Recognition and Support of Family Caregiving

With the rapid global trend of population ageing, there is a need for more care work and support. Family members often take on the responsibility of caring for loved ones who require long-term care, especially elderly parents, individuals with disabilities, or people with chronic illnesses. The Covid pandemic has proven that family caregivers are the life-sustaining force of health care. However, their contribution goes unnoticed, except for those who benefit from their care. Caring for a family member needing assistance with the basic activities of daily living requires time, dedication and perseverance. Family caregivers in India currently lack resources to maintain their health, well-being, and financial security while supporting others. Many family caregivers lack adequate knowledge and training on caregiving techniques, medical procedures, and managing specific health conditions, leading to inadequate care provision and increased stress for the caregiver and the care recipient. Caregiving often affects family caregivers’ emotional and mental well-being. They may experience stress, anxiety, depression, and feelings of isolation, which can affect their ability to provide care effectively. Recently, Chakraborty et al., following analysis of the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) Wave I data, reported that caregivers are more susceptible to depression and poor self-rated health than non-caregivers, irrespective of their socio-economic characteristics.[1] Supporting family caregivers is of great public health importance. The challenges faced by family caregivers in India need to be addressed comprehensively with various actions.[2] Family caregiver support programs exist in various developed countries. In Germany, family caregiver support is provided through multiple channels. The Pflegezeitgesetz (Care Time Act) allows employees to take time off work to care for family members.[3] The government also offers family caregivers financial support, counselling, and respite care services. Sweden has a well-developed system to support family caregivers. The Swedish Social Insurance Agency provides benefits such as caregiver’s allowance and compensation for income loss due to caregiving responsibilities. Municipalities also offer respite care, counselling, and other support services.[4] Besides these countries, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan and others have programs to support family caregivers. In the United States, congress passed the Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, and Engage (RAISE) Family Caregivers Act in 2018, which has become law to support family caregivers better.[5] The RAISE Act emphasises supporting family caregivers primarily with the existing resources by coordination and collaboration among various stakeholders.[6] In India, though there are several programs and policies by various government ministries, NGOs and community organisations to address the needs of family caregivers, they need to be synchronised.[7] It is essential to strengthen existing policies, recognise the challenges faced by caregivers, and establish more comprehensive support systems for family caregivers. There is a need for coordination and cooperation under an all-inclusive act and strategy to utilise the existing resources better. Family caregivers should be included as part of the health care team, especially during care transitions and discharge from the hospital. Educational programs and workshops should be conducted to train family caregivers on various aspects of care, including medical knowledge, practical skills, and emotional support. Awareness campaigns should educate caregivers about self-care and mental health support. Counselling services and helplines should be made available to provide emotional support to caregivers. Additionally, respite care services may be set up to give caregivers time off and temporarily reduce their caregiving responsibilities. On 24 July 2023, through an unprecedented resolution, the United Nations General Assembly declared 29 October as the International Day of Care and Support, to be observed annually.[8] The day aims to emphasise the importance of caregiving, recognise the contributions of caregivers, and advocate for policies and initiatives that support and enhance all forms of caregiving. It also highlights the importance of social care and support, which sadly remains an often neglected and undervalued area. This resolution calls upon member countries, the United Nations system, society, the private sector, academia and the public to celebrate the International Day every year. It acknowledges the disproportionate burden of unpaid care and domestic work on women and girls and highlights the need to address these structural barriers that hinder women’s empowerment. It is an effort to recognise and value care work and care workers as essential workers. The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labor Organization (ILO) have joined the observance of the day. Celebrating UN Day will raise awareness, improve policies and increase investment to transform the care economy and advance gender equality.[9] By recognising the critical role of family caregivers and implementing strategies to support them, India can better address the needs of its growing ageing population and individuals with disabilities or chronic diseases.

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