The burden of love: Hong Kong carers are tired, stressed and need more support as families struggle to cope
- Looking after elderly, severely ill family members and children with special needs can take its toll
- Comprehensive policies, more services needed for carers, especially as city’s population is ageing, experts say
Depression and stress from looking after her 87-year-old husband, who has dementia, keeps Hongkonger Pingping* awake at night.
The 71-year-old has tended to him alone, day and night, for almost 30 years since he was diagnosed and his condition has deteriorated over the years.
His memory was gone, he lost his temper easily, and picked quarrels with her at home and in public, drawing complaints from their neighbours in a public housing estate.
He stayed in two care homes for more than a year but both asked him to go after other residents complained about him.
The couple live on a government Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) monthly allowance of about HK$8,000 (US$1,019). Their two married sons have refused to take in their father and seldom visited.
Pingping, who has diabetes, was worried about her own health, too. She said the stress was so overwhelming she could not fall asleep at night, and suffered hair loss and tinnitus, an unending ringing in her ears.
