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SINGAPORE: In the course of his work, Dr. Lim Wee Shiong has seen not only sick patients, but also stressed out caregivers.
“The caregiver will take them (their loved one) to the emergency room (emergency department) and say, ‘Mom is not very well. … The complaints are very vague but nothing tangible. But when you dig deeper, you find that the caregiver has a hard time coping, ”said Dr. Lim, senior consultant in the department of geriatric medicine at Tan Tock Seng Hospital.
“Although there is not a really serious problem in a sense, these attention problems of the assistants must also be analyzed.”
This is where online tools to improve the “mastery of care”, knowledge and skills necessary to fulfill the role of caregiver come into play, Dr. Lim told CNA.
One such tool is TTSH’s new physical therapy-related online resource library called ‘Carers X Physios’, which was launched in September.
Created especially for caregivers to refer and practice skills, it includes video demonstrations of complex care instructions, in-home trainings, and tips for safe care management. The resource library also provides a platform for caregivers to tap into community services for help and join support groups.
The hospital also plans to continue updating and adding more materials to the collection, including advice and information from other departments.
“The resources are great because by making use of technology, in their own time, at their own pace, at their own convenience, they can look up resources, they can review some of these things to help them improve their mastery of caregiving.” explained Dr. Lim.
EXACERBATED BY THE PANDEMIC
When it comes to the domain of caregiving, Dr. Lim noted that the current COVID-19 pandemic has added a layer of “complexity” for caregivers. This is because they have to deal with the new situations they face daily as a result of the pandemic, in addition to fulfilling their role as caregiver.
Additionally, Dr. Lim noted that caregivers often face issues related to “personal mastery,” taking care of their personal well-being, as they adapt to the demands of care.
And some of these stressors have been “exacerbated” by the pandemic, he added.
‘Carers X Physios’ aims to help and support caregivers. (Photo: Matthew Mohan)
“Due to the pandemic, they have been more ‘isolated’ socially, (they) cannot go out and meet friends, (with) more time they spend caring for their loved ones,” he said.
“Often times, because of that, they also have poorer lifestyle and self-care habits: a more sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy eating habits, and insufficient rest. And they also have to deal with their own stressors, their own uncertainty, especially some caregivers who may be affected by the pandemic themselves, and also their own fears about the pandemic. “
An earlier study by Dr. Lim and his colleagues at TTSH’s Institute of Geriatrics and Active Aging also found that caregivers care about their performance when they fulfill their role.
“In the pandemic situation, there will be more stress and more pressure,” he added. “This is a new situation, it is unknown, the feeling of control is less, and (they feel): ‘I need to be aware of things, I need to do things well.’ So much so that sometimes caregivers forget to take care of themselves, they overlook the part of personal mastery. “
Pandemic or no pandemic, adjusting to a new role as a caregiver is a common concern that caregivers face, TTSH senior physical therapist Lim Biyu told CNA.
READ: ‘It Can Be A Lot For One Person’: Dealing With Dementia During Circuit Breaker
“They usually have many skills to learn at once, in addition to this understanding (of) their loved one’s medical condition. So this actually increases the mental load. And depending on the task involved, some tasks may require many steps and techniques. So when they get home, the caregivers themselves can start to forget parts of the training, and this only contributes to existing challenges, ”he explained.
“What most caregivers need is reassurance, review of the skills that are taught in the hospital when they return home caring for the loved one.”
This is where the resource library can come in handy, he noted.
“Most of the contact points or most of the support is done in a short period of time, which is when the patient is in the hospital or after discharge. So, many times … when the caregiver has to refer to some type of resources or require more support, by then three or six months may have passed after discharge ”, he explained.
“At your convenience, you may want to refer to these resources that are already there, (and now) you know where to find them because they are easily accessible on the Internet. The videos are also quite comprehensive, covering a variety of tasks. At the moment it is related to physical therapy, there are plans to add more resources and materials to the website.
The “new normal” that followed Singapore’s “circuit breaker” has also brought new opportunities for caregivers, Dr. Lim noted.
“With the relaxation of certain measures, it also gives caregivers the opportunity to take better care of themselves, especially the part of personal mastery, because now is the time when they can find space to do some things that they like. . do, “he said.
“And of course, I think the new normal means leveraging technology and related resources.”
Calling caregivers the “invisible workforce,” Dr. Lim highlighted the importance of their role in today’s society.
“They are the main ones who will help care for our frail older adults in an aging society. So you can imagine that with the aging of the population, the rate at which the population ages and, therefore, the rate of increase of frail older adults will exceed the capacity of the health system to provide services, ”he explained.
“It has also been said that our caregivers are part of the invisible workforce we have to care for older adults.”
Dr. Lim Wee Shiong (left) and Ms. Lim Biyu analyze patient case notes. (Photo: TTSH)
And the efforts of these caregivers will allow for “aging in place” for their loved ones, where they can live the rest of their days in the comfort and safety of their own home, added Dr. Lim.
“There are only four types of people in the world. Who have been caregivers. Those who are currently caregivers. Those who will be caregivers and those who will need a caregiver, ”he added, citing former US First Lady Roselyn Carter.
“We are all inextricably linked to the provision of care.”
