COLUMN: Tales from the Gravel Ridge – The astounding role of Rosengard’s caregivers

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 12/11/2024 (208 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Caregivers surely have existed since time immemorial. In fact, no society could function, let alone thrive, without that vital aspect of care being provided. Indeed any reflections on my childhood would leave cavernous spaces were I to neglect calling to mind the enormous influence of Rosengard’s caregivers on the entire community. However, it is safe to say that every Rosengard family was well-served by such caregivers. These individuals would be found within the family, but also beyond.

Providing care can and indeed does take a variety of forms. Care-giving may well be an ongoing activity within the context of a family, or providing assistance on an “as needed” basis. In the context of a family, providing meals in a timely manner, for example, is essential in order to keep everyone in a reasonably good frame of mind. Doing so called for good time management especially on the part of the person who prepared meals.

My mother had learned to manage her time well, although I have no idea how she did it, given the vast number of tasks she regularly completed. One aspect of her routine however remains firmly fixed in my memory, and that was the time she allowed herself for a nap, pretty well daily. It wasn’t that she spent a great deal of time relaxing; indeed, if the term power nap would have been in vogue at the time, I think that’s what we would have called it. My sister Anne and I well remember that our mother used to say that if she could lie down for fifteen minutes, she would be fine. I think she had learned how to pace herself.

Another aspect of our family’s weekly activity where time seemed to loom more significantly than on other days was that of going to church on Sunday mornings. Unlike other days of the week, Sunday mornings, instead of being restful, tended to be more rushed than usual. No doubt it was in part due to the fact that the whole family had to be ready to go to the church service in a timely manner. This included properly washed hands and faces, hair that was groomed, and wearing our best apparel. Getting to church on time was important.

Sunday afternoon in that long ago time, however, truly was a day of rest. Even though the baby of the family would still need to be fed, and the toddlers might be getting into mischief, the atmosphere, both mentally and physically was nevertheless much more relaxed than during the week. Even our “Faspa” (a light afternoon meal) was made up of special baking prepared the day before. From time to time friends might also come for a visit. Even though preparing for Sunday required work, mainly on the part of our mother, but also with help from the kids, it provided its own rewards, even if not monetarily.

The International Day of Care and Support was observed globally on Oct. 29 this year. In that context, a regional director for the International Labour Organization reflected on the importance of the care economy as a pillar of social justice. We need to recognize the huge significance of care work, be it paid or unpaid. Much has changed from the era when unpaid care work was commonplace in my Rosengard childhood community. The importance of it is ever more relevant today. According to the UN, the number of care recipients is predicted to reach 2.3 billion by 2030. Women perform 76 percent of the total amount of that unpaid care work.

We would be remiss if we failed to acknowledge how much all of us have benefitted from both paid care work and unpaid work. It is also imperative that we acknowledge the increasing demand for more childcare, and for care for the elderly. Sadly, care work worldwide continues to fall short in the provision of good wages, and badly needed benefits and protections.

It is fundamental to the well-being of all of us that we ensure the well-being of caregivers.