Category filter: Caregiver Resources > Holidays & Travelling with Seniors > Life/Eldercare Balance

For many of us, December marks the start of holiday gatherings and festivities, making it feel like “the most wonderful time of the year.” Some family caregivers, however, may find themselves singing a different tune (think: “He’s a mean one, Mr.Grinch”). While holidays bring opportunities for joy, traditions and new experiences, they can also bring… Read more…

Last week, my phone was ringing off its hook with family caregivers. Their caregiving needs all varied. One caregiver was calling for a parent who couldn’t recall the specialist’s name from their last appointment. There was a key follow up needed pertaining to a continued driver’s license. Another family member called who was thrown into… Read more…

As part of my work as a Gerontologist, I have several opportunities to work with non-profit agencies in BC and in Canada. Many of you may be aware of the work I’m doing with Family Caregivers of BC which is a nonprofit organization dedicated 100% to supporting family caregivers – the first organization of its… Read more…

An African proverb says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Most of us are able to go fast from time to time. We can push the boundaries of our energy and burn the candle at both ends. Then once the urgency is over, we return… Read more…

So for goodness sake, don’t be a statistic! Last week, we celebrated Family Caregivers Week in BC.  You probably didn’t hear about it on the news, because, family caregivers are rarely recognized in our communities even though without them, our health care system would come crashing down. So most importantly, thank a family caregiver and… Read more…

The question, “Who is going to care for our aging population?” isn’t new in Canada. Anyone reading this column knows eldercare is the new “normal” as countless Canadians take on the role of caregiver. According to Statistics Canada (2007), approximately 2.7 million Canadians aged 45 and over provided some form of unpaid care to seniors… Read more…

I woke up today and realized we are into August! Many of our clients and their families are enjoying summer holidays and I’d be remiss if I didn’t re-run a column on planning a vacation and ensuring your loved one’s care is also being planned and looked after. It isn’t particularly easy for caregivers to… Read more…

For most of us, holidays go hand in hand with our families. I don’t know about you, but my family includes a lot of different ages. We have half pints, tweens, teenagers, boomers, grandparents, and up until recently, great-grandparents! Visiting elders and including them in holiday festivities is a guaranteed way to lift spirits and bring… Read more…

This, our third and final column on Work and Eldercare, will give you a summary of options to assist in balancing caregiving roles with your work. Many businesses have family-friendly options that can help balance the demands of family caregiving and work. The bulk of major Canadian collective agreements have options designed to increase flexibility… Read more…

If only balancing work and eldercare were as simple as a basic mathematical equation! But wait, maybe it is… Assessing work situation + assessing how eldercare activities affect your work = identifying a plan to achieve balance OK, OK, it’s a stretch but a good place to start. Our last column talked about the first… Read more…