KUALA LUMPUR: The role of caregivers, which has often been overlooked, must be given greater attention as they face immense stress and emotional strain while caring for patients, says a senior university lecturer.
Dr Juliet Mathew said 25% of caregivers suffer from clinical depression and anxiety, with women caregivers particularly vulnerable due to fewer social resources and higher levels of stress.
“Caregivers are an integral part of patient care, yet they are frequently neglected in discussions about healthcare,” said the senior lecturer from IMU University.
She was speaking during the Women’s Institute of Management (WIM) Mental Health Forum 2024 here yesterday. Raja Permaisuri of Perak Tuanku Zara Salim was the guest of honour at the event.
Dr Mathew called for healthcare providers to treat caregivers with the same level of compassion as their patients, and urged that they be given the necessary support and opportunities for respite.
“We cannot ignore the toll caregiving takes on the mental and physical well-being of those caring for their patients.
“Support systems need to be put in place to allow caregivers time to recharge.”
In addressing patient care, Dr Mathew emphasised the importance of recognising individual emotional processes, such as denial, shock, and mourning, as essential steps in providing compassionate support.
This, she said, should extend to caregivers, who often bear the emotional weight of their responsibilities while managing their own struggles.
“Compassion is more than a word, it’s a deep desire to reduce another person’s suffering.”
Dr Mathew, who is director of the Clinical Skills and Simulation Centre at IMU University, said both patients and caregivers benefit from empathetic listening and effective communication, where healthcare professionals remain present. Avoid offering caregivers empty platitudes, she added.
She stressed the importance of core medical ethics – autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice – in ensuring patients are treated with respect.
While balancing the concerns of family members is important, the autonomy of the patient, particularly when it comes to being informed and making their own decisions, should always take precedence, she added.
As she shared her experience of end-of-life care, Dr Mathew, who is a medical officer and registered counsellor, said patients often struggle with spiritual questions that require attention and understanding.
This holistic approach to care, she said, provides comfort not only to patients, but also to their families, fostering a sense of peace during difficult times.
