EXPLORING THE INFLUENCE OF FOREIGN DOMESTIC WORKERS AND DEMENTIA DAY CARE SERVICES ON THE OUTCOMES OF PRIMARY CAREGIVERS OF PERSONS WITH DEMENTIA IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

Dementia represents a global health priority, as the number of persons with dementia (PWDs) is set to rise alongside the global trend of rapidly ageing populations. Dementia care in Singapore also represents a unique context, as changing demographics pose a challenge to the traditional Many Helping Hands approach, which prioritises informal family support. Thus, caregivers are increasingly turning to foreign domestic workers (FDWs) to supplement the role of the caregiver at home, even as they tap on community services such as dementia day care (DDC) services. This study adds to the current literature by exploring the influence of different kinds of formal services on the outcomes of primary caregivers caring for PWDs in Singapore. This study aims to expand on existing studies on the moderating stress buffer model (Østbye et al., 2013) by using a phenomenological qualitative approach to explore the interaction between FDW and DDC services and how they respond to different stressors. Thus, six caregivers who hired an FDW and used DDC services from a DDC centre in Singapore were interviewed for this study. The findings suggest that each formal service has its own niche domain in influencing both care-recipient and caregiver outcomes, and are able to mutually support each other to offset the respective services’ limitations. A revised model is also proposed to reflect the interactions between various components. Suggestions are given to improve service delivery at the practice and policy level, especially regarding the Home Caregiving Grant and its potential to help families make informed decisions about choosing formal services. Finally, implications regarding the caregivers’ overreliance on foreign labour and their receptiveness towards new community-based initiatives like the dementia care village are also explored.