Respite Experiences and Needs of Caregivers of Older Adults in Singapore: A Qualitative Study

In many countries, the caregiving of older adults often falls on their family members. Family caregivers advocate respite care to mitigate the negative impacts of caregiving. Most related studies have been conducted in Western countries and lack an Asian perspective. Hence, this study explored the perceptions and needs for respite care among family caregivers of older adults in Singapore. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 15 caregivers and 5 social workers. An inductive analysis approach was implemented. The results revealed that caregivers perceived “ideal” respite care as a dyadic and preventive strategy, whereby caregivers would attend to their own needs only when adequate care for their care recipients was assured and when they recognized that they had relegated their own needs. However, there was a disparity between their “ideal” respite and actual respite experiences. The experience of negotiating their “ideal” respite was found to be dependent on their personal resources, and the use of respite services also reflects unmet needs of emergency respite. This study identified personal and systemic factors influencing how caregivers negotiate their “ideal” respite. The study highlights the importance of raising awareness and normalizing the need for respite, as caregivers often prioritize their care recipients’ needs above their own. A dyadic approach must be considered in respite care policy and service delivery, whereby care recipients’ health is stabilized while caregivers are supported to meet their personal needs. Importantly, it is useful to view respite as a social need to address the recurrent issues of availability and affordability in the current biomedical-centric respite care provision.