Indonesia’s culture is characterized by strong family bonds and familial piety and, thus, caregiving for people with dementia is perceived as obligatory for family members (Hunger et al., 2019). In addition, the lack of available long-term care services leaves some families no other option but to take up the caregiving responsibilities. Kristanti and colleagues (2019) qualitatively compared the experience of family members caring for relatives with dementia and cancer in Yogyakarta. The main differences identified was that carers of people with dementia missed the loss of their previous relationship with the person they cared for and experienced difficulties in communicating with their relatives. In addition, carers of people with dementia blamed themselves as they believed they contributed to their relatives’ illness. They also found that in Indonesia, family carers invoke words such as “obligation” and “calling” to express reasons to be a caregiver for people with dementia (Kristanti et al., 2019).

Religion also plays a role in shaping the notion of obligation to give care, as some carers believe that good deeds on earth will be rewarded in the afterlife. For adult children, caring for their ailing parents is also a form of showing gratitude or reciprocity (Tatisina & Sari, 2017). Gender plays a significant role in caring for older people and people with dementia, with more women than men taking the role of carers (Tatisina & Sari, 2017).

References:

Hunger, C., Kuru, S. S., & Kristanti, S. (2019). Psychosocial burden, approach versus avoidance coping, social support and quality of life (QOL) in caregivers of persons with dementia in Java, Indonesia: A cross-sectional study. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.2.16801/v1

Kristanti, M. S., Effendy, C., Utarini, A., Vernooij-Dassen, M., & Engels, Y. (2019). The experience of family caregivers of patients with cancer in an Asian country: A grounded theory approach. Palliative Medicine, 33(6), 676–684. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269216319833260

Tatisina, C. M., & Sari, M. (2017). The Correlation Between Family Burden And Giving Care for Dementia Elderly at Leihitu Sub-District , Central Maluku , Indonesia. 2(3), 41–46.