Introduction: Caring for a loved one can be a deeply fulfilling experience, but it can also take a toll on the caregiver’s physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Caregiver strain, also known as caregiver burnout, is a common phenomenon that affects many individuals who devote themselves to the care of others. In this blog post, we will […]
Caregivers can make a critical difference in the quality of health care a loved receives when they leave the hospital to go home. Knowing what to expect, staying informed, and making key preparations will be vital in ensuring that few or no adverse events take place and that there is no need for readmittance to the hospital. […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
Best Tips for Long-distance Caregiving About 22 percent of caregivers in Canada live more than an hour away by car from their loved ones. Although just as fulfilling as caring for someone who lives nearby, long-distance caregiving can be much more challenging. In fact, research shows that it typically increases the risk of some […]
Caregivers and the Healthcare System. How family caregivers feel about the relationship Caregivers’ relationship with the healthcare system has long been challenging. Although their role often requires them to help the person they are caring for navigate health systems, they usually find themselves marginalized. A study published in the journal BMC Geriatrics titled “Caregiving is like on the job training […]
Mental Health and Caregiving More than 25 percent of caregivers report experiencing some form of psychological or emotional distress, according to Statistics Canada. It’s a reality that is making mental health and caregiving a priority at all levels of society. While any caregiver can be susceptible to the mental health consequences of caregiving — especially burnout — […]