When tour guide Chandra Mogan, 73, realised he was unable to care for his disabled wife any longer, he decided to admit her to a nursing home. But that just caused more distress.
Madam Kaliammal Narayanasamy Krishnasamy, 68, has Parkinson’s disease, cannot walk and requires constant care. When she visited one nursing home, she began to weep.
Mr Chandra’s work as a tour guide means he can spend up to 12 hours away each day. He earns between $1,500 and $2,500 a month and has two children, but lives alone with his wife.
Staff from the Community Networks for Seniors programme, who had heard of Mr Chandra’s dilemma, offered him another option. They linked him up with a home nurse, who helped train their fourth domestic helper to care for Madam Kaliammal.
They also receive various grants – such as the Foreign Domestic Worker Levy Concession – that make home help more affordable.
“My wife has improved a lot since the helper came – she eats better now,” said Mr Chandra, whose helper has been with them for nearly a year now.
Having this extra help at home is a weight off Mr Chandra’s shoulders: “Showering her, walking her back to the living room… I got really exhausted at times.” He still tries to spend as much time with his wife as possible: “She deserves it. There’s nothing like having me at home.”
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Source: The Straits Times, 20 February 2018