Running on fumes: When self-neglect causes caregivers to hit a wall

In Your Opinion Podcast

When caregivers sacrifice careers to look after loved ones, who cares for the carers?

Published Sep 09, 2026, 06:00 PM

Updated Sep 09, 2026, 06:00 PM

Synopsis: Conversations and interviews that give you something to think about. Each Wednesday, In Your Opinion speaks to thinkers, leaders, and the people shaping our lives and the issues of the day.

The rising number of dementia patients is just the tip of the iceberg. An ageing population, chronic illnesses that leave loved ones bedridden, and more awareness of mental health conditions have cast a spotlight on the importance of caregiver respite.

On this episode of In Your Opinion, we look at the mental health struggles faced by caregivers who sacrifice much of themselves in caring for loved ones.

Joining assistant podcast editor Lynda Hong is Tim Oei, CEO of Mindfull Community. Drawing on decades of leadership at major social service agencies like AWWA and the National Kidney Foundation, he talks about caring for the carers, and why some see going to work as a form of respite.

Oei touches on systemic gaps that could disadvantage asset-rich, cash-poor caregivers, and why quitting your job to be a full-time carer can very quickly lead to burnout.

They also explore the marathon that is caregiving, and how friends, colleagues and neighbours can take small steps to help.

Highlights (click/tap above):

3:17 When burnt-out caregivers face health issues

5:29 Caregivers only seek help when crisis hits 9:17 Why having a job can backfire when applying for grants

11:35 ‘Work is respite’: How some carers see their jobs

14:20 Will the $10m OrangeAid grant help with caregiver burnout?

21:40 Why sending a caregiver on a ‘staycation’ backfired

23:08 How to scale tailored support for caregivers? 26:15 The dementia tsunami: Scaling support for 2030

27:36 Co-location of services to help care recipients and caregivers

34:40 Hitting the wall: When caregivers reach the tragic breaking point

Read ST’s Opinion section: https://str.sg/w7sH

Follow Lynda Hong on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/Gm2v

Host: Lynda Hong ( lyndahong@sph.com.sg )

Produced and edited by: Teo Tong Kai

Executive producers: Danson Cheong and Lynda Hong

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ST Current Affairs Podcast

Caregivers/Caregiving

你的观点播客

当照护者牺牲自己的事业来照​​顾亲人时，谁来照顾这些照护者呢？

发布于2026年9月9日下午6:00

更新于2026年9月9日下午6:00

简介：引人深思的对话和访谈。每周三，《你的观点》节目都会采访思想家、领袖以及那些影响我们生活和时事热点的人士。

痴呆症患者人数的不断增加只是冰山一角。人口老龄化、慢性疾病导致亲人卧床不起，以及人们对精神健康状况的日益关注，都凸显了照护者喘息服务的重要性。

在本期《你的观点》节目中，我们将探讨照顾者在照顾亲人时所面临的心理健康问题，他们为此牺牲了很多。

本期节目，播客助理编辑琳达·洪邀请到了Mindfull Community的首席执行官蒂姆·欧伊。蒂姆·欧伊曾在AWWA和国家肾脏基金会等大型社会服务机构担任领导职务数十年，他将结合自身经验，探讨如何关爱照护者，以及为什么有些人把工作视为一种休息方式。

Oei 谈到了可能使资产丰富但现金匮乏的照护者处于不利地位的系统性缺陷，以及为什么辞职成为全职照护者会很快导致倦怠。

他们还探讨了照顾他人这项漫长的事业，以及朋友、同事和邻居如何通过一些小事来提供帮助。

亮点（点击/轻触上方）：

3:17 当精疲力竭的照护者面临健康问题时

5:29 照顾者只有在危机发生时才会寻求帮助 9:17 为什么有工作反而会阻碍申请补助金

11:35 “工作是一种喘息”：一些护理人员如何看待他们的工作

14:20 OrangeAid提供的1000万美元拨款能否帮助缓解照护者倦怠？

21:40 为什么让照护者“宅度假”适得其反

23:08 如何扩大针对照护者的个性化支持？ 26:15 痴呆症海啸：扩大对2030年的支持

27:36 为帮助受照护者和照护者而提供的服务集中办公

34:40 撞上绝境：当照护者达到崩溃的临界点

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主持人：Lynda Hong (lyndahong@sph.com.sg)

制作及剪辑：张同凯

执行制片人：郑丹森和洪琳达

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