Background

A caregiver is anyone who gives care and support at home or in a care-facility to adult family members or friends.

A caregiving family includes the caregiver and the person receiving care.

Family caregivers aregivers are a generally silent but large group of people (for instance, one in sixteen people in British Columbia, Canada are caregivers) who give service to their family and community. Often relinquishing their own activities and even jobs, many are thrown into a life of poverty. Without them, our healthcare costs would spiral out of control.

Cowichan Family Caregiver Support Society incorporated in 2000.  However,  it's caregiver support groups have operated in the Cowichan Valley for 12 years prior as a program of the Cowichan Seniors Advisory Society.

Why Support Family Caregivers?

Family caregivers look after our most vulnerable, including our elders.  According to the previous Central Vancouver Island Regional Health Board  RHB)data, the population of elderly people is increasing. Health care cannot keep up with demand for service as services exist today:

"We believe that the dramatic growth in seniors is the major factor contributing to the pressures our resources are experiencing today. "

Central Vancouver Island RHB Draft Three Year Plan 1999-2002

Since 80% of eldercare is provided by family/friends, supporting family caregivers takes on even greater significance.  With support they can continue to relieve our stretched healthcare system.  Without it they can become seriously ill.  It makes good economic sense to support family caregivers

Family caregivers give service often at significant cost to themselves.  They deserve recognition, appreciation and support.

The Program Philosophy

All people have inherent worth and have the right to be treated with respect and dignity.  

Everyone has gifts which benefit themselves and others.

All people have the right to determine the course of their lives and make informed decisions.

Interdependence is characteristic of a healthy community.

Any form of assistance must enhance self-esteem, honour individuals and their right to make choices and support the development of relationships that foster the sharing of people's gifts and that enable a community to look after its own members.

Our Mission

• To acknowledge and support people in their caregiving role
• To alleviate stress
• To improve their quality of life
• To enhance the rights of family caregivers

Our Service

Cowichan Family Caregivers Support Society has operates in Vancouver Island's Cowichan Valley.

Our service is based on the recognition of people's strengths and belief in their ability to help each other.

There are 7 key programs:

• Support Circles
• Support Groups
• One-on-One Emotional
• Support Resource Information and Referral
• Education
• Advocacy
• Community Development
  

These will be illustrated through specific scenarios to bring the activity and effectiveness of the program to life.

Support Circles

The caregiver support circle embraces a caregiving family in the spirit of neighbourliness.

A facilitator works with a caregiving family to match caring people from the community (circle members) with the caregiver and the person receiving care. This is done gradually according to interests, abilities and qualities of the caregiving family. What evolves, overtime, is a circle of support and friendship based on the sharing of people’s gifts.

In one circle, a woman looking after her husband with Alzheimer disease was isolated, financially challenged, and coming to the end of her rope.  A facilitator saw her gifts of warmth, compassion, and intelligence. She introduced the caregiver to  women whose experience and personal qualities were similar.  She also connected her  with people who had  employment or business interests.  Friendships of caring and mutual support have developed and the caregiver's financial burden has eased.

Support Groups 

There are four existing support groups. Meeting content is determined by the caregivers with the assistance of a  facilitator.

One group arranged for a workshop on healing touch. Group members left with practical tips with which to help the person they are caring for.

In another group, a local RCMP officer explained the procedure for assisting a "wandering person", listened to the group's concerns and left with a better understanding of their needs.

Beyond the general good that comes from social contact, sharing and exchange of ideas, the change in the lives of certain members stand out.

One young woman, looking after her ill 78 year old father in her home, first came to our meetings under medication for depression. Within one year, she was better able to handle stress and her joyous, humorous personality returned.

Another woman who said the group was her only social life, now meets regularly with new friends, goes to dances and other social events.

A man looking after his wife with multiple sclerosis, had been quiet at group meetings for some time except for angry outbursts. He now gladly shares his "respite outings" plans for his one free day a week.

One-on-One Emotional Support 

Not everyone feels comfortable in a group. This program is for those who prefer to speak confidentially to one person. Depending on the situation, either our Community Guide, counsellor or trained volunteeers provide this service.

A man in his thirties, looking after his mother in his home, was having difficulty dealing with a critical brother. A male volunteer listened to his feelings of anger and resentment towards this brother and acknowledged his caring feelings for his mother and the hard work involved in looking after her. This helped him find the energy needed to continue caregiving.

Resource Information and Referral

Often caregivers call to ask questions about a specific need (such as transportation, medical equipment and supplies, nursing services).

An elderly woman asked if financial assistance was available. Her husband, whom she had been looking after at home since his stroke, was now diagnosed with cancer and required treatment in Victoria. They could not afford the 4 night stay. We referred her to relevant resources and followed up to see that she had found the assistance she needed.

Education

We have a library of books and videos for caregivers and professionals to use. Our Education Consultant speaks to caregivers about what they would like to know more about or what they would like the community to better understand and arranges opportunities for learning. Most recently this has led to the development of  our "Friendship: a Gift of Community" project.

The coordinator also chairs the community's Education for Eldercare Committee which has hosted events that provided general information about financial and legal iissues (resources for aid, power of attorney, representation agreements trusteeship, wills) and nutrition. The Committee also furthered the understanding of dementias and how to help people suffering from them.

Advocacy

Many caregivers are too tired to question a "no" from a service agency or the government. We support caregivers by making phone calls or speaking to professionals on their behalf.

In addition to this personal advocacy, we help caregivers raise societal awareness of their issues to make government and services more responsive to their needs.

Most recently, we have organized  a meeting between caregivers in the Cowichan Valley and the Minister of State for Intermediate, Longterm  and Home Care, Katherine Whittred, for Jan. 31, 2003.  This has been arranged with the assistance of  local MLA, Brian Kerr, and his office staff.  After  our meeting with him, Mr. Kerr initiated  the scheduled visit by the minister.

Community Development

This is the cornerstone of our service.  We work  closely with the community including other service organizations, healthcare staff, community groups to enhance the community's capacity to look after its own.   In our Friendship Project, we will work with community groups and organizations to help members reach out their hand in friendship to caregiving families in their midst.