Understanding the wounded soul of an invisible workforce: Needs and issues of family carers

Abstract

Family caregivers have been an integral part of healthcare in India for several decades. They have been complementing the state resources, and thus, estimating the real healthcare cost becomes difficult. This paper highlights the needs of the family caregivers in an emerging change in the family structure in India – from joint families to extended families and to nuclear families. It makes a case for recognizing the efforts of the caregivers in providing healthcare, rather than just viewing them as plentiful of resources available. Their experiences and needs deserve due recognition and understanding to develop support networks and care program for the caregivers. We have made attempt in this regard to summarize the current status of research on this topic in the Indian and global context.

Keywords

• chronic illness
• family caregiver
• mental illness
• obligation