Caring for Our Elders: South Africa's Hidden Struggles

South Africa is facing a significant challenge when it comes to caring for its elderly population. The tension lies between families who take care of their elderly loved ones, professional caregivers, and the government. This issue is often felt at home and in communities, but to truly understand it, we need to look at how the government has been reducing funding for care facilities and promoting the idea of 'ageing in place' without providing extra support for home and community-based care.The research shows that both unpaid family caregivers and paid care workers are under a lot of stress. This stress is usually blamed on individual shortcomings and personal conflicts, rather than seeing it as a result of bigger socio-political issues. This finding sheds light on how a system that relies heavily on families for care—known as familialism—affects the daily relationships between unpaid and paid caregivers of the elderly. In South Africa, the responsibility of caring for the elderly often falls on family members, which can strain relationships and cause burnout. Professional caregivers also face similar challenges due to the lack of support from the state. This situation highlights the importance of considering the socio-political context of elder care, rather than just focusing on individual issues.