalate as our population gets older. 

In 2010, the Ministry of Health started to collect data on caregivers in Singapore. In the National Health Survey 2010, they found that there are more than 210,000 caregivers in Singapore. That means that 8.1 per cent of Singaporeans between the ages of 18 and 69 are taking on the responsibility of a caregiver. These hard-working carers have accepted the physical and financial burdens of another person. Not only are more than eight per cent of us managing daily care but 37 per cent of caregivers have been coping with the responsibility for more than a decade. Amongst these caregivers, one in 25 of them are elderly themselves.

Looking at Singapore careers, we’ve found that they are slightly more likely to be female (with 45.7 per cent male caregivers and 54.3 per cent female caregivers) and are generally married (with 68.8 of carers stating they are currently married). 

As rewarding as caregiving can be, carers consistently report considerably higher levels of stress than people who are not caring for another. In many cases, caregivers are constantly “on-call.” They need to be ready for an emergency at a moment’s notice and even simple things like a nighttime trip to the bathroom can cause schedule distributions that add up. Dealing with the needs of an ageing, ill or disabled family member is overwhelming and leaves little time for caregivers to care for their own needs, say nothing of relaxing which can quickly lead to caregiver burnout and fatigue. 

While the role of a caregiver is extraordinarily meaningful and valuable, it takes its toll. Even in the closest of relationships, every person needs their own space occasionally to maintain their mental health. On top of having that crucial downtown, caregivers always have to account for the time it takes to juggle the other responsibilities of life.  

When you are taking care of someone else, it is easy to lose yourself. You become so focused on the person you are caring for, that your health and well-being take a backseat. It is a natural but dangerous response to the stress of caregiving. While you might not actively notice the impact of carer stress, it adds up. 

Caregiver stress and burnout can show itself in many ways. You might find yourself feeling frustrated one minute and angry the next. There will be days when you feel helpless and days when you feel completely fulfilled. You may find yourself lost in a sea of details and then feel guilty for making a mistake with medication, for example. As the stress takes its toll, you might find yourself reaching for a drink at the end of every day. Everyone responds differently and, while your response is completely normal, it is important to manage your health and well-being properly. 

While burnout shows itself differently in different people, there are a few common caregiver stress symptoms, including the following:

• Feeling overwhelmed 
• Worrying all the time
• Feeling exhausted 
• Sudden waves of sadness
• Sleeping too much 
• Unable to sleep 
• Gaining weight
• Losing weight without trying 
• Becoming easily irritated 
• Getting angry often
• Loss of interest in your everyday life 
• Frequent headaches
• Chronic body aches 
• Unable to control alcohol use 
• Drug abuse

If you are dealing with any of these symptoms, reach out. Talk to a friend or family member. Find ways to get support like caregiver support therapy sessions. Not sure how to get started? We are always here to help. Call +65 6235 8781 or message Whatsapp at +65 8028 4572 to connect with a professional who understands your situation. 

Anyone and everyone can get caregiver stress. There tends to be a lot of guilt surrounding the issue and we often try to hide the fact that caregiving doesn’t feel rewarding 24 hours a day. It’s easy to dismiss the feelings and say that it’s just part of the normal responsibilities of being a parent or child, but everyone can get overwhelmed. Each case is different and, between the countless responsibilities of modern life, carer stress is genuine and can affect anyone.  

When it comes to those who are most likely to suffer from caregiver burnout, we find that female caregivers report higher stress levels and often suffer from more health problems (though it may also be the case that women are more likely to seek help). 

Caregivers looking after a loved one who needs constant supervision and care are more likely to deal with carer stress. Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, in particular, creates a great deal of strain on carers. Similarly, any condition requiring constant care is more likely to lead to depression and other health conditions in caregivers. 

Regardless of the condition, caring for a spouse is a particular challenge. Women who care for their spouses have double the rate of heart disease and suffer high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol at much higher rates than those who care for their parents or children.

Absolutely everyone responsible for another person is susceptible to caregiver stress and can become vulnerable to the health consequences of this demanding job. However, while everyone is at risk of stress, some factors make certain people statistically more likely to be affected. Here are a few of the key risk factors:

• Sharing a home with the person you’re caring for 
• Having less formal education and fewer job opportunities 
• Dealing with financial difficulties 
• Being female
• Living in social isolation
• Having no other choice of other caretaking options 
• Having a history of depression

Stress is easy to ignore. We often dismiss it as a normal part of modern life and, indeed, a bit of stress can be good for you. Minor stress can build resilience and keep you motivated. Chronic, long-term stress, on the other hand, can cause major health problems.

Stress is an all-too-common phenomenon amongst caregivers and can rear its ugly head in countless ways. By not managing stress, you put yourself at risk for a wide range of issues, including: 

• Depression and anxiety: Mental health problems are extremely common in the world of caregivers. This is particularly true for female caregivers. Beyond affecting your daily mood, long-term anxiety and depression increase your risk of developing other physical health problems like heart disease.

• Weak immune system: The long-term stress of caregivers dampens your immune system and leads to everything from more sick days to decreased vaccination protection to long recovery times. 

• Obesity: Chronic stress is linked to weight gain. On top of impacting your appearance and self-esteem, this puts you at an increased risk for diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and a range of other conditions.  

In addition to the clear health impacts of caregiving, there is a range of issues that you may notice in your daily life. On top of the high levels of stress, you might notice that you have trouble focusing and have issues with your short-term memory.

Caregiving is both emotionally and physically demanding. It is a difficult job for even the most dedicated and resilient person. It is crucial to look after yourself if you want to be fit and ready to look after someone else. If you’re sick and stressed, you can’t care for another person properly. While putting yourself in second place might seem like the right thing to do, it will only backfire in the end. 

There are countless resources and tools available both on a nationwide and local level. On top of the support from local community resources, it is important to reach out to your friends and family while also looking for professional support to help you learn to cope. 

Even the most resilient person can be overwhelmed by the emotional and physical demands of caring. That’s why it’s so important to take advantage of the many resources and tools available to help you care for your loved one. Remember, if you can’t care for yourself, you can’t care for anyone else.

How do you manage caregiver stress? Here are a few ways to get started. 

• Get help: While this may seem obvious, caregivers are often in the habit of taking on everything themselves. You might forget that the people around you truly want to help. To make it easy for them, make a list of things that need to be done and share it. Maybe it would be easy for a friend to pick up some extra groceries when they do their shopping. Perhaps someone in the family would value spending time in the evening eating dinner together while you go off and run errands or get some downtime. 

• Be realistic: As you look at your to-do list, break it down into essential and “nice-to-have” items. While it might seem great to get to the swimming pool or park every Sunday, it’s essential to focus on the crucial task before taking on too much. 

• Set boundaries: It’s okay to not cook gourmet meals for every occasion or agree to pick up the kids every day. You can say no to invitations and not volunteer to take on more than you can manage. 

• Stay connected: You are not alone in this! Singapore has an incredible number of caregiving resources. Talk to other people in a similar situation and take advantage of every resource out there to avoid having everything fall on your plate.

• Go out: Going out with friends and family is never a frivolous use of your time. Connecting and relaxing without any response is essential to your well-being.  

• Mind your health: Commit to a routine. That means committing to sleeping eight hours per night, getting regular exercise, and maintaining a healthy diet. Always keep in mind that it is not selfish to take time out for yourself. It is an essential part of taking care of someone else. 

• Talk to your doctor: You might be feeling overwhelmed with doctor’s appointments when you are caring for someone with health issues, but it is still important to see your doctor. Regular health screenings and vaccinations are crucial. If you are having trouble getting to sleep or managing stress, be open and honest with your healthcare professional. Ask for advice and do your best to follow that advice. 

As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. As a caregiver, it is crucial to always be at your best and be able to properly take care of your loved one. You being at your best is fundamental to preventing burnout and managing your stress. 

Here are a few ways to prevent caregiver stress:

• Get set up with programmes: From classes at the hospital to food delivery programs, it is essential to get as much help as possible. 

• Ask for help: Don’t be shy to ask for and accept help. Every little bit helps, and people often look for an opportunity to connect and help. 

• Join a support group: While talking to friends and family is great, it is important to be able to connect with people who understand your situation. 

• Keep organised: Having a daily routine can make a huge difference. While you might feel like you already know everything that needs to be done, make lists so that everything can be done automatically. 

• Be yourself: It is all too easy to lose yourself in the hectic daily routine of caregiving. Be sure to always make time for yourself. Spending time with your friends and family. Make time for your hobbies. Self-care is never selfish.