Unpaid care-work and paid work：The dilemma for caregivers who have family member with chronic mental illnesses

• Main Author: 潘暐晨
• Other Authors: 劉梅君
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/62638703352314416475

碩士 === 國立政治大學 === 勞工研究所 === 102 === The study focuses on the work challenges of those caregivers who care for family member with chronic mental illnesses. Depth interviews were performed on twelve families who have family members with chronic mental illnesses .In order to present the geographic difference of medical resources for family caregivers, we target samples at north Taiwan (Taipei City and New Taipei City) and middle Taiwan (Changhua county and Chiayi county). Due to the unpaid care work , caregivers’ career are often affected. As the caregivers spend on care work, they decrease their labor force participation. The employment type, working hours and workplace are also limited. They tend to choose flexible working hours in order to meet the patients’ illness needs. In case of the emergent accident, they also choose working places that are not far away from home. This study also finds that some caregivers have chronic mental disorder, which makes them difficult to find job too. In addition, due to the stigma in our society, they are unwilling to disclose to their employers the fact that they are from a family with chronic mental disorder patient. They also fear that the employer will question their working ability. Some employer even thinks that the caregivers may also become patients. Because of the heavy pressure for the caregivers, they are unable to pay attention and concentrate on their jobs. Some of them often arrive at working place late and leave early, which makes workplace relationship tense and difficult. The career difficulties for caregivers result from the care work. If the care work burden decreases, the career of caregivers will also become much smooth and even unaffected. The resources provided by governments and peer family groups are the ways to decrease care work. Besides, we can educate the public to diminish the negative attitude toward the people with mental disorder.. This study concludes by proposing three policy recommendations as follows: (A) Strengthen the integration of chronic mental patients in the community and social resources (1) Labor policy: the allocation of resources between vocational rehabilitation and sheltered workshops must be reconsidered according to the characteristics of chronic mental disorder patients. (2) Social Welfare: strengthen the support of chronic mental patients in community-based system for caregivers. (B) Encourage the establishment of peer groups, provide caregivers with more social support and promote related act and policy. (C) Promote and learn the knowledge of mental illness, remove the stigma by formal education and social education.