Helping the helpers

Seniors Advocate Susan Scott says, with an aging demographic, there is a provincial initiative aimed at supporting seniors at home. But that generally puts the onus on someone, typically a family member, to take on the responsibility of taking care of that individual. She recounts a co-worker who was caring for a spouse with early-onset Alzheimers.

“She felt so guilty taking time to get her hair done or go for coffee or even to go and get groceries. She felt that he needed a caregiver not to assume her role, but to backstop her when she needed to take care of herself.”

Though in its infancy, the program is restricted to those taking care of seniors and there are a number of activities, such as monthly workshops and one-on-one peer support sessions. And it starts with a weekly Coffee and Chat on Wednesday mornings.

“Our caregivers can be any age,” says Niedermayer. “We are supporting in however we can. So right now we have a coffee group meeting on Wednesdays and then we also have peer support and looking at putting in some workshops so self-care workshops so that caregivers can learn what that’s all about and help themselves give themselves a break because some of our caregivers are living 24 seven and it’s very, very stressful, very difficult times for them. And they don’t have a break.”

The program is fairly new and if you are interested in getting some support as a caregiver, give Laurie Niedermayer a call.

“I’ll sit down and do an intake with them, just sit down and listen to them. Sometimes that’s all caregivers need is just somebody to vent to and but they can contact us here and then we’ll set up an appointment, We’ll set up when, where the coffee meetings are.”

So if you need some practical ideas on how to be a better caregiver, or just need to talk with someone a similar case, the new Friends and Family Caregiver Support Program may be able to help take care of the caregiver.

by Cheryl Jahn

Helping the helpers

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