In super-aged Japan, the
awareness of the dilemma facing caregivers of demented seniors first surfaced
in 1972 with the release of the best-seller fiction, “The Twilight Years”
written by Sawako Ariyoshi. In the story, the protagonist, Akiko from a typical
middle class family naturally takes up the role as a sole caregiver for her
widowed father-in-law with dementia after the death of her mother-in-law.
Juggling caregiving while at the same time a working woman with a teenage son,
the difficulties Akiko encountered resonates with many caregivers in similar
situations. The book led to wide to widespread discussions
and big repercussions on policies in elder care.
Although Japan has come a
long way since the 1970s in eldercare support, negative consequences from the
stress of eldercare is still felt by family caregivers. In April 2009, a former
actress who quit her job to take care of her demented mother since 2006 was
found to have killed herself in front of her father’s grave. Her suicide
highlighted yet again the plight of a caregiver who is trapped with caring for
her loved ones that were demented. A few months after the tragedy, her sister
published a book about the former actress, she deeply regretted how she had
neglected her sister’s problems as a caregiver which has led to her depression
and subsequent suicide. The family tragedy woke the sister up, and she became
active in advocating for wider awareness and care for caregivers. The lesson
reminds us that we not only need caregivers, we also need supporters who keep an eye
on the caregivers and tend to their needs.
Dr. Thang Leng Leng
Associate Professor
National University of Singapore (NUS)
(Writer is a member of iCare Life Advisory Board)
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