Caregiving
Caregiver’s Village – an online resource of care and support for caregivers
None of us had ever imagined a disruption to life in Singapore as major as those of COVID-19 with its circuit breaker period.
The pandemic started off disrupting daily meetings at work, amongst teams and externally - with clients and community partners. Eventually, our counselling team adjusted from making face-to-face sessions to phone or video sessions with our elder clients, caregivers and partnering agencies. We also have to work doubly hard to ensure them of the provision of continual support and assistance needed by clients. The pandemic also triggered more anxieties for some of our clients – which we are eager to understand, and to share with other caregivers and care teams.
The experience has been bitter-sweet for caregivers. The advice for all to stay home means that some would not be able to get physical support from their relatives, friends and neighbours. For those who have to work from home, they have to juggle between work and longer dedicated hours of caring for their loved ones, taking a toll on their physical and/or emotional well-being.
On the other hand, some caregivers had surprised us with creativity and adaptability during this extraordinary times, be it developing stronger motivation for self-care, e.g. inserting a daily 15-minute coffee + radio break; to simplifying the caregiving routine, e.g. appointing other family members to make online purchases and relieving each other’s workload using technology, they are truly displaying the spirit of ‘THRIVING’!
Their can-do spirit is contagious and has encouraged us to kick-start an online Caregiving resource space where we hope will reach out to caregivers under our care and potentially, a wider online audience who are caring for their elder family members. And we fondly call this a Caregiver’s Village.
At Hua Mei Counselling and Coaching, we firmly believe that:
- Caregiving is not a one-man show. It takes a village to bring up a child and likewise, to care for our elders too
- Caregiving can be a positive experience and a catalyst for personal growth and better bonding with family especially with our elders
- Caregivers can reap many benefits such as developing kindness and acquiring knowledge
- Every caregiver has the potential to be the best they can be while caring for their elders and themselves
By creating this virtual Caregiver’s Village, we hope to be able to support you through (1) sharing experiences and practical tips, (2) facilitating awareness of CAREGIVING and being a CAREGIVER, and last but not least, (3) keeping alive the spirit of positivity and hope through your caregiving journey.
Our team of counsellors and community-based eldercare professionals will be putting together a library of content including audio visual and written material, covering topics ranging from relaxation exercises to inspiring stories of caregiving. Live interactive sessions are also in the pipeline.
COVID-19 pandemic has been a catalyst for change on how we live, work, play and more importantly, how to keep ourselves and our loved ones healthy and safe. We hope this new ‘village of care and support’ will help you to create positive changes for your elders and loved ones.
From the Hua Mei Counselling and Coaching team,
Tsao Foundation
看护者聚落 -- 一个专为家庭看护者提供照顾支持的网上资源
新冠病毒疫情，以及随之而来的阻断措施，对于我们身处新加坡的生活所造成的冲击完全超出我们所有人的想象。
疫情开始时，就对我们的工作有很大的影响，无论是同事之间，还是辅导对象或是社区同仁，我们都无法像以往那样见面。后来，辅导员们必须做出调整，与年长人士或家庭看护者从面谈的辅导改为电话或视频辅导。我们也必须加倍努力工作，确保我们的服务对象有足够的协助和支持。疫情的延烧，也使我们的一些辅导对象更焦虑，我们都很关切，也想要了解更多，与家庭看护者及护理团队分享。
看护者的经历是喜乐交织的，每个人都必须留在家中的措施，让一些看护者无法得到家人，朋友或邻居的协助。而有些要在家工作的看护者，则要同时应对工作和投入更长时间照顾家人的责任，有时牺牲的常常是看护者自己的身体或情绪健康。
但另一方面，有些看护者却让我们很惊喜地看到，在这个非常时期他们的创新力和适应力。无论是更有动力关注自我照顾，比如给自己每天15分钟的咖啡加听电台的放松时间；或是简化看护的日常安排，例如请其他家人帮忙网购日用品，运用科技便利减轻负担。他们完全体现了充满活力的精神。
他们这种“我做得到”的精神是很有感染力的，也鼓舞我们有这个想法，开始建立这个专为家庭看护者的网上资源，我们希望通过这个平台，能接触并协助更多的看护者，无论是我们现在的服务对象，或是有机会让更多正照顾家中年长人士的看护者受益。
在华美辅导团队，我们深信：
- 照顾看护不是孤军奋战，老话说，需要整村人才能养大一个孩子，同样的，照顾我们的年长人士也是如此
- 看护可以是一个正面积极的经历，能催化个人的成长，以及和家人，尤其是长辈之间的亲情凝聚力
- 看护的经历能让我们收获更多，例如让我们更有仁心善意，也有机会学习照顾的知识技能
- 每一位看护者都有潜能，为家中年长人士，为自己提供最佳的照顾
通过开创这个专为看护者的网上资源， “虚拟聚落”所提供的关心和支持，我们希望能为你（1）分享不同的经验和实用技巧，（2）促进对看护照顾及身为看护者的认识，最后，（3）希望在你的看护旅程始终保持积极正面，充满希望的精神， 我们的辅导员们将和其他社区长者护理专业人士一起，提供一系列包括视听材料，及文章，内容包含放松练习，及分享其他看护者的感人故事。适当时候，我们也将安排互动讨论的机会，这些都在筹划酝酿中。
新冠病毒疫情，已经成为我们生活，工作，休闲一系列改变的催化剂，更重要的是如何让我们及家人保持安全，健康。我们希望这个新的“关爱支持的聚落”能帮助你为自己及你关爱的家人创造更积极正面的改变。
曹氏基金会
华美辅导服务团队
