You’ve probably heard that being a family caregiver is one of the greatest acts of love and kindness. It can be extremely rewarding, including helping to prolong a close parent-child bond and setting an example for the next generation. Unfortunately, caregiving can also be fraught with unpredictability, anxiety, guilt, hopelessness, and financial burden. Added together, […]
In Canada, there are currently more than seven million people aged 65 and older. It is the fastest-growing demographic in the country. Millions of seniors — and the organizations that serve them — rely on volunteers. In 2018, more than 24 million Canadians aged 15 and older volunteered, giving about five billion hours to their […]
Cold temperatures, snow, ice and longer dark hours present different challenges for caregivers and their loved ones. Add flu season and the lingering Covid 19 pandemic to the mix, and winter has the potential to become even more of a threat. It’s essential to be prepared to tackle the season head-on as an effective caregiver. Here are […]
One of the biggest concerns for family caregivers is feeling overlooked, demeaned, or dismissed in care settings. While they often have first-hand knowledge of their loved ones’ needs, they find that their contributions to care discussions are not valued. The good news is that there is growing awareness of the need to include family caregivers […]
Hiring an in-home, professional caregiver can be a daunting task. You want — and need — the help, but you might be reluctant to hand the reins over to a total stranger. It’s understandable. However, a comprehensive set of questions to ask caregivers during an interview will help to smooth the path. No doubt, you […]
5 Things You Should Know about Social Prescribing While you might not be familiar with the term “social prescribing,” chances are that you as a caregiver or your loved one has benefited from it in the past. It goes by other names, such as community referral or social referral, and essentially takes a holistic approach […]
Therapeutic and Uplifting Activities for Elderly People Without question, staying active is one of the best ways to enjoy better health and well-being as you get older. Some elderly people are able to have a fully active lifestyle, while others might have limited physical mobility that influences the types of activities they can do. But […]
How Ageism Affects Seniors Health and Wellbeing It’s ironic that even though the world’s older population is fast outnumbering younger generations, ageism is also on the rise. Increasingly, people over age 50 complain about experiencing ageism. You can find many personal stories on social media and in news reports. According to the WHO, ageism […]
Family Caregiver Leave: What You Need to Know About 35 percent of Canada’s workforce consists of employee caregivers. They are family members or friends who provide caregiving for a loved one while juggling the demands of work. Not surprisingly, many of them require family caregiver leave at some point, but some might be reluctant […]
5 Books Every Caregiver Should Read Whether you are a new caregiver or you have been one for a while, resources on caregiving are invaluable. In the beginning, you can feel like you’ve been thrown in at the deep end. The demands can be huge and seemingly endless, and the stakes are high. As […]