You might have heard that we are focusing on CAREGIVERS this month! We started off talking a lot about a BIG caregiver issue — stress.
One of the key pieces of advice offered to counter caregiver stress is connecting with others – especially other caregivers! While COVID-19 can make it challenging to connect safely in person, there are online options to connect with others. Teva Canada has a great list of Canadian caregiver support networks. Check out this BC group: Family Caregivers of British Columbia.
DIVING IN: Stress and caregiving —You are a caregiver, and the work you do is very important and very rewarding – but it can also be very stressful when the work is never truly “done.” Meet the Frates family, as they talk about some of the challenges of caregiving.
Compassion Fatigue: Frates family on challenges of caregiving,Boston Herald(Dec 25, 2017)
DRILLING DOWN: Risks and burnout — Experiencing stress (emotionally and physically) is common for most caregivers – but did you know there’s also risk factors that make you more likely to experience stress as a caregiver? You can read the full list here, but it includes living with the person you are caring for, being socially isolated, having depression, and experiencing financial difficulties. Even if these factors don’t apply you in a “typical” year, keep in mind that this hasn’t been “a typical year.” You might experience these risk factors this year because of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, or these factors might be affecting you more now than they did before. Over time, stress can lead to burnout. Here are some signs of caregiver stress and burnout.
DIGGING DEEP: Taking action — Coping with stress can look different for everyone, but taking action includes acknowledging and talking about stress, recognizing and talking about the risks of burnout, and prioritizing taking care of yourself in an ongoing way. There are also 27 specific coping strategies on this website. Share which ones you think are best in the comments!
Hey everyone, CLBC is hosting a teleconference call this coming Monday (Oct. 26) at 10:35 AM to provide COVID-19 health and safety updates from Dr. Daniele Behn Smith (Deputy Provincial Health Officer), Ross Chilton (CEO of CLBC), and Brenda Gillette (CEO of the BC CEO Network).
Call 1-877-353-9184 and use participant code 37568#
Please begin to dial in as early as 10:15 a.m
Pre-submit questions related to COVID to CLBCInfo@gov.bc.ca by 12 p.m. on Friday, October 23, using the words “COVID CALL” in the subject line.*
Just a reminder that you can always access the latest information from CLBC here.
Hey everyone, October is Community Inclusion Month! With the ongoing response to COVID-19, we are celebrating a little differently this year — check out Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran as he proclaims October Community Inclusion Month, an event that has in past years included the Pathways Inclusion Chain:
How are you celebrating Community Inclusion Month this year? Let us know in the comments!
Hey everyone, you can join CLBC’s teleconference COVID-19 update for service providers and home sharing providers tomorrow (Sep. 29) from 2:05 – 3 p.m. Speakers will include:
Dr. Daniele Behn Smith, Deputy Provincial Health Officer
Ross Chilton, CEO, Community Living BC
Brenda Gillette, CEO BC CEO Network
Use participant code 37568# when you call in to 1-877-353-9184. Consider calling early, you can dial in as early as 1:45 p.m.
If you have a need that meets the criteria in the news release, please contact your Home Share Coordinator with the agency who will pass on the request to CLBC.
Hey everyone, CLBC is hosting a conference call tomorrow (Thursday, April 16) about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation for Home Share Providers. See full details here on how to participate.
Hey everyone, join Becky from posAbilities in Kelowna or Penticton this April for a lunch and learn discussion about Navigating Restrictive and Prohibitive Practices in a Home-Share Setting. Details below!
Hey everyone, check out this opportunity to share YOUR home share story!
Request for Stories from Home Share Providers, People living in Home Share and their Families
As part of updating CLBC’s Home Share Handbook, the Home Sharing Handbook Working Group Committee has made an extensive revision of the various existing handbook materials, identified additional topics of importance that have surfaced in conjunction with the frequently asked questions about Home Sharing. The first draft of this project is to design a new resource handbook called an ‘Introduction to Home Sharing’ with specific go to references for Home Share Providers, People living in Home Share and for the persons family. Included in the content of this resource will be stories and videos about experiences in Home Sharing. These stories will invite enthusiasm and provide clear insight as to what Home Sharing exactly means.
If you are presently a Home Share Provider or a Person Living in Home Share or a family member, please share your stories! Your experiences with Home Sharing are valuable and important in understanding what Home Share truly means. Everyone’s successes tell a different story. We understand every person with diverse abilities assisted in Home Share are unique and come from different cultural backgrounds. The composition of the family of Home Share Providers varies as does living in rural regions.
Please forward your stories by Monday, March 16th, 2020. You can do so either by email to adultcare@shaw.ca or by mail to COPCS, 1844 Golbeck Court, Kelowna, BC, V1P 1L7. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact us at 778-753-2625. We look forward to hearing your stories and inspiration! Please share this email with your Home Share networks.
Sincerely,, Margaret Milsom & Jack Sawatzky (Committee Members of the Home Share Handbook Working Group)
