In recent years, there have been many tragedies in Hong Kong involving caregivers. The senior manager of the Family Fortune Association, Huang Aiqiu, said frankly that some caregivers are consciously placed in a black hole, unable to see a way out, unable to let go of their wives, and eventually go to a dead end.
She advises caregivers to make a list of actions as early as possible. When emotions fluctuate or even thoughts of harming themselves or others appear, they should first follow the list one by one, so as to save themselves and see choices again in despair.
She sent a message to caregivers that as long as they need it, they can ask for help at any time, and they don't have to be afraid that others will not understand, and they don't have to wait until the last moment.
"Rescue the Caregivers" Series Report
(Part 3)
According to the latest figures from the Census and Statistics Department, there are 204,000 disabled persons and 248,000 chronically ill patients in Hong Kong, who live in households and need care.
Among the main specific caregivers interviewed, more than half of them have felt mental stress due to caring in the past month, and about 15% of them have been stressed every day or most of the days.
Caregivers tend to forget about themselves and should pay more attention to their emotions
Huang Aiqiu, senior manager of the Family Fortune Association, pointed out that caregivers are busy taking care of themselves and often neglect themselves. They remind caregivers to pay more attention to their emotions. Even wanting to end your life, when you have these thoughts, it's already very dangerous."
Huang Aiqiu, senior manager of the Family Welfare Association, said that caregivers can make a list of actions. If they encounter care challenges and think of harming themselves or others, they should first follow the actions on the list.
(Photo by Liang Pengwei)
stop, stop, be still
Referring to the repeated occurrence of family tragedies in society, Huang Aiqiu believes: "If we face these family tragedies, it actually reflects that there are many caregivers who feel like they are in a black hole with no way out. He can't see a way out, but I can't let go of my wife, so Everyone is going to hell."
Especially in the dead of night, when no one is around, when stress and emotions emerge, it will be very dangerous. Caregivers should remind themselves to "stop and be quiet". If there is a conflict, remember to stay away from the kitchen, which is more "dangerous". The place.
Huang Aiqiu, senior manager of the Family Fortune Association, pointed out that caregivers sometimes ignore themselves, and hope they pay more attention to their own emotions.
(Photo by Liang Pengwei)
Simple action list: wash face, drink water, call
"When people are in a mess, they may have the urge to commit suicide." Huang Aiqiu suggested that caregivers should think about the next step in advance and prepare for coping with care challenges when they come, including writing a list of actions early so that they can help themselves in despair When I saw the choice again, "It is very important that you think about it and be prepared. If he goes to what kind of situation, what symptoms, if so, first list what you can do. I have ten things that I can do. Do."
The action list can be very simple, such as wash your face, drink a glass of water, go back to your room and cry, call someone you trust, etc.
The Hong Kong Family Welfare Society is one of the organizations that provides support to the elderly and their caregivers.
(Photo by Liang Pengwei)
Pay attention to your symptoms and don't wait until the last moment to seek help
Huang Aiqiu also hopes that caregivers should not worry that others don’t understand, and try to find some trusted people to share their difficulties. If you can’t find a trusted person to confide in, you can call the 24-hour hotline of the Social Welfare Department or other organizations to let yourself have a better understanding. Opportunity tells people, "Let yourself talk to everyone, it might be better to moan."
She sent a message to the caregivers: "If you want to notice what symptoms you have, any time you have these, if you notice that your thoughts of tension, depression, and despair are getting stronger and stronger, you don't have to go to the end, you can already ask for help, You have to speak out, you don’t have to wait till the end.”
Huang Aiqiu, senior manager of the Family Fortune Association, pointed out that caregivers sometimes ignore themselves, and hope they pay more attention to their own emotions.
(Photo by Liang Pengwei)
Relatives and friends should pay more attention to calls for help
Caregivers should pay attention to their own emotions. Huang Aiqiu said that relatives and friends around him should be more sensitive. "It's not just the caregiver. Sometimes the caregiver forgets himself, but the family members nearby can see why he (the caregiver) is becoming more and more impatient. , Sometimes everyone quarreled, and Grandma said that she really couldn’t bear it, and if she continued to do so, she would die. Don’t ignore these signals, they may already be calls for help.”
She mentioned that in addition to accompanying and confiding and helping the other party seek support, the most direct way is to provide practical help. For example, when the caregiver is busy taking care of the elderly and cannot go out shopping, family members, friends and neighbors notice that they can offer to help the other party to take care of the elder, so that the caregiver Those who go out for a while, have a space to breathe.
Save the caregivers・Special page｜Who can support them in the darkness that the international metropolis dare not look directly at?
Rescue the caregiver・1｜A 70-year-old woman takes care of an 86-year-old demented husband on the verge of collapse How to sleep peacefully Save the caregiver・2｜A good man suffers from cognitive impairment and becomes grumpy An eighty-year-old wife seeks breathing spaceRescue the caregiver・3｜Social worker Call for a list of actions before despair. Stop, stop, and re-see the choice to save caregivers. 4｜Lin Zhengcai: Tragedy happens frequently, but it is not enough to promote policy changes to save caregivers. 5｜Dialogue with Lin Zhengcai——Who will take care of the caregivers?
