Caregivers Out Loud

Powered by Family Caregivers of British Columbia and hosted by Bill Israel, "Caregivers Out Loud" will explore the ways in which the role of a caregiver can be both rewarding, while also emotionally, psychologically, and physically taxing. By sharing stories of caregivers and insight from community experts, we bring you perspective and connection, and ensure that you have support and balance from inspired caregivers, who are caregiving out loud. Please share this podcast with family and friends who could also benefit from hearing these stories. Discover more episodes and find more caregiving resources at https://www.FamilyCaregiversBC.ca or call the Family Caregivers of BC Caregiver Support Line toll-free in BC at 1 (877) 520-3267.

Secondary Caregivers Relieving Primary Caregivers Through Circles of Care 06/12/2025

Secondary Caregivers Relieving Primary Caregivers Through Circles of Care How can building a circle of care around yourself help you continue to deliver the best care? Even the most devoted and capable caregiver needs support in their role. From weekends away to help around the house, letting another caregiver take some of the demands off your plate keeps you well enough, in body and mind, to continue your important work. Greer Rosequist has plenty of experience being a caregiver, from her former career as a nurse in long-term and palliative communities to offering respite to her sisters, who provide daily care for their mother. This experience led her to a different kind of network—a circle of care—full of friends who serve as consistent supports to those in the group and beyond. What began as a gathering of four has become a coffee collective of a dozen. They step in to assist in whatever capacity they can, from visiting house-bound friends to pitching in on yardwork to staying overnight so a primary caregiver can take some time for themselves. Though Greer has a background in healthcare, she encourages everyone to help out in whatever capacity they can. Anyone can call up a friend with a simple offer of a cup of coffee. You don’t need nursing skills, Greer says. “You just have to be there.” Discover the impact of reaching out, as both a caregiver and a friend: How to balance care for others and care for yourself; Recognize and respect the boundaries inherent in being a secondary caregiver; Why it is helpful to appoint a spokesperson within your circle of care; The societal importance of enabling people to live in their homes as long as possible. Resources: Episode 2: Speak Out With Courageous Conversations in Caregiving - Episode 4: How to Make Time to Care for Yourself with Self Care and Boundaries - Asking and Receiving Help with Caregiving - The Embrace of a Caring Circle - Family Caregivers of BC Caregiver Support Line - 1-877-520-3267 (Monday through Friday 8:30am to 4pm PT) Connect With Us! To read a full transcript of each episode, visit the Family Caregivers of BC website Visit us at our office: #6 – 3318 Oak Street, Victoria, BC V8X 1R1 Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm Telephone: (250) 384-0408 Toll-Free Line Within BC: 1-877-520-3267 Fax: (250) 361-2660 Email: [email protected] Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter Thank you! BC Ministry of Health - Patients as Partners Initiative - Organized Sound Productions - /episode/index/show/caregiversoutloud/id/36945360

Juggling Roles: Finding Balance When Caring for a Parent 03/18/2025

Juggling Roles: Finding Balance When Caring for a Parent How do you navigate the transition from child to caregiver of a parent while supporting both their dignity and your own wellness? Caring for an aging or ill parent comes with countless responsibilities, from prepping meals and scheduling medication to attending appointments and much more. While this shift to caregiver is, in some ways, a natural progression, it also requires you to navigate into a new relationship with your parent. As such, you need to learn how to balance respect and consent for their desires with your own health and happiness. Roma Palmer is a registered clinical counsellor who not only helps parental caregivers but also fills this role herself, first with her mother years ago and now with her father. Today, she shares what she’s discovered through her work and firsthand experience juggling family, career, and caregiving. Learn from Roma’s thoughtful and proactive approach that keeps respect and love in focus throughout this shifting relationship: The importance of involving your parent and family members in the caregiving decision process Tools for fending off isolation and scheduling breaks to take care of yourself How to ensure the division of caregiving labour is distributed openly and fairly Practices that prioritize the care recipient’s continued sense of identity at this tumultuous time Resources: “Building Your Personal Resilience” flipbook - Guilt and Making Decisions: Role of Adult Children in Assisting Parents - Connect with Roma Palmer - Family Caregivers of BC Caregiver Support Line - 1-877-520-3267 (Monday through Friday 8:30am to 4pm PT) Connect With Us! To read a full transcript of each episode, visit the Family Caregivers of BC website Visit us at our office: #6 – 3318 Oak Street, Victoria, BC V8X 1R1 Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm Telephone: (250) 384-0408 Toll-Free Line Within BC: 1-877-520-3267 Fax: (250) 361-2660 Email: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter Thank you! BC Ministry of Health - Patients as Partners Initiative - Organized Sound Productions - /episode/index/show/caregiversoutloud/id/35738720

Caregiving for a Partner: Intimacy Reimagined 12/10/2024

Caregiving for a Partner: Intimacy Reimagined How do you maintain an intimate relationship when you become a caregiver for your spouse or partner? Sharing life as a couple means facing and overcoming countless challenges. For so many, the ultimate challenge begins when an illness is uncovered, and one of you must become a caregiver to the other. Rene faced this transition when her husband of 20 years was diagnosed with Parkinsons in his mid-40s. In the two decades since his diagnosis, the couple has navigated a dramatic shift in household and relationship responsibilities and must constantly work at alternative ways to maintain intimacy and joy in an often difficult day-to-day. In this episode, Rene Smyth details the ups and downs of how their relationship has changed, and Dr. Linda Franchi, a community counsellor with the Parkinson Wellness Projects, delves into the many facets of intimacy and the adjustments and adaptations spousal caregivers must embrace. Find harmony between the caregiver and romantic partner relationships: The numerous kinds of intimacy beyond the physical; New ways to lean into each other, even in the face of painful and unprecedented change; Practical ways to incorporate self-care into your caregiving duties; The importance of reimagining the bond that holds your relationship together. Resources: Find exercise classes, counselling, support groups, and education with Parkinson Wellness Projects - Learn more about Parkinson Society BC - Alzheimer Society of Canada, “How your intimate relationships can change” - “The Value of Peer Support” - “Parallel Paths: The Changes Experienced in the Caregiving Relationship” - Family Caregivers of BC Caregiver Support Line - 1-877-520-3267 (Monday through Friday 8:30am to 4pm PT) Connect With Us! To read a full transcript of each episode, visit the Family Caregivers of BC website Visit us at our office: #6 – 3318 Oak Street, Victoria, BC V8X 1R1 Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm Telephone: (250) 384-0408 Toll-Free Line Within BC: 1-877-520-3267 Fax: (250) 361-2660 Email: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter Thank you! BC Ministry of Health - Patients as Partners Initiative - Organized Sound Productions - /episode/index/show/caregiversoutloud/id/34320050

Planning Life's Final Choices: A Guide to End-of-Life Dialogue 10/21/2024

Planning Life's Final Choices: A Guide to End-of-Life Dialogue How do you begin the difficult dialogue around end-of-life wishes for your care recipient? When you are the caregiver for someone whose health is declining, the reality of death can be overshadowing and feel frightening to acknowledge. So often, it’s as though we fear that simply speaking about death will speed it to our door. Karla Kerr, a funeral director and death doula in Victoria, BC, sees things differently. She approaches conversations with families who are facing or have just experienced death in an exploratory and compassionate way that recognizes death is inevitable. Respecting and upholding the wishes of care recipients can only be accomplished through practical, values-centred communication. Death has a tendency to reveal to us what is most important; engaging in these conversations can have a tremendous impact on the depth and intensity of our relationships, especially when we prioritize them when we still have plenty of time, rather than waiting until the end. Discover how Karla’s experiences with hundreds of families at this pivotal moment can inform your own conversations with your care recipient: The importance of acknowledging the inevitability of death and having reverence for the death process Why it is so beneficial to talk about what is most meaningful before the final moments The hard questions that will ensure you can take action with deference to their values and beliefs The positive impact of gratitude at every stage of our relationships Resources: Learn more about Karla Kerr, End of Life Planning and Care - A Caregiver’s Guide: A Handbook About End-of-Life Care - After Death Checklist from Government of BC - Proactively Planning for End-of-Life Blog - Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association - Canadian Virtual Hospice - Family Caregivers of BC Caregiver Support Line - 1-877-520-3267 (Monday through Friday 8:30am to 4pm PT) Connect With Us! To read a full transcript of each episode, visit the Family Caregivers of BC website Visit us at our office: #6 – 3318 Oak Street, Victoria, BC V8X 1R1 Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm Telephone: (250) 384-0408 Toll-Free Line Within BC: 1-877-520-3267 Fax: (250) 361-2660 Email: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter Thank you! BC Ministry of Health - Patients as Partners Initiative - Organized Sound Productions - /episode/index/show/caregiversoutloud/id/33506127

Supporting Young Caregivers: The Overlooked Caregiver Demographic 02/13/2024

Supporting Young Caregivers: The Overlooked Caregiver Demographic What difficulties develop when a child becomes a caregiver to their own parent? Studies show that young caregivers make up at least 12% of Canadian youth. One of these young people is Kristie Mar. At just 16 years old, Kristie set aside a significant part of her adolescence to become the sole carer for her mother, who was navigating schizophrenia and anorexia. The medical professionals, counsellors, and groups from whom she sought assistance, however, never gave her the title of “caregiver.” As such, it took her years to think of herself in this way or discover the resources that search term could unlock. Today, Kristie is a medical student and an active participant in this community. She wants to help increase awareness and resources for fellow adolescents who are thrust, so often unprepared and unsupported, into the role of caregiver for their family members. Hear the difficulties a young caregiver faced, caring on her own, including: The impact of expanding the narrow definition of “caregiver” to better identify young caregivers Where to uncover resources that help reduce the deep sense of isolation The many facets of childhood that are lost to young caregivers Strategies for maintaining mental health while balancing childhood and a very adult responsibility Resources: Powerhouse program for young caregivers - Managing expectations - Episode 11 How to Use Writing for Healing and Self Care - Episode 14 Creativity as a Form of Self Care - Family Caregivers of BC Caregiver Support Line - 1-877-520-3267 (Monday through Friday 8:30am to 4pm PT) Connect With Us! To read a full transcript of each episode, visit the Family Caregivers of BC website Visit us at our office: #6 – 3318 Oak Street, Victoria, BC V8X 1R1 Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm Telephone: (250) 384-0408 Toll-Free Line Within BC: 1-877-520-3267 Fax: (250) 361-2660 Email: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn X / Twitter Thank you! BC Ministry of Health - Patients as Partners Initiative - Organized Sound Productions - /episode/index/show/caregiversoutloud/id/29778483

A Contemporary Approach to Palliative and Hospice Care for Family Caregivers and Their Recipients 11/14/2023

A Contemporary Approach to Palliative and Hospice Care for Family Caregivers and Their Recipients How can you build a healthier relationship with death and dying that will benefit both caregiver and recipient? Aaron Yukich is an end-of-life doula, mindfulness practitioner, and hospice care worker. In his work with the Family Caregivers of BC Caregiver Support Line, Aaron incorporates meaning-making and self-reflection into his sessions with caregivers, helping them uncover new ways to provide support to their care recipients without overlooking their own well-being. The end-of-life process has many varied aspects. Aaron helps caregivers navigate this intricate spiritual and emotional experience with grace, through activities and mindsets that can offer comfort and even joy. He also guides them in practical considerations, such as establishing often-overlooked financial and personal mental health support structures. Aaron shares his holistic perspective on providing end-of-life care: Moving through the transition from palliative to hospice care Resources for addressing the impacts of caring for a care recipient Imbuing the time your loved one has left with more meaning Considering death and dying through a lens of celebration and reflection as well as grief Resources: United Way Better at Home - Island Health Dementia Video Series - Discover a local hospice - Hospice care information and assistance - Hospice resources with a cultural focus - Navigating the End of Life: A Road Map for Caregivers webinar - Finding Peace at the End of Life: A Death Doula's Guide for Families and Caregivers by Henry Fersko-Weiss (2020 edition) - Caring for the Dying: The Doula Approach to a Meaningful Death by Henry Fersko-Weiss (2017 edition) - BC Grief and Bereavement Society: list of support groups and other help for BC residents (also some options are across Canada) Contact the Helpline at 604-738-9950 and toll-free 1-877-779-2223 - TalkDeath: death positive, grief and bereavement resources - Family Caregivers of BC Caregiver Support Line: 1-877-520-3267 (Monday through Friday 8:30am to 4pm PT) Connect With Us! To read a full transcript of each episode, visit the Family Caregivers of BC website Visit us at our office: #6 – 3318 Oak Street, Victoria, BC V8X 1R1 Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm Telephone: (250) 384-0408 Toll-Free Line Within BC: 1-877-520-3267 Fax: (250) 361-2660 Email: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter Thank you! BC Ministry of Health - Patients as Partners Initiative - Organized Sound Productions - /episode/index/show/caregiversoutloud/id/28572033

How Brooke Ellison Maintains Dignity and Individuality as a Full-Time Care Recipient 10/16/2023

Full-Time Caregiver and Mother: How Jean Ellison Balances Two Essential Roles 09/19/2023

Financial Decision Making for Caregivers with Shannon Lee Simmons 03/31/2023

Caregiving From a Distance - a Long Distance Care Panel 02/01/2023

The Dementia Journey: A Caregiver's Toolkit 01/01/2023

Music as a Caregiving Tool 11/30/2022

Creativity as a Form of Self Care 02/15/2022

Facility Placement: Managing the Transition to Long-Term Care 01/11/2022

Facility Placement: Managing the Transition to Long-Term Care For many people as they age, living as long as they can in their own home is ideal. We love our comforts, our routine, and our independence. But there comes a time when the decision to have more support or to move into long-term care becomes a reality, whether because of a medical condition or safety concerns. This decision can be a significant challenge as there are many factors to consider when needing additional support. In this episode, Janet Power, Executive Director of Sunrise Senior Living in Victoria BC, shares great information around transitioning to residential care and steps for gaining more support for the care recipient and caregiver. Resources: Moving from Home to Facility Flipbook FCBC Resource For Long Term Care, to arrange LTC through the Health Authority, call the local Home and Community Care Office. (The BC Health Authority General Enquiry Lines that we have listed in the back of our Quarterly Newsletter) If you are interested in receiving assisted living services or know of someone who might be in need of these services, you can contact the home and community care office of your health authority or you can have a health care professional make a referral on your behalf. Finding an Assisted Living Residence Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover- What to Look for in a Care Facility How to Check Care Facility Records Who Pays for Care? Online Tools and Apps: Route 65 was developed by EngAge BC, a non-profit operating arm of the BC Care Providers Association (BCCPA), in response to a visible gap in quality information about seniors’ living and wellness options in the province. On Route 65, seekers can find more information on independent living, assisted living, long-term care and home health care options. Route 65 also helps users navigate the seniors living and wellness continuum through our Glossary, Frequently Asked Questions and Resource pages, along with Walter, our 24-7 virtual concierge chatbot, who helps triage seekers to the most appropriate options. Call 1-877-955-6565 or learn more at . Connect With Us! Family Caregivers of BC Website Toll-Free Line Within BC: 1-877-520-3267 Fax: (250) 361-2660 Email: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter Thank you! BC Ministry of Health - Patients as Partners Initiative Organized Sound Productions /episode/index/show/caregiversoutloud/id/21553478

Moving from Home to a Care Facility - Next Steps 12/14/2021

Moving from Home to a Care Facility - Next Steps Once the decision has been made that placement in a care community is necessary, caregivers are often faced with the “what next” question. Because there are different levels of care and each community has a different ‘personality’, it’s very important to be as prepared as possible for the transition. In this episode, we chat with Kathy Ajas, who for the last 17-years has worked in the retirement industry, including independent living, assisted living, and short and long-term care. Together, we explore questions caregivers have when considering moving to a new level of care with their care recipient. Resources: COVID-19 Survey Highlights- the Impact of COVID-19 on Caregivers Moving from Home to Facility Flipbook FCBC Resource For Long Term Care, to arrange LTC through the Health Authority, call the local Home and Community Care Office. (The BC Health Authority General Enquiry Lines that we have listed in the back of our Quarterly Newsletter). If you are interested in receiving assisted living services or know of someone who might be in need of these services, you can contact the home and community care office of your health authority or you can have a health care professional make a referral on your behalf. Finding an Assisted Living Residence Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover- What to Look for in a Care Facility How to Check Care Facility Records Who Pays for Care? Online Tools and Apps: Route 65 Route 65 was developed by EngAge BC, a non-profit operating arm of the BC Care Providers Association (BCCPA), in response to a visible gap in quality information about seniors’ living and wellness options in the province. On Route 65, seekers can find more information on independent living, assisted living, long-term care and home health care options. Route 65 also helps users navigate the seniors living and wellness continuum through their Glossary, Frequently Asked Questions and Resource pages, along with Walter, their 24-7 virtual concierge chatbot, who helps triage seekers to the most appropriate options. Contact 1-877-955-6565. Connect With Us! Family Caregivers of BC Website Toll-Free Line Within BC: 1-877-520-3267 Fax: (250) 361-2660 Email: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter Thank you! BC Ministry of Health - Patients as Partners Initiative Organized Sound Productions /episode/index/show/caregiversoutloud/id/21068648

How to Use Writing for Healing and Self-Care 11/16/2021

Juggling Work and Family Caregiving 07/06/2021

Juggling Work and Family Caregiving 28% of Canadians or 1.8 million people, provided care to a family member or friend with a long-term health condition, disability or ageing need in the past year. Three-quarters of this group (6.1 million) were employed at the time, accounting for 35% of ALL employed Canadians. More and more people are becoming caregivers and a lot of these caregivers are balancing employment and caregiving. In today’s episode, we hear from Rachel, who not only witnessed at a young age her mother be a caregiver, but then found herself caring for her Mother in her adult life. Rachel is part of the ‘sandwich generation’, currently raising and nurturing her own child and family, maintaining a full-time job and caregiving for her mother in Ontario. Rachel is an employed caregiver. When we use the term ‘employed caregiver’ we do not mean someone with a formal job as a paid caregiver, but rather someone that manages paid employment and at the same time is responsible for caregiving for a family or friend. Referenced Report: Vanier Institute of the Family Report, 2017, Highlights: What it means to be an employed caregiver Being part of the sandwich generation - caring for children and caring for ageing parents Being a caregiver while maintaining a full-time job Challenges of caregiving within the workplace Key things that support work and caregiving Resources: First Link Dementia Helpline Supporting a Family Caregiver (a friend, colleague and/or employee) in the Workplace Webinar Work and Care Webinar Supporting Employed Caregivers Booklet Strategies to Make the Workplace more Caregiver Friendly Tips and Tools for Employees (Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Organization) Tips and Tools for Employers (Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Organization) Work and Caregiving: A Balancing Act (Ontario Caregivers Association) Connect With Us! Family Caregivers of BC Website Telephone: (250) 384-0408 Toll-Free Line Within BC: 1-877-520-3267 Fax: (250) 361-2660 Email: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter Thank you! BC Ministry of Health - Patients as Partners Initiative Organized Sound Productions /episode/index/show/caregiversoutloud/id/18646841

Grieving Before a Death 06/08/2021

Grieving Before a Death When we think about grief, we often think of it as something that happens following a death. However, grief can begin long before death arrives. The grieving process can start as soon as a caregiver is aware that death is a likelihood or once death is on the horizon. Many caregivers dealing with an impending death will experience overwhelm, anxiety and dread. As well, before the death of a care recipient, caregivers grieve the loss of the person’s abilities and independence, loss of their cognitive abilities, loss of future dreams, loss of stability and the loss of their identity and the caregivers. Anticipatory loss is not just about accepting the future death, but of the many losses already occurring as an illness progresses. Courtney Doherty is a registered clinical counsellor with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors. She currently works with Parkinson Society British Columbia, where she helped launch the counselling program in 2015. Today we talk about different forms and stages of loss and grief. And we talk about how a caregiver can plan for loss. Highlights: Ambiguous Loss and Anticipatory loss. Limbo or frozen grief process. The big role of a caregiver with the preparation of loss (logistics), identity change, and learning a new life (changes of emotions). Self-awareness of feeling the feelings and making them manageable. Resources: Anticipatory Grief Package: Information for Patients and Families Navigating the End of Life: A Road Map for Caregivers Webinar Advance Care Planning Webinar How are you Coping with Ongoing Losses? Article Links Mentioned in Episode: Family Caregivers of BC Caregiver Support Groups Parkinson Society BC Resources Caregiver Support Line, Toll-Free in BC: 1-877-520-3267. Connect With Us! Family Caregivers of BC Website Telephone: (250) 384-0408 Toll-Free Line Within BC: 1-877-520-3267 Fax: (250) 361-2660 Email: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter Thank you! BC Ministry of Health - Patients as Partners Initiative Organized Sound Productions /episode/index/show/caregiversoutloud/id/18473519

Friends Caring for Friends - A Circle of Care Approach 05/11/2021

Friends Caring for Friends - A Circle of Care Approach Have you ever said this to a struggling caregiver - “Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help?’ The offering has good intent, but many times people say it because they don’t know how to help, are uncomfortable, or want to be polite. And although 29 percent of caregivers in BC are in distress, you will still hear caregivers say: ‘I don’t need any help’ or ‘It’s okay, I’m fine’. Today we hear from Jim and how he supported his friend Art and Art’s wife Grace during Grace’s diagnoses and disease. Jim shares how in the process of supporting his friends, and at first it wasn’t with great success, he learned a lot about himself. We talk about the FCBC Circle of Care model and how it worked for Jim and his support group. Highlights: Watching a friend with caregiving How to support his caregiver friend and his wife who was ill and then dying Circle of Care concept and development with the support of Family Caregivers of British Columbia Strategies and tools to support Vulnerability, growth, and learning from a man's point of view The need to talk with other men and find his voice in communication and understanding Resources: The Embrace of a Caring Circle Article Family Dynamics and Caregiving Article Communication Tips for Caregivers Article Accepting Help is Essential for Caregivers Article Online Supports for Family Caregivers Article Creating a Gold Medal Support Network Webinar Build Your Support Team (by Ontario Caregiver Organization) Medical Assistance in Dying, MAID Webinar Online Tools and Apps: CaringBridge helps you create a free personal website to quickly share updates about your care recipient’s health journey. Share news and updates with everyone at the same time, activate your community and coordinate help, and receive emotional strength and support. Lotsa Helping Hands features a free Help Calendar where you can post requests for support. Members of your community can quickly find ways to help, and Lotsa will send reminders and help coordinate logistics automatically so nothing falls through the cracks. Share how things are going, update requests, and receive support and feedback. MealTrain is a free interactive online meal calendar with customized calendar dates, times and meal preferences. Invitations can be sent via email and Facebook including reminder emails, online journal updates and an optional donation fund add-on. Tyze Connecting Care is an online tool that brings people together around someone receiving care.If you’re helping to care for someone Tyze is a simple way to keep everyone informed and get organized. Send updates to everyone at once from anywhere, keep track of everything in one place, access appointments, store documents and let family and friends know how to help. There may be a cost involved depending on options selected. Ability411, they "answer questions and provide practical information about technologies, tools and equipment that increase independence and well-being for BC seniors, and support their families and care teams." Links Mentioned in Episode: Family Caregivers of BC Caregiver Support Groups Caregiver Support Line, Toll-Free in BC: 1-877-520-3267. Connect With Us! Family Caregivers of BC Website Telephone: (250) 384-0408 Toll-Free Line Within BC: 1-877-520-3267 Fax: (250) 361-2660 Email: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter Thank you! BC Ministry of Health - Patients as Partners Initiative Organized Sound Productions /episode/index/show/caregiversoutloud/id/18646784

The Gift of Letting Go 04/01/2021

Grief is a Human Experience 03/02/2021

Grief as a Healing Gift 02/02/2021

Grief as a Healing Gift 13 million Canadians or nearly half of the total population have provided care at some point in their lives. Yet caregiving may be a new term for many people. And often, unpaid caregivers do not identify with this title, as they feel it is part of their relationship with family or friends. In today’s episode, we speak with Pat, who acknowledges that she was initially unfamiliar with the term caregiver, but learned more about this important role as she supported her husband, also named Pat, through his journey with Parkinson’s Disease and dementia. Pat was engaged in a caregiver “learning process”, where she listened to her husband to better understand the effects of Parkinson's Disease in his daily life. Because of the value of their partnership, Pat’s relationship with her husband during his changing health conditions was sustained through humour and care. You will gain insight into her caregiving journey, awareness of the caregiving role, and the unfolding responsibilities; including end of life care and her current caregiving stages of grief, bereavement, and honouring her husband and life-partner. Highlights: Caregiving was a new term for Pat and then she was full-in caregiving mode. Supporting her husband with humour and care for their relationship was very apparent. Loss and grief - knowing he is still there with her by showing up in signs or thoughts. Giving back by supporting others in a caregiver support group. Resources on Grief and Loss: Article, By Janet McLean. Webinars around Grief and Loss: and Links Mentioned in Episode: Janet Fast, Institute for Research on Public Policy Study (December 2015). Caregiver Support Line, Toll-Free in BC: 1-877-520-3267. Connect With Us! Visit us at our office: #6 – 3318 Oak Street Victoria, BC V8X 1R1 Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 am and 4:00 pm. Telephone: (250) 384-0408 Toll-Free Line Within BC: 1-877-520-3267 Fax: (250) 361-2660 Email: Thank you! BC Ministry of Health - /episode/index/show/caregiversoutloud/id/17719247

Trailer 2021 01/26/2021

How to Make Time to Care for Yourself with Self Care and Boundaries 05/26/2020

Why Speaking Up For Your Needs Matters 05/12/2020

Speak Out With Courageous Conversations in Caregiving 04/28/2020

Accessing Caregiver Support Networks 04/14/2020

Trailer 02/18/2020

Caregivers Out Loud

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