While a multi-pronged three year strategy is being discussed at a macro level across the world about how to make cancer care accessible to all, my thoughts today are at a micro level, narrowed down to the caregivers i.e people who ARE CLOSING THE CARE GAP in our own families. Not just for cancer but for various ailments, conditions and advanced age. 

Jaya was sharing her cancer journey at a community event. How she emerged victorious after the long and arduous treatment. How she climbed the treacherous Mt. Kailash within a year of treatment. How she is enjoying life now, savouring every moment.  She attributed her remarkable recovery to her primary caregiver, her dear husband. What struck me was her statement “Post recovery, I insisted my husband and I take a picture together. I was shocked when I saw it. While I looked healthy and beautiful with my curly hair back on my head which was once bald, I couldn’t recognise the person next to me. He looked tired, sleep deprived and drained out. He had lost weight and the clothes hung on him loosely. It was when, I actually realised how much he went through taking care of me. He now needed care and respite. Not me.” I could completely relate to it as a cancer victor myself. Even with a support system around, caregivers are the most affected – battered both physically and mentally. There is a need to recognise their immense contribution not only to the patient and immediate family but also to the society at large. Just like the unsung contribution of the silent homemakers without whom the wheels of economy will not move, in my opinion.  Well, we cannot put a number to caregiving and support but without them the CARE GAP only gets wider !

This is not restricted to cancer alone. Take the case of Akash who left his well paying CEO job abroad and returned to India to care for not one but three women in his family – his wife who has a rare health condition that has forced her to remain on bed and in isolation for years now with no relief in sight, his single sister-in-law and his ailing mother-in-law. Despite attenders and cooks, Akash has to be around tending to the women constantly that hardly leaves him with time to do anything else. He has been missing the weddings, birthdays, reunions. With near to none socialising, he has gone into a shell now. Thanks to a small family, he has none to give him the much needed break and emotional support. It is a case of CARE GAP affecting the caregiver himself.

One of my family members who is successfully running a state of the art, first of its kind in Asia Dementia Village in Bangalore (www.carefordementia.in) strongly recommends institutional medical care for dementia (meaning admission) so that the caregiver in the family is not affected. Dementia care needs specialised and trained caregivers, doctors, nurses, medication and secure and safe environment which a family cannot provide, if the illness prolongs. The most affected again are the spouse, children, siblings or daughter-in-law who take on the responsibility of caregiving at the cost of their own health and personal life. While none can match the love and care a family member can offer, in dementia cases where patients deteriorate rapidly and exhibit irrational behaviour (sometimes leading to violence as well), caregiver fatigue sets in. The founder of the Dementia Village says, in many cases, the patient outlives the caregiver throwing the entire family out of gear. Who is to CLOSE THE CARE GAP then ?

Large corporates are sensitive to these needs and are providing flexi working hours, sabbaticals, paid caregiving leaves etc. to employees but with changing demographics where we see nuclear families and longer life spans, the need for CLOSING THE CARE GAP at family levels both for the CARED as well as the CAREGIVER is rising. More affordable institutional care, skilled human resource coupled with use of technology is the need of the hour. Undoubtedly great business opportunities if built on the edifice of compassion, care and accessibility !

While the MCA V3 portal woes continue unabated leading to user frustration, helplessness and anxiety as also to economic loss as a whole, ROCs unleash adjudication orders levying penalties on corporates and also directors. Isn’t this an inequity of sorts in governance I wonder ? Well, MCA is trying to rein in the mayhem created, by issuing circulars that are either late in the day or cause more confusion. Their twitter-route for ticket resolution doesn’t seem to help much either. The saga continues for the 2nd month….

Keep it simple stupid (KISS) is the mantra. So a few sections in this 285th Samhita have been eased out to stay focussed and short. Union Budget 2023-24 being a month old already is carried as snapshot only along with other regulatory updates. However, do not miss reading CS Kalidas’s incisive article titled “Can the Executive Chairperson be a member of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee (NRC)-A vexed Question ?”

For any previous issues of Samhita and the readers’ feedback, please visit http://www.sharadasc.com/resource-center/.

Happy Reading,

S.C. Sharada