By Andrew Chadwick
January 24, 2009
Since the release of the The BBC reports on a study published in the BMJ (British Medical Journal), the findings of the report were echoed around the globe.
For many people, the findings were not a surprise. For years, elder advocates and family carers have reported that the thankless task of caring for a family member often drained the carer of finances, health/well-being. These carers are often stressed to the limit.
The dementia sufferer’s behavior can be extremely challenging or confrontational. This, plus the resultant stresses can easily turn the family carers to abuse the charge. Most of these carers deserve our understanding and suport in various forms.
Support, in the form of respite time for the carer; and/or financial support can go a long way to ease the situation for both the carer and their charge.
Many of us are horrified by the report, but are we disturbed enough to act, in an attempt to ease the lot of family carers?
In times of global economic downturn, it is a up-hill battle to try to get more funding to ease the situation outlined.
Perhaps, concerned citizens can organized various local fund-raising projects to raise funds for this cause. Just a thought.
But, we must continue to highlight the plight of family carers and ensure that it is not left out off the social welfare agenda of the country.
Good Luck to all.
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