Written by Wendy Johnstone, Provincial Program Consultant and Gerontologist with Family Caregivers of BC and originally published in Inspired 55+ Lifestyle Magazine. Caregiving often gets squeezed into an already busy life, including the day-to-day responsibilities of family, work, and maintaining a home. Many caregivers take on this new role without letting go of anything else […]
Personalized Caregiver Support Plan
Written by Wendy Johnstone, Provincial Program Consultant and Gerontologist with Family Caregivers of BC Caregiving is on a continuum and along the caregiving journey, situations change, transitions happen, care needs of the recipient change and caregiving needs change. While uncertainty is a certainty with caregiving, a caregiver support plan can give you a foundation and […]
Caregiving During COVID-19
Written by Kate Landreth Caregivers’ voices and experiences are a central element to our educational resources and support offerings at FCBC. We listen to understand the needs of caregivers with the intention to provide relevant information and topics that will assist and support the wellbeing of caregivers. Your voice truly does matter! We are grateful […]
Solange, thanks for the difference you’ve made!
Written by Lycia Rodrigues In 2017, Solange and I connected about expanding our caregiver support in the Saanich Peninsula. We were thrilled to have her as our volunteer bringing expertise in creating meaningful support for caregivers. I was impressed with Solange’s determination to reach out to the local health care providers and make sure caregivers […]
How to Balance Working and Caregiving
Twenty-eight percent of Canadians are balancing unpaid family or friend caregiving with work. While the role of caregiving is rewarding, as you support the person you love and care for, the strains of caregiving can take its toll. Furthermore, 25% of caregivers have reported a change in their employment experience (since becoming caregivers) including: Turning […]
A Tool to Support Your Well-being
In our last Facebook Live Learning Session with Wendy Johnstone, she discussed the term Dimensions of health. Dimensions of health include, emotional, spiritual, social, intellectual and physical. What do these areas of health mean to you? To provide you a deeper understanding of dimensions of health, here is a breakdown of each area. Emotional health […]
4 Ways You Can Support a Family Caregiver
When someone you know is caring for someone who is ill or requires help, small gestures of care and support can go a long way. But sometimes we struggle with what to say or do, so we end up doing nothing at all. Family caregivers often have a hard time reaching out or asking for […]
Part 1: Why Boundary Setting is Important for Caregivers
“You have to be able to set boundaries, otherwise the rest of the world is telling you who you are and what you should be doing. You can still be a nice person and set boundaries.” – Oprah Winfrey One of the most common challenges that we hear from caregivers is how difficult it is […]
The Myths of Mindfulness
Written by Kate Landreth, Education and Learning Lead with FCBC In the past year I completed an 8-week training in Mindfulness Self Compassion, and initially I was hesitant and skeptical about participating. While I practice and teach yoga and mindfulness daily, my concern with exploring mindfulness self-compassion was that it might erode my inner taskmaster […]
How do I find a therapist or counsellor?
You may feel you would like to talk with a therapist or counsellor, but do not know where to begin in your search. Therapy can be beneficial for caregivers who have become isolated, overwhelmed, anxious, depressed, or who lack support from others. However, it can also be preventative, part of a caregivers self-care and mental […]