WILLEMSTAD – Caregivers on Curaçao are coming under growing pressure due to the island’s aging population, shortages in healthcare services, and a lack of structural support, according to Hende-i-Medio-Ambiente (HiMA).
The organization warns that many informal caregivers are providing intensive daily care for parents, partners, children, and neighbors while also trying to maintain jobs and personal responsibilities, often without professional assistance.
HiMA described the situation as a “silent crisis,” arguing that more people are taking on long-term caregiving responsibilities that negatively affect their own health, finances, and social lives.
According to the organization, women are carrying a particularly heavy burden because caregiving within Caribbean culture often falls primarily on female family members.
At the same time, professional home care services remain limited and financially inaccessible for many families, while temporary replacement care — allowing caregivers time to rest — is often unavailable.
HiMA warned that prolonged caregiving can lead to burnout, depression, physical health problems, and social isolation.
The organization also noted that many caregivers reduce working hours or interrupt their careers entirely in order to provide care, directly affecting their income and future pension accumulation.
HiMA believes the pressure on families will continue increasing in the coming years as Curaçao’s population ages and demand for healthcare services rises.
The organization specifically pointed to the growing strain on the so-called “sandwich generation” — middle-aged adults simultaneously caring for aging parents and children.
According to HiMA, Curaçao urgently needs broader recognition and stronger structural support for informal caregivers before the problem worsens further.