#Respitecare

A growing body of evidence underscores the immense emotional, physical, and spiritual strain shouldered by caregivers—often family members—tasked with looking after loved ones with chronic illnesses such as Alzheimer’s, cancer, stroke, or Parkinson’s disease. Recent personal stories and new data shared in a July 2025 report by faith columnist Terry Pluto bring renewed attention to both the widespread challenges and silent heroics within caregiving communities, with lessons and warnings that resonate deeply in Thailand.

Caregivers, often family members, bear heavy emotional, physical, and spiritual burdens when assisting loved ones with chronic illnesses such as Alzheimer’s, cancer, stroke, or Parkinson’s. A recent 2025 analysis highlights how these pressures resonate in Thailand amid rapid aging and changing family dynamics.

Caregiving often begins with uncertainty. A husband caring for his wife with early-onset Alzheimer’s embodies the ongoing questions: how long will this last, and how will it end? In Thailand, many families start with unclear timelines and outcomes, facing long-term demands beyond dementia. Nationwide data indicates a growing elderly population, and shifts in family structures mean more elders live apart from younger relatives or in rural areas. This makes unpaid caregiving more common and complex, with stress intensifying as formal supports remain limited.