England, Wales, Normandy, France, the Camino Trail and hours of desert hiking in the Palm Desert. These are just a few places Greer Rosequist has hiked in her lifetime.
And she’s not done yet.
At 67 years, Greer is fit for adventure – off the beaten path and as a family caregiver.
Greer, who lives in Victoria, helps care for her mom from afar, who lives in Langley. It’s been four years since her mom fell and broke her hip and Greer makes a monthly trip over to support her mom and her sisters, who share the care. With her background as a nurse, Greer tends to take on the role of “quarterback” and tries to see the overall picture of how her mom is coping with some of changes with age and loss. She also shares the role of Power of Attorney and is her mom’s executor. Greer is also her mom’s personal gardener.
While she doesn’t currently leave the country for extended periods of time, it’s by choice. “I realize Mom is aging and has more challenges. She needs my support. Even though I don’t always agree with her decisions, I want the best quality of life for Mom right now. And that means supporting her to stay as independent as possible.”
Being a caregiver doesn’t stop Greer from staying fit for hiking and traveling abroad. When training for a longer hike, Greer hikes up to 25 km per day to prepare herself physically and mentally. Her own backyard offers her many beautiful and challenging hikes, one of her favourites being Dean Park. This training paid off during their 2-week hike on the Camino trail in Spain, where Greer felt fit and very well prepared for the adventure. While hiking is her first love. Greer is also an avid golfer, plays pickle ball and spends as much time in the garden as possible.
Staying active, fit and connected with her community are all important strategies to staying healthy as a family caregiver. With her husband at the core, Greer has a strong knit group of friends and family members. She talks about the importance of reaching out in times of need, “When you make yourself vulnerable, you often learn that others are going through a similar situation. It gives you strength to carry on.”
Greer’s next adventure? “We haven’t decided yet but Hadrian’s Wall Path in England is high on the list”.