Description

Thank you for joining us for our inaugural episode! Over this first season, we'll focus on caregiver wellbeing. How getting the support you need is vital. Why good communication with family members and medical professionals can be difficult, but rewarding. We'll share some essential tips on how to look after yourself and you'll hear stories from caregivers who have spent a great deal of time and energy living these experiences. These inspiring people will bring balance to caregiving along with the other aspects of your life.

Today, we take a look at how few of us can "go it alone" as caregivers. Having relationships with friends or organizations can boost your emotional strength for the marathon of caregiving. We'll examine different sources of support available to caregivers, how to overcome challenges that prevent you from reaching out for support, and what it is like to really acknowledge your role as a caregiver. You'll hear from caregivers who struggled with overwhelm before reaching out to access different kinds of support and the difference it made to their lives.

Highlights

• 2:05 What is a caregiver?
• Only 42% of caregivers self identify as a caregiver.
• 3:55 The emotional work of caregiving.
• 5:38 The rewards or benefits for caregiving.
• Being an advocate - speaking on the care receiver's behalf, not for them.
• Caregivers need to access support to be a good advocate.
• How to cope with caring for multiple people by sharing information with others.
• Acknowledging that you need help and educate yourself to be a better caregiver.
• Most people who come into the caregiving role are not trained for it.
• 15:52 How support services can normalize what it is to be a caregiver.
• 16:35 The benefits of a support group for caregivers.
• Connect with others as if you're part of a neighbourhood.
• 19:00 How attending a support group meeting can leave you feeling with less weight on your shoulders.
• 20:44 How to ask for help and how to accept support.
• Know the importance of yourself; the healthier you are, mentally and physically, the better you will be able to care for someone else.

Quotes

"The more you open yourself up to communication with support groups, to support network, the more you think yes, you know, I guess you are right, I am a caregiver." - Marlene

"I acknowledged, I need help. It's also very difficult for a caregiver to take that first step, thinking that it's for themselves because I don't need any help. But if we can share with them that the more you learn, the more information you have, the better you're going to be as a caregiver." - Marlene

"Caregiving; it's not something they were trained for. It's something that's just come their way or they felt compelled to become a caregiver." - Ben

"It takes caregivers to participate in community and it also takes people to offer that community to the caregivers. If everyone's doing their piece, then caregivers can feel held by community." - Jodie

Links Mentioned In the Episode

The Change Foundation. For a brief summary, see Spotlight on Ontario's Caregivers.

Spotlight on Ontario's Caregivers report – November 2018; page 15.

Caregiver Support Line, Toll-Free in BC, 1-877-520-3267.

Connect With Us!

Family Caregivers of BC Website

Visit us at our office:
#6 – 3318 Oak Street,
Victoria, BC
V8X 1R1
Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30am and 4:00pm.

Telephone: (250) 384-0408
Toll-Free Line Within BC: 1-877-520-3267
Fax: (250) 361-2660
Email: info@familycaregiversbc.ca

Facebook

Instragram

LinkedIn

Twitter

Thank you!

BC Ministry of Health - Patients as Partners Initiative

Organized Sound Productions