Intergenerational Caregiving:
…. More Room for the Carers
Please…
1
Sharing

On being a carer
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Intergenerational caregiving
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My wish list as a Carer
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A personal story

Upon returning…

Something’s not quite right about Mom…

She has got dementia…

I became a (midlife) Carer… I sometimes deny and
resist the role of a carer.

On hindsight …
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Who is a carer?
“Someone who gives unpaid care to a
family member, relative, or friend who is
dependent because of age, physical or
other disability, illness and who would, if
cared for, require support from the state
or by some other means.”

(British Medical Association 1995, p.3, cited in NCSS
2004, p.4)

"[s]omeone whose life is in some way
restricted… (Carers UK)
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I think I am a Carer …
1.
Remember you're a carer!

2.
Do I want to be a carer?
Include your family and friends


3.
What would they say about caregiving?
The ‘chosen one’
Tell your GP

4.
I am quite transparent to the healthcare system.
Tell Social Services


Tell what? Am suppose to be self-sufficient
Resort to only when in crisis proportions !
[Adapted from Carers UK's guide to the first ten steps to getting support.]
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5. Tell people at work


Do I get leave entitlement for looking after ageing
parent?
I was told by government I have to work this out
with BOSS.
6. Claim my entitlements

??
7. Find my nearest carers group or centre.

Who are they and do I want to bear my chest to
them?
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8. Look after myself


I am told I run the risk of (1 in 5 carers):
back problems, heart disease or mental breakdown,
go without a break, without proper sleep …
9. Think about the future

When caring ends it can be extremely hard. By
facing the future and thinking about life after caring
you can minimise the shock when the time comes.
10.Support Carers Agencies

I think most of the carers programmes help me to be
a better carer …?
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Comparison between SG & UK population and ageing experience
Population & Older People
Singapore
UK
Racial & ethnic composition
Multicultural
Mainly White, increasingly
multicultural
Ageing population
Double in 24 yrs (2030) 17%
Double in 50 yrs (2050) 19%
Fastest growing group
≥85 yrs
≥85 yrs
Life expectancy
Male 79 yrs, females 83.1 yrs
(2010)
Male 78 yrs, females 82 yrs
(2010)
Median age of population
37.4 yrs
39 yrs
Total Fertility Rate
1.16children (2010)
1.96 (2009, for England & Wales)
Independence of older people
Generally independent except 85
yrs over
Generally independent except
those 75 yrs over
Co-residence with family
Tend to co-reside with married or
unmarried children
Tend to live with spouse/ cohabit
or live alone
Institutionalisation
Limited & last resort
Mainly cared for @ home
institutionalisation
(move towards ageing in place)
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Characteristics of SG & UK informal carers
Characteristics
Singapore
UK
Co-resident/ extra
resident carers
Spouses and children/children-in-law tend
to offer co-resident care
Spouses/cohabitees (coresident care), Children/children
in law (co/extra resident care)
Gender
Women carers (esply ≥75), males
Potential carers,
Women main carers
Males co-resident to parents/
parents-in-law
Most physical aspects of caring is done
by women
Age
Aged 30-50 yrs
Aged 45-65 yrs
Extent of caregiving
Limited information
Recent research interests and efforts
Co-resident caregivers
(tend to provide intense
caregiving)
Impact of caregiving
on health
Little impact
Mental stresses, physical
injuries, social needs, etc.
Extent of research on
informal carers
Begun in 1995 (National Survey of Senior
Citizens) but confined to older adults.
Begun since1980s – data on
informal carers collected
Recent efforts at researching carers’
background and needs.
Govt., carers’ agenceis,
universities
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Ten facts about caring (Carers UK) 2010

6 million people (1 in 10 adults are carers)
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Carers: 58% women, 42% are men

≥ 3 million people juggle care with work (1 in 8)
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Carers retire 8 years earlier (Average)
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Every year over 2 million people become carers

By 2037 - 9 million carers
Carers UK: the voice of carers, Ten facts about caring, [Online], Available from:
http://www.carersuk.org/Aboutus/Tenfactsaboutcaring, [9-March-2011].
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Ten facts about caring (Carers UK) 2010

1.25 million people provide over 50 hours of care
per week (20%)

People providing high levels of care are twice as likely
to be permanently sick or disabled.

≥ 1 million people care for > one person

The main carer’s benefit is £45 for a minimum of 35
hours, equivalent to £1.26 per hour.

Carers save the economy £67- £ 87 billion per
year.
Carers UK: the voice of carers, Ten facts about caring, [Online], Available from:
http://www.carersuk.org/Aboutus/Tenfactsaboutcaring, [9-March-2011].
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Need to care for Carers?
… Carers can make a difference..
But are often unnoticed…

“Carers have no recognition in society. When
you ring to arrange insurance, and the
question of occupation arises, there is no
appropriate box to tick. I am not unemployed
... I object strongly to that. I work extremely
hard ... but this work has no apparent value“

British context
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
SUPPORTING OLDER SINGAPOREANS
… MCYS will continue to support the social, mental and physical wellbeing of the growing proportion of older Singaporeans. We will create
more programmes for the elderly to be engaged in society, as remaining
active after retirement is critical to their well-being. MCYS will also
facilitate the development of a "silver industry" to cater to the economic
and social aspirations of increasingly better-educated retirees.

Many frail elderly are cared for by family
members. These carers in turn deserve our
support. MYCS will place emphasis on
caregivers' programmes, to help meet the
carers' needs.
Ministry of Community Development, Youth & Sports
Addendum to the President's Address
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan
Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth & Sports

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/cna/parliament/opening_2005/addenda_mcys.htm
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NCSS – Target areas for specialisation
– training caregivers & trainers of caregivers …

Recognising caregivers’ stressors pertinent to certain
caregiving service areas and hence need specialised
professional support…

Caregivers of people with /
 dementia

requiring palliative care

Mental illness

Parents of children with special needs

Single parents

(NCSS 2004, pp.7-8, 2010)
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Need for Research

Research informs policy.

We need more nationally-representative data for
Singapore.

Data collection should be based on real needs and
concerns of older adults and their carers.

Partnership between researchers, service sector,
and policy makers will enhance data collection
quality.

Chan, A. 2-Sep-2005, Formal & informal intergenerational support transfers in Southeast Asia,
Lecture given in the 6th ASEAN Gerontology Course, Furama Hotel, Singapore.
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Policy implications arising out of research

Policies that allow older persons to remain
economically and physically independent will
reduce stress on the family.

Policies that recognise the burden on middle aged
adult children to support 2 generations will be most
effective.

Such policies should focus on emotional, financial
and time constraints faced by informal caregivers.
Chan, A. 2-Sep-2005, Formal & informal intergenerational support transfers in Southeast Asia,
Lecture given in the 6th ASEAN Gerontology Course, Furama Hotel, Singapore.
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Some recommendations

Clear stand on recognition of the carer’s role.

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Framework to guide policy and programmes
Provide more coherence to programme initiatives

Include carers in the healthcare system

Worker’s Leave to incorporate care of older adults
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Pressing need as population ages
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Flexibility in work arrangements with carers
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More prominent effort for programmes for carers.


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Engage Carers: Guidelines (e.g. 10 steps guide to caring)
Some element of assessment for carers to point them in the direction of support
system at the start.
Carers-2-Carer Support, centres, discussion boards and blogs.

Filter ground reality to policy makers
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http://www.carers.org/what-carers-centre-0 (10-Mar-11)
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Don’t wait for carers to reach
crisis point before support is
sought/given.
*
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References

Chadwick, S. 2001, Caring is detrimental to health: fact or fallacy? A
quantitative study of the health of carers, M.Sc. dissertation, King’s College,
University of London, London.

Chan, A. 2-Sep-2005, Formal & informal intergenerational support transfers
in Southeast Asia, Lecture given in the 6th ASEAN Gerontology Course,
Furama Hotel, Singapore.
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CarersUK., [Online], Available from:
http://www.carersuk.org/Information/Newtocaring , [6-Mar-2011].
Department of Statistics, Online], [Available
from:http://www.singstat.gov.sg/pubn/catalogue.html#demo, [9-Mar-2011].
Mehta, K. [ud],
National Council of Social Service 2004, Specialised caregiver services – a
guide for service providers, [Online], Available from:
http://www.ncss.org.sg/ncss/lib/publications/caregivers_guide.pdf, [23-Feb2005].
Rowlands, A, Dec 05-Jan06, “Building resilience of family caregivers’, in
Social Service Journal, vol 14, Singapore, NCSS.
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