Filtered tag: Eldercare

Balancing Work and Caregiving

You have a looming deadline at work and your mother keeps calling because your father has fallen yet again. You are notified by your mother’s housing provider to find immediate overnight care due to your mother’s dementia and wandering at night time. You are for late for work due to taking your Dad to this Read more…

Caregiving: Unexpected Changes

My Dad is 95 years old and honestly, some days I can’t believe he is still alive. I’m his only daughter and caregiver. I’ve been looking after him for 4 years now. In those years, we’ve had pneumonia, a broken hip and a stroke. What I’ve really learned is there are always unexpected challenges. I Read more…

The Ins and Outs of Hiring Private Care

In the past few months, Family Caregivers of BC received numerous calls from individuals asking about how to hire private care, through an agency or an independent care provider. Most cases we come across involve care for the elderly. Hiring private care is sometimes an option in other cases involving other disease specific illnesses or Read more…

Coach Caregiver, aka Wendy, LIVE to Answer Your Caregiving Questions

Join me and the fantastic Jodie McDonald, Executive Director for the Cowichan Valley Caregivers Support Society, for our final live Coach Caregiver session of the year, next Thursday, Dec. 15th at 6:30pm. Wearing my Family Caregivers of BC hat, Jodie and I will answer your caregiving questions drawing on tips learned from recent webinars – Read more…

Why Don’t You Want To Plan For Your Demise?

Last week, I was on a panel to talk about #AgingWell in BC. One of the biggest themes emerging was the importance of PLANNING for the future. The subject remains taboo for many; after all, who wants to explore their decline in health and function let alone their mortality? Unfortunately, failing to plan adequately for Read more…

Caregiver Consultations: How We Help With Frail Elderly Parents

Did you know that family caregivers provide upwards of 80% of care and support for aging parents or spouses? Phew! That’s a lot of time and energy. When I was seven months pregnant, my father had a massive stroke. The next few months were like a rollercoaster as our family struggled with the many difficult Read more…

Caregiving Can Be Risky Business

There are some people you meet in life that you remember for a lifetime and who always bring a smile when you think of them.  This is always the case with Mr. and Mrs. Johnson.  Last night I was out having a beer with a colleague and our conversation found its way to our work Read more…

Difficult Diagnosis, Difficult Decisions for Caregivers & Seniors

Today was a very hard day for me as a gerontologist and case manager. I have a client who has Alzheimer’s Disease. It’s been five years since her diagnosis. She is on the highest dosage of Aricept and is well supported in Assistive Living. She is very functional and maintains a high level of independence Read more…

Long Distance Caregiving

As we approach Father’s Day, I can’t help but think of Dad and my two brothers, who are such exceptional fathers.   I’ll be away in France and I’m planning ahead with Carly to make sure her dad feels appreciated for the positive role he plays in her life. The love she has for him Read more…

Navigating Health Care Series | Finding Extra Help When You Need It

Mr. Jones is an 83-year-old widower living in his own home. When asked, he’ll tell you he is doing “fair to middling.” He’ll go on to tell you his legs are tired and wobbly and he doesn’t get out as much as he’d used to. He has a scooter, which gets him to town and Read more…

Helpful Videos

Caregiver Consultations: How We Help Frail Elderly Parents

Long Distance Caregiving

“You are amazing! What I tried to do in 2 months, you did in 1 week. You’ve helped us navigate the system, made sense of Mom’s disease, and gave back her independence and control. Thank you for making such a difference in Mom’s life and giving us, her family, complete peace of mind.”

– Mike G., Nanaimo, BC

READ MORE TESTIMONIALS