Forum: More can be done to help lighten caregivers’ load

As the population ages and with smaller household sizes, caregivers’ responsibilities have increased tremendously.

There have been many good initiatives and efforts to better support caregivers, including hospitals and organisations looking into caregivers’ training and caregivers’ support groups. The Government has also introduced subsidies such as home caregiving grants and migrant domestic workers’ levy concessions.

HealthHub has a great function where family members’ details can be linked, so that caregivers can better keep track of medical appointments. Even family members based overseas can make a phone call to remind seniors of their upcoming medical appointments, or make transport arrangements for the seniors to attend medical appointments.

The initiatives and efforts are appreciated, though more can be done to make things easier and smoother for seniors and caregivers. It is common for some seniors to have medical appointments at different hospitals and polyclinics, but these institutions have different ways of fixing or rescheduling medical appointments and topping up medication.

This can cause stress to working caregivers, especially when the hospitals and polyclinics operate only during working hours.

The only time to receive and make calls to hospitals and polyclinics is when working adults are busy with work. One missed call from the hospital or polyclinic can easily make us anxious, especially when we are waiting for medical results.

What’s worse is when the number does not allow for calls to be returned, with either an automated operator or non-dialling tone at the other end. We just have to wait for another phone call.

Given that society is ageing rapidly, are we expecting individuals to figure out and navigate the healthcare system on their own, depending on how each hospital or polyclinic operates?

Or can the healthcare system be more person-centred to look into differing needs and requests more adequately?

Yeow Beng Zhen