Art therapy helps Hong Kong women address ‘hidden’ family caregiving stressors
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Some days, Florence Lam Sau-choi can barely cope as she balances a full-time job as a clerk with being the main carer for her elderly parents, both living with dementia.
The single woman said the challenges of looking after her father, 88, and mother, 86, sometimes made her consider placing them in a home for the elderly.
“One time, I casually brought it up and my dad became agitated, rushed out of the flat and climbed the railing as if he was going to jump off the building. My helper and I rushed out to stop him,” recalled Lam, 55.
“He yelled at me, saying I was a murderer wanting to send him away, and hurled all sorts of hurtful words at me. At that moment, I really wanted to leave our home.”
She said her mother would scold her for no reason. An older sister also lived at home, but when she quarrelled with the helper, both would call Lam at work to complain.
Sometimes, it all felt like more than she could bear.