HEART Foundation launches ‘Support Group for Care Givers’ of dependent
individuals
By Dinesh Kamath
NAVI MUMBAI: With an aim to provide support, encouragement, guide
and a shoulder to lean onto, HEART Foundation, NGO from Navi Mumbai (which runs
STREE as well) has launched a ‘Support Group for Care Givers’ of dependent
individuals.
“Caregivers have been a neglected
lot, often being challenged to find time to tend to their own needs, resulting
in an alarming decline in their physical and mental health. The fact is that
caregivers need to be taken care of too and supported to see through the trying
times that they find themselves in,” says Dr. Jayakar Ellis, Founder President,
HEART.
“HEART Foundation has been working
in the field of health since its inception in July 2013. During its work it was
observed that though health care facilities have improved in cities, the
unknown plight of the caregivers, remains all the more hidden. Nothing is said
or being done about people who tend to their ailing ones on a day to day
basis,” he added.
The Scenario
In India, caregiving is essentially
a job for women since beginning, owing to their exclusive presence at home and
the ability to juggle multiple tasks while at it. So, apart from the daily
household chores, which tend to overwork them, they get overburdened by an
additional responsibility of taking care of an ailing dependent family member.
While, all of them carry out their responsibilities well, the pressure tends to
take a toll on their own needs as they start ignoring or hardly find time to
think about their own physical and mental needs. In some cases the growing
financial crunch adds up to the pressure exerted. This burdening of individuals
who already have a lot on their plates, is overwhelming. The scope of their
social interaction gets limited within four walls leaving no room for hobbies,
dreams and aspirations.
A Startling fact
“It is startling to know that in
most of the cases, caregivers too, end up under some physical or mental ailment
for the stress they go through. The lack of support tends to push them into a
different level of depression that has deteriorating effects on them, exposing
them to the same fate as that of the ailing ones. They get sick while caring
for the sick!” said Dr. Shirish Pujari (MD), one of the facilitators of the
Group.
Heart Foundation: Caring for the Caregivers
In Navi Mumbai, caregivers consist
of both people from the low economic groups and high economic groups. While
people from the high economic groups have the option to hire help to look after
their physically dependent relatives, people from the lower class have to bear
the brunt resource crunches that include finances too, as many of them also
have to work to keep the family running. Additional expenses and the physical
and mental drain add to their woes pushing them towards disaster.
Aim and Objectives
“Through this Group, we would
strive to connect caregivers and others too into forming support groups that
can share experiences, interact openly, learn from each other and support each
other in every possible manner,” said Mrs. Uma Vaidyanathan, Coordinator and
senior volunteer of HEART.
Through this initiative HEART Foundation aims to provide a platform to:
· Exchange practical information on
care giving problems and possible solutions
· Talk through challenges and ways
of coping
· Share feelings, needs and
concerns
· Learn about resources available
in the community
· Learn ways of coping with the
stresses and strains of being a caregiver
“The support group will benefit the
family caregivers who can learn from each other and also from the resource
persons. This can help to perform their role in a better way and to lead
healthier lives,” said Ms. Suvarna Suryavanshi, psychologist and another
facilitator.
The Group is open for all
caregivers and the get together will be held every Saturday from 5 pm to 7 pm
at HEART Foundation’s office at office no. 2, Jyoti Apartments, Sector 20, plot
no 17 G, Belapurgaon, CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai.
Various fun filled activities will
be held along with sessions on Yoga by Mrs. Sharmishtha Ambre, a well known
yoga exponent, talks by Dr. Pujari and session by Ms. Suryavanshi.
Registration is free but mandatory.
Pls call: 8080007777/ 97680404043 and email to drjaellis@gmail.com
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