Most patients have families that are providing some level of care and support. Especially if it’s in the case of older adults and people with chronic disabilities. The terms ‘family caregiver’ and ‘informal caregiver’ refers to an unpaid family member, friend, or neighbour who provides care to an individual who has an acute or chronic condition and needs assistance to manage a variety of tasks.

According to our entrepreneurs who are leading the healthcare industry in Malaysia, family caregiving in Malaysia raises safety issues in a few ways that should be of our concern. First, caregivers are sometimes referred to as ‘secondary patients,’ who need and deserve protection and guidance. Second, family caregivers are unpaid providers who often need help to learn how to become competent in taking care of their patients. Third, some may even need to fully commit to the new role of being a caregiver to ensure their patients are well taken care of without stretching their wallets.

How can the healthcare sector provide protection & guidance for these ‘secondary patients’? How can the healthcare industry ensure caregivers are competent to nurture recovery or facilitate assistance for their patients or family members? Who is looking out for the caregivers?

Family caregivers get very little help from health care professionals in managing their tasks and the emotional demands of caregiving. Among the greatest challenges for family caregivers is interacting with nurses and other professionals in the hospital setting, and a rough crossing back home, as the patient is “discharged to family.” Moving forward, entrepreneurs and healthcare advocates see that this will soon be a bigger problem in the next 5 years.

That’s where healthcare services like Managedcare, CARE Concierge and Meaningfull play their role for society. They coordinate a variety of healthcare services as well as administration of these services to achieve the paramount value in terms of quality and affordability. They bring to us products and services that ease the provision and access to care, giving “family caregivers' a peace of mind.

Are they charging more than hospitals? Quite the contrary.

Not only do they provide professionals, experienced workers for the post-hospitalisation or post-op but also provide independent living and managed home care services with the help of their nurses and caregivers. Doctors and nurses are able to attend to medical procedures so family members can remain in the comforts of their home and patients, in the comfort of hotels or care centres with a better and more conducive living space. So basically, with the same amount you pay at hospitals, you get the same proper care you would get at hospitals with better personalisation to your lifestyle, without jeopardising your family members day-to-day lifestyle.

We have our eyes on them! As they create a new standard of care in Asia focused on cultural awareness, and combining hospitality with a high-level of care, whether it be luxe or affordable. A world where we can both rely on hospitals but more after, we also get to rely on reliable and skillfull caregivers without sacrificing another family member’s well-being/life.