The new crown epidemic continues, and the elderly are more likely to become seriously ill after diagnosis, which has made the care pressure of many carers even heavier.
A survey by the Hong Kong Christian Service found that more than 80% of carers suffered from depression during the epidemic, and nearly 10% of the carers frequently or almost daily have thoughts of seeking death or self-harm.
The group suggested that the authorities should strengthen the local support network, such as communicating and cooperating with various social service units and local groups, and setting up a high-risk list to identify families with special needs, so that corresponding support can be provided in a timely manner near their homes.
The new crown epidemic continues, and the elderly are more likely to become seriously ill after diagnosis, which has made the care pressure of many carers even heavier.
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The survey on the plight and stress of carers during the epidemic was conducted by the Hong Kong Christian Service from April 11 to 22. It interviewed 287 carers through an online questionnaire to understand the difficulties they faced and the type of support they needed during the epidemic.
The age of carers is mainly 45 years old or above, and 20% (21.3%) of the elderly who are 65 years old or above belong to the "elderly caring" group, and nearly half (49.1%) are currently serving as carers. Full-time employment, and 70% have a secondary school education or above.
The survey on the plight and stress of carers during the epidemic was conducted by the Hong Kong Christian Service from April 11 to 22. An online questionnaire was used to interview 287 carers to understand the difficulties they faced and the types of support they needed during the epidemic.
(Photo by Zeng Fengting)
The survey used the "Patient Health Status Questionnaire-9" scale. It was found that more than half of the interviewed carers suffered from moderate or above depression, 60% of them mainly felt fatigued or lacked energy, and 43.6% said it was difficult to fall asleep and easily woke up or fell asleep in the middle of the night. Too much time, 42.9% said they feel bored doing anything or don’t want to do anything at all. Among them, nearly one adult has the idea of “thinking that it is best to die or self-harm” frequently or almost every day. The situation deserves attention.
It was found that more than half of the carers interviewed suffered from moderate or above depression.
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Nearly 70% of carers have a self-rated stress score of 6 or above
Zhu Hanrong, research and advocacy officer of the Corporate Development and Research Department of the Hong Kong Christian Service, pointed out that the survey results are more serious than the survey results of the general public in Hong Kong at the beginning of the outbreak in 2020. At that time, the survey showed that about 20% of Hong Kong people had moderate or above Depression, but this time, more than half of the carers have the same type of situation, which shows that the depression of the carers is more serious.
Nearly 70% of carers scored 6 points or above in terms of their self-assessed stress level (out of 10).
Zhu Hanrong, research and advocacy officer of the Corporate Development and Research Department of the Hong Kong Christian Service, pointed out that the survey results are more serious than the survey results of the general public in Hong Kong at the beginning of the outbreak in 2020. At that time, the survey showed that about 20% of Hong Kong people had moderate or above Depression, but this time, more than half of the carers have the same type of situation, which shows that the depression of the carers is more serious.
(Photo by Zeng Fengting)
The carers interviewed all feel difficult to deal with a large amount of information during the epidemic, such as lack of understanding of the isolation mechanism, lack of accurate medical information and lack of detailed information on the reporting mechanism, etc. Nearly half of the interviewees also said that they have decreased due to caring for the elderly. Personal life choices.
Zhu Hanrong pointed out that the age and education of the carers will affect their chances of panic due to the news of the epidemic. The isolation situation will hinder the full-time carers from fulfilling their responsibilities of caring for the family, causing trouble; The elderly are mostly due to the suspension or reduction of community care services due to the epidemic, and cannot serve as the function of sharing their care pressure as before. Various places such as parks have closed their recreational places, and their tension has not been relieved.
Carers urge the authorities to provide some substantive support projects and integrate all epidemic information platforms.
Nursing caregivers in octogenarians suffer from insomnia due to increased care pressure under the epidemic
Aunt Mai, 86, currently lives with her 98-year-old visually impaired husband.
Aunt Mai suffers from arrhythmia and joint problems, but her husband relies on her to take care of her daily life.
In February this year, her husband was unfortunately diagnosed, and Aunt Mai’s son who did not live with him assisted in reporting it. However, Aunt Mai has always felt uneasy because since her husband was diagnosed, she was very worried that his husband would be sent to a hospital or an isolation facility without proper care. .
Aunt Mai, 86, currently lives with her 98-year-old visually impaired husband.
Aunt Mai suffers from arrhythmia and joint problems, but her husband relies on her to take care of her daily life.
(Photo by Zeng Fengting)
Aunt Mai was also afraid that she would contract the virus. Besides worrying about no one to take care of her husband, she was also worried that it would increase the burden on her son.
Since the government hotline could not be reached for a long time at that time, Aunt Mai could only rely on herself to strengthen cleaning at home.
Aunt Mai also wears a mask at home 24/7. Her husband's entire infection process has doubled her pressure. "If both of them are infected, they will die, and there will be no return. I'm afraid that it will hurt future generations.
79-year-old Mr. Chen (pictured not himself) needs to take care of his wife with cognitive impairment of the same age.
Mr. Chen said that his wife did not know when to eat, take medicine and put on appropriate clothes, and sometimes she would experience hallucinations.
They were diagnosed successively in March, "heart sinking, so shocked", and then through the help of their children to declare online, "I think it is useless after reporting, there is no support, no isolation, only self-protection", so that he The pressure of care is multiplied.
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Another carer is Mr. Chen, 79, who has to take care of his wife with cognitive impairment of the same age.
Mr. Chen said that his wife did not know when to eat, take medicine and put on appropriate clothes, and sometimes she would experience hallucinations.
Before the epidemic, his wife had received a mixed day center and home care services. These services were affected by the epidemic. Mr. Chen also suffered from depression due to the pressure of care, and he had to take sleeping pills to fall asleep.
Mr. Chen and his wife were diagnosed successively in March this year, and they were "heartbroken and shocked." Later, they used their children to assist in the online declaration. "I think it is useless after reporting. There is no support or isolation, so they can only protect themselves. , Azai has sent them away."
The pressure of his care doubled. "Sometimes my wife doesn't recognize me, and I don't know what happened. I don't want to sleep, I have to wait for her to sleep first."
He suggested that the authorities should add a live-answer hotline to provide direct guidance and assistance to those infected with the virus.
Hong Kong Christian Service Co-ordinator Zhang Yanlin suggested that the authorities should take precautionary measures to strengthen the regional support network, and the government should coordinate various regional organizations to work together. and provide assistance near their homes.
(Photo by Zeng Fengting)
Hong Kong Christian Service Co-ordinator Zhang Yanlin suggested that the authorities should take precautionary measures to strengthen the regional support network, and the government should coordinate various regional organizations to work together. and provide assistance near their home, they should also face up to the mental health of the carer and provide more spiritual support.
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