Virus hits home for caregivers

Caretakers for the ill and children with special education needs have suffered emotional meltdowns while stuck at home with family members around the clock during the pandemic.

A Labour Party survey looking into the challenges caretakers are facing amid the pandemic and the impact of the mandatory mask order in public places found that 55 percent said they had experienced an emotional breakdown.

About 54 percent of the 797 caretakers polled reported symptoms of depression as the caretaking burden falls on them.

Of those carrying out caretaking tasks alone, 78 percent said they had fallen into a depression, while 64 percent of those who are able to divide up caregiving tasks with other family members had also fallen into a depression.

With care services suspended during the outbreak, 90 percent said they felt helpless about caretaking.

Of the 440 receiving care, 61 percent had had care services completely suspended.

Caretakers also felt their job had taken a toll on their rest and health. Nearly 75 percent said sleep quality had been affected - in particular those who had to take care of their family members alone - including bodily pain and frequent headaches.

Meanwhile, 47 percent said they had experienced burnout from time to time.

The survey also noted that the mental and physical health of caretakers had been worsened by the emotional and behavioral problems of care recipients.

Around 42 percent reported their care receivers had emotional breakdowns, and 49 percent said family members had shown more aggressive behavior.

Lawmaker Fernando Cheung Chiu-hung voiced concern over the possibility of the pandemic leading to "tragedies" among caretakers and care receivers.

"With schools and daycare services suspended amid the pandemic, people with special care needs have to stay at home for long periods, causing their emotional management to go backward," he said.