FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 13, 2025
Victoria, BC – Family Caregivers of British Columbia (FCBC) is leading the way in an innovative approach to support unpaid family and friend caregivers through social prescribing. In Greater Victoria, where our local, community-based program incubates new ideas, a growing number of healthcare providers are embracing this approach, which links individuals to non-clinical supports in their community to improve health and wellbeing.
Delivered through Caregiver Rx, a province-wide social prescribing program, caregivers can be “prescribed” support just as a patient might receive a prescription for medication. Healthcare providers and community professionals can use a simple referral to connect family caregivers directly to FCBC’s Caregiver Support program, where within 1-2 business days, they are provided with access to one-on-one emotional support, education, system navigation, practical resources and local referrals.
Family caregivers provide an estimated 80% of care and support to family, friends or neighbours living with a disease, disability or frailty due to aging. And it often comes at the expense of their own health, finances and emotional wellbeing. Social prescribing helps close that gap by ensuring caregivers are recognized, supported and connected early.
“It showed me that I am doing the best I can to deal with the situation and that my feelings are important. I was able to get information and support on resources available to me in order to deal with my current situation,” says Craig T., a family caregiver from Victoria who was referred to the program by his healthcare provider.
“Caregivers often put their own needs last,” says Aaron Yukich, Social Prescribing Lead. “When a healthcare provider takes that extra moment to identify and refer a caregiver to us, it validates their experience and helps them feel seen, supported and less alone.”
With partners like Island Health and the Victoria Division of Family Practice, social prescribing is helping create a more sustainable circle of care, where supporting the family caregiver strengthens the care provided. We are grateful also to the financial support of the Canadian Center for Caregiving Excellence, a program of the Azrieli Foundation, in supporting this innovation in our BC communities and with partner organizations testing this approach across Canada.
How to Access Support:
Healthcare providers can make a referral online at www.familycaregiversbc.ca/refer or by ordering Caregiver Rx Prescription Pads for their team or clinic.
Family caregivers can also contact FCBC directly through the Caregiver Support Line at 1-877-520-3267 or email cgsupport@familycaregiversbc.ca.
For caregivers in Victoria and across the province, social prescribing is helping reshape how caregivers are recognized and supported – one referral at a time.
Media Contact:
Aaron Yukich Caregiver Rx Social Prescribing Lead Family Caregivers of British Columbia
E: aaronyukich@familycaregiversbc.ca | W: www.familycaregiversbc.ca
About Family Caregivers of BC
Family Caregivers of British Columbia (FCBC) is a provincial non-profit dedicated to improving the quality of life for family and friend caregivers through support, education and advocacy. FCBC works closely with caregivers, healthcare partners and community organizations to build caregiver-inclusive systems of care across the province.
Stay Connected and Join our Caregiver Rx Mailing List
Subscribe to our Caregiver Rx Emails, where we will send you monthly and/or as needed updates of our Caregiver Rx Project. This includes information on how health care and social service professionals can support family caregivers through education, outreach resources and partnership. Learn more
Only Human: Recognizing and Supporting Family Caregivers
If you’d like to learn more about the experience of family caregivers and why Caregiver Rx matters, we invite you to watch Only Human: Recognizing and Supporting Family Caregivers in Healthcare.
The video offers a clear look at the everyday challenges caregivers face and highlights how healthcare providers can better identify and support them — including through referrals to Caregiver Rx.
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