Debanjana's Day
Debanjana Bhaumik juggles a demanding career and the full-time responsibility of caring for her 9-year-old daughter, Sahana, who has autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. "It's a delicate balance," she admits, "but I've learned to structure my days efficiently to ensure quality time for both my career and Sahana."
On weekdays, her morning routine involves preparing her daughter for school and herself for work. Evenings are often dedicated to quality time with Sahana, focusing on homework and preparing for the next day. Weekends offer a respite for family bonding and personal enrichment, including opportunities for Sahana to develop new skills such as helping with laundry or going out for shopping. Despite Debanjana’s busy schedule, she finds time to dedicate herself to supporting other caregivers as a CAREbuddy.
A New Journey
Initially, the prospect of connecting with and supporting strangers was daunting. However, Debanjana's empathy and passion to share her experiences with fellow caregivers motivated her to take up this new commitment. The CAREbuddy journey begins with comprehensive training that equips individuals with the necessary resources and tools to support other caregivers. Her role as a CAREbuddy involves monthly check-ins with assigned caregivers, providing them with a listening ear and practical assistance drawn from her own experiences as a caregiver.
She also shares information about resources with caregivers, to help them find the support they need. For each caregiver, Debanjana supports them through their journey for 6 months. Debanjana happily shared that she is still in touch with the very first caregiver she mentored, as they update each other on their children's progress. "I love hearing their stories and offering practical advice based on my own journey," she says.
Being a Strong Advocate
Since joining this programme, Debanjana has become a source of support for five caregivers. To provide more targeted assistance, she is paired with caregivers whose children were younger or around the same age as Sahana. Her ability to listen with empathy has created a safe space for parents to share their concerns and seek guidance.
Debanjana hopes to see less stigma surrounding persons with disabilities, both among caregivers and on a wider societal level. While she acknowledges the emotional turmoil that many caregivers experience during a child’s initial diagnosis, having experienced it herself in the past, she advocates for caregivers to seek support and appropriate interventions for their loved ones as soon as possible. In Sahana’s case, she is thriving now thanks to the early intervention she went through in the past.
Debanjana's commitment to the CAREbuddy program is fuelled by the positive impact she sees in the lives of the families she supports. Empowering caregivers and guiding them towards available resources has been rewarding for her. With the support of her family, she has also been able to balance her roles as a mother, a working professional, caregiver, and a CAREbuddy.
About CAREbuddy
Supported by SG Enable, CAREbuddy is one of CaringSG’s programmes where trained caregivers (CAREbuddies) provide emotional support to fellow caregivers of persons with disabilities.
Encouraged by Debanjana’s story? Find out more about CAREbuddy here.