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Get Involved in Research, Planning and Engagement Programs
Caregiver Engagement Program
We are partnering with the BC Ministry of Health's Patients as Partners Program to expand support for family caregivers and to ensure that their voice is included in health system improvement efforts.
The Family Caregiver Engagement Program is designed to expand FCBC's existing pool of family caregiver volunteers in order to respond to the many opportunities emerging as the Patient and Family Centered Care philosophy takes root.
Program Goals:
- Support family caregivers to be an effective voice in health improvement efforts
- Promote and support a culture of Patient and Family Centered Health Care
Why do we need to have family caregivers’ voices?
- When both family caregivers and patients are included as partners in care, the patient’s health outcomes are better
- Next to the patient themselves, family caregivers know the person best
- Family caregivers are providing 10 hours of care for every 1 hour provided by the formal health system – it makes sense to include them in all areas of health
What we're doing:
- Recruiting and orienting family caregivers to participate in engagement opportunities
- Liaising with engagement partners to plan events that take into account the unique challenges caregivers face because of their work schedules, care demands, care recipient needs and geographic locations
- Matching caregivers' experiences, skills and preferences with the opportunities for engagement, and providing specific information to prepare for each individual request for engagement
- Collaborating with other organizations to avoid duplication, close gaps and streamline efforts
Examples of past engagement opportunities:
- Health Authority community consultations (day long)
- Focus groups (2 hours)
- Interviews (1 hour)
- Meetings (1-4 hours)
- Responding to online or paper surveys (10-20 minutes)
- Committees (once per month in person or teleconference for a specific term)