VIDEO: Transit Training

Hey everyone, the City of Kelowna has released an on-demand video that helps viewers learn how to take transit within the Kelowna Regional Transit System (Lake Country to Peachland). It covers how to access and use fares, board and ride the bus, read schedules and use trip planning tools. You can access the free video by filling out an online registration form at smartTRIPS.ca.  Registration ensures their staff can provide essential additional resources and a complimentary transit fare product.

Here is some more information from the City:

The video is part of a suite of public education materials created for the City’s pilot Transit Travel Training Program. Offered by the City of Kelowna in partnership with BC Transit and Central Okanagan Public Schools, the program is made possible with grant funding provided by the BC Ministry of Health. The pilot aims to test a program delivery model to reduce barriers that youth and older adults may face in taking transit. 

For more information about the program, visit smartTRIPS.ca, email events@smartTRIPS.ca or call 1-800-469-7830. 


Mental Health Self-Help Booklet series…

If you need resources for those you support, check out this series of self-help booklets designed to provide people with an opportunity to talk through feelings, and to make plans for staying well. They are available through H-CARRD (Health Care Access Research and Developmental Disabilities) on their website.

The booklets cover a number of topics, including:

  • Coronavirus
  • Feeling anxious about Coronavirus
  • Feeling down
  • Exercise and staying active
  • Sleep
  • Problem solving

The booklets can all be used with support from family members, friends, staff and health care professionals.

Caregiving And…SELF-CARE

Self-care poster

We are celebrating Caregivers the whole month of November! This week we are talking about Self-Care. Let’s dive right in.

DIVING IN: What is self-care? You are a caregiver, and the work you do is very important and very rewarding – but it can also mean your own needs get put last on a to-do list that can seem never-ending. Self-care is everything we do for ourselves that makes us feel relaxed, whole, energized, and rejuvenated. It helps us feel ready to take on what’s next (whatever that is!).

DRILLING DOWN: Why choose self-care? Choosing to take care of yourself means you are able to give keep giving care to others – check out this video that talks about why it’s so important!

Jenny Trott, “SelfCare for Carers: why it’s important for people who care for someone who is disabled”

DIGGING DEEP: Where to start. Start small, even 5 minutes once in a while, and build up from there. What “works” for self-care is completely individual for each of us. Try lots of self-care options to figure out what works for you! Or, “self-share” if connecting with others is what helps you “self-care”! Here are some ideas:

Try anything and everything until you find what works for YOU! Share your favorite experiments with us in the comments!

Caregiver Supports…

We are focusing on CAREGIVERS this month! We have talked about some big caregiver issues – stress, compassion fatigue, and tools & training. One piece of advice offered to help cope is to connect with other caregivers and others who understand what you’re going through – in person or online! A way to connect virtually can be through podcasts for caregivers. For examples, there is a link here where you can check out a podcast called The Giving Tree by Amanda Rocheleau (a Registered Social Worker and compassion fatigue specialist) for helping professionals and caregivers.

THANK YOU CAREGIVERS for all you do!

Caregiving And…TOOLS & TRAINING

We are celebrating Caregivers the whole month of November! This week we are talking about Tools & Training. Let’s dive right in.

DIVING IN: What are tools and training? You are a caregiver, and the work you do is very important and very rewarding – but it can also mean you’re faced with changes and have to respond. Tools and training are the things that can help you respond. Tools and training can be anything from workshops and seminars, to articles and books, to videos and panel conversations, to forms and policies, to templates, plans, and checklists, to strategies and techniques…while it’s impossible to list them all in one paragraph, it’s true that, in a digital age, tools and training opportunities are more accessible than every thanks to think internet.

quotefancy

DRILLING DOWN: Why bother with tools and training? Changes can happen fast, whether it’s the needs of the person you support, your personal situation, or the world we live in — as we have seen this year with COVID-19! It can be stressful and feel overwhelming. One piece of advice to help cope with caregiver stress is focusing on the things you can control – like having a plan or developing skills that support you to respond to unexpected changes when they happen. Tools and training help you to feel prepared.

DIGGING DEEP: How to find tools, and get training. Tools and training are more accessible today than ever before. Which resources and opportunities to pick depends on your individual circumstances. We can often help point you in the right direction, if you ask us! Here are a some examples.

TOOLS:

TRAINING:

Did you know you can access all of Open Future Learning through CCSS? Let us know you’re interested, and we will set you up!

Caregiver Supports…

We are focusing on CAREGIVERS this month! We have talked about some BIG caregiver issues – stress and compassion fatigue. One piece of advice offered to help cope is to focus more on the things you can control – like planning, and organization. Teva Canada has a great list of caregiver resources, with tools that can help you with planning and organization. Check out this one, designed to help keep important contact information up-to-date and organized in one spot: Tracking My Support Network printable download.

THANK YOU CAREGIVERS for all you do!

Accessibility