Caregivers face rising physical, emotional, and legal challenges

Medical experts and legal rulings are highlighting the growing challenges faced by caregivers of elderly or disabled family members. In the Dominican Republic, geriatrician Victoria M. Aybar Ramírez warns of ‘caregiver syndrome,’ a condition resulting from the physical and emotional exhaustion of managing medical routines, hygiene, and emotional needs without sufficient support or training. She emphasizes that seeking help is not a sign of weakness or abandonment.

In a legal context, recent rulings are addressing the right to work-life balance. A decision by the High Court of Justice of Navarra underscored that employees have the right to request work adaptations, such as teleworking, to care for close relatives. The court ruled that companies must engage in a genuine negotiation process before rejecting such requests, rather than issuing summary denials based on company policy or living arrangements.