Thankless job of caregiving

I don't know about you but don't you think caregiving is often a thankless job? Imagine the work required for an immobile, bed-ridden patient at home: feeding through tubes, replenishing the drip, monitoring meal and poo/pee times, turning his body to avoid bed sores, massaging his joints and muscles, changing his diapers, moderating room temperatures, cooking for the patient.

Caregivers receive little thanks because often, the work done is monetarily immeasurable and takes place in the private domain of the home; beyond what others can recognise and valuate. I personally know one contact who previously took a few years off so that she can take care of her mother suffering from Alzheimer's Disease; the work done is tremendous: finding ways to stimulate cranal activity, encouraging patient to move into physical mobility, preparing food which boosts memory, moderating mood swings, cleaning up after patient and so on. It's not a 9-to-5, but a round-the-clock routine.

True, caregiving is born out of love, of filial piety, of selfless care and concern for someone else, but where many responsibilities are expected of an active Singaporean as prescribed by the government, how can Singaporeans be compensated (or even rewarded) for their efforts? For the time loss which could be directed at bringing home bread and butter? For the gap to fill in returning to the workforce? How can one catch up?

Take for example, the role of the Singaporean woman. She plays the dual role of staying economically active, i.e., employed, as well as caring for the elderly and her children. These are expectations set out by many instances of national rhetoric. Families can't be just single-income but dual income (wives have to work too); Baby bonus packages (give birth and take care of her kids); hospitals cannot support our elderly population, it has to be cascaded to home care (who else but the wives to take care of her in-laws?).

Face it, caregivers in Singapore are overstrained. To what quantifiable extent can workfarism work for caregivers here? It's time caregivers get their due welfare.
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