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We know that caregiving can be stressful and tiring. But what if caregiving can also be… enjoyable?

One would be ignorant to downplay the insurmountable responsibilities that caregivers shoulder every second of every day. The nature of caregiving is such that it demands not just physical effort but also mental diligence and emotional sustenance from its provider.

Daily duties involve and are not limited to handling medical regimes, traversing the healthcare system and taking charge of other dependents, alongside providing psychological support to the patient throughout the illness trajectory. Caregivers must also manage a multitude of emotions and practical struggles as they navigate the changes, and sometimes losses, in their personal lives.

Narratives of such challenges throw light upon the day-to-day struggles of caregivers. They serve to strengthen the voices of advocacy for pro-caregiver policies, services and programs, so that governments, organisations and society can do their part in helping caregivers navigate their tremendous journeys with more ease.

However, to truly understand a phenomenon, it is important to explore all sides of the narrative. Researchers are now paying attention to not just the burdens, but the blessings of the caregiving journey. And these blessings are plentiful.

Geraldine Tan-Ho, Senior Counsellor and Research Fellow, Division of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University in Singapore recently wrote a piece for ehospice. She explores the experience of caregiving and how numerous studies show that caregivers are not just surviving but thriving.

Caregivers are having fun. Click here to continue reading her article.