In 2009, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, then Minister for the now superseded Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports commented at a family violence symposium that abuse by caregivers might reflect their inability to deal with the stress and difficulties of caregiving rather than malice.
Indeed, senior care can be stressful, and caring for a senior with dementia can often test the limits of one’s patience. Faced with the added strain of settling into a foreign environment and long work hours without sufficient respite, these multiple stresses can be especially challenging for Foreign Domestic Workers (FDW) who are uninitiated in the care of seniors with complex illnesses like dementia.
Caregivers often have to multitask and cope with added socio-emotional and financial stressors. Yet, studies have shown that support from FDWs can alleviate the burden of caregiving and is associated with better health for caregivers and lower institutionalisation of seniors. Still, while much has been invested in developing assistive resources for familial caregivers, support for FDWs remains limited.
In 2016, our team embarked on a study to investigate the challenges and coping strategies of FDWs caring for frail seniors in Singapore. The study revealed significant burden among FDWs, especially on those caring for seniors with dementia.
While social support is known to be especially important in mediating caregiver stress, FDWs are unfortunately at a far greater risk of poor socio-emotional support as the FDW-employer relationship has an inherent uneven balance of power. Conflict and abuse in FDW-employer relationships have been well documented.
FDWs cope better and derive job satisfaction when they receive support, affirmation and appreciation from families. Families with greatest capacities to care for seniors were those where members assumed significant caregiving roles alongside FDWs and treated them as part of the family.
FDWs often face demands as great as familial caregivers. Yet, they encounter more barriers in accessing appropriate training and coping skills as services are typically targeted at familial caregivers.
Efforts to improve accessibility and availability of culturally sensitive senior-care training programmes tailored for FDWs, increase the standing of senior-care positions, award outstanding FDWs publicly and engage employers can ultimately benefit Singapore’s seniors and their families.
Research shows that ideal caregiver support has to be multifaceted, continuous and responsive. It is pertinent to start opening up such support to FDWs as they are often at the forefront of caregiving.
Ultimately, the responsibility and privilege of caring for our seniors remain ours as families and as a society. Let us appreciate the role FDWs play as caregiving companions and treat them with fairness, recognise their contributions and accord them the dignity they deserve.
Read more here.
Source: The Straits Times, 31 March 2018