According to a study on Working Dementia Caregivers: Challenges and Needs brought jointly by HSBC Life, Sau Po Centre on Ageing at The University of Hong Kong and The Women’s Foundation, an overwhelming 73.7% of working caregivers were exposed to high levels of caregiver stress, 46.2% had symptoms of depression and 38.6% experienced family conflict. Conducted in July to August 2020 and targeting working adults aged 18 to 60, the Study was designed to understand the challenges and needs of working dementia caregivers. 

Highlights of the findings include:

• One-third (35.7%) of working caregivers provided at least 20 hours of caregiving per week, which is half of what typically constitutes a full-time job 
• Working dementia caregivers faced substantial financial burden with 68% of them saying their care recipients did not have adequate finances and over half of whom (53%) were relying on family’s financial support 
• Male and female working dementia caregivers have similar responsibilities and risk profiles, but a gender sensitive approach is needed to address specific challenges 
• Public-private partnerships critical in building a more supportive ecology for working caregivers to combat challenges brought on by dementia care

There are four primary areas of focus for recommendations:

• Early planning and new solutions needed to achieve financial stability 
• Improve support networks to alleviate working caregivers’ burden 
• Improve information accessibility to raise awareness and enhance knowledge 
• Focus on mental healthiness to ensure caregivers’ holistic well-being and emphasise a gender sensitive response