Carers: the unsung heroes.
In the 17th century, English poet John Donne famously wrote that “no man is an island” meaning no one is self sufficient; everyone relies on others. So true was this statement that it echoed through the ages and remains relevant even today, particularly in terms of health and rehabilitation. Too often do we celebrate the stories of people defying odds and overcoming disability without paying equal credit to their carers and the vital supporting role they play.
Carers are arguably the most important people in an individual’s rehabilitation journey and contribute the most to their success. Such carers that are referred to in this discourse are the loved ones that aren’t recipients of any monetary reward, but rather provide care for purely sentimental reasons. They are the ones that are present day and night offering emotional support, assisting with ADLs (activities of daily living), and provide transport to and from appointments amongst a plethora of other things. If the rehabilitation process was thought of as a motion picture, carers would best resemble the producers and executive producers of the production.
The role of a caregiver is very demanding and carers often experience substantial stress as the burden of caring for their sick loved ones can easily become overwhelming, especially when there is a need to balance other life responsibilities. This stress can manifest in a myriad of negative effects on one’s emotional and psychological health, such as depression, anxiety, anger, resentment, worry, poor sleep and in extreme cases suicidal thoughts.
A recent report prepared for the NSW Carers Advisory Council by Hill & Broady (2019) found that extensive research has been conducted to investigate which interventions best alleviate carer stress, in broad terms they encompass the following: respite care, education and training, counselling, support groups, practical help and technological interventions. Sadly despite the extensive research, in many cases the evidence about their effectiveness was inconclusive and it was not possible for the authors to state definitively what actually works to support a carers’ social and emotional well-being.
A caveat concerning this unsatisfying finding is that most of the studies that were reviewed had problems with their design, quality and comparability. Notwithstanding the conclusions of the report, caregivers may still find benefit from exploring certain interventions simply because of individual differences and personal preference. It is also reasonable for carers to draw from pop psychology tips regarding self-care, such as sleeping earlier, eating better, exercising regularly, socialising with others, and allocating time to pursue hobbies and interests.
Carers are truly the unsung heroes of the rehabilitation process. Too important is their supporting role that we must ensure that they don’t burn themselves out in the process. It might also help if they were celebrated too, in similar fashion as the rehab participants they care for, because a little praise goes a long way.
