A Broad Range of Caregiver's Issues Discussed in Just 15 minutes

I had the pleasure of guesting on CBC Radio's program, BC Almanac, this afternoon. This was not your standard back-and-forth interview between guest and host but a participatory program where listeners could call in and share their stories and ask questions. Due to limited time, we could only get to five callers, but what struck me was their wide variety of issues raised. To summarize ...

____ emphasized the importance of recognizing personal symptoms of stress and to keep the familial lines of communication open. I cannot agree more. You can reduce stress through many means including delegating responsibilities to others and taking your own respite time away. Talking to the family can be difficult as siblings may have different agendas.

_____ commented on the affordability of senior's centres and asked about senior's co-op living as a possible cost-savings measure. This term is something I am not personally aware of; however, there are certainly many different types and levels of care facilities across the country. The best thing to do is to thoroughly investigate each one and find out what is most appropriate.

_____ has been a caregiver for his aunt, mother and father. He admired the work of those in resource centres for the information they provide. These individuals and centres are to be commended indeed and deserve all the praise they can get. Frequently, such centres operate under non-profit status and have a shoestring operating budget.

_____ questioned how to approach her mother's reduced independence. This is a key issue for seniors as very few people like to admit they may - or do - need help. What may work is, if you have siblings, to approach your parent as a united front and gently repeat your concerns. Another option is to rely on the authorities. A family doctor, for example, can recommend that a parent give up driving because medical tests show that doing this has become unsafe.

And finally, _____ explained that she has put together her own representation agreement regarding her own eldercare. By her wishes, she has stated that her own children are not to be involved with her care - thus, removing them of the burden. Certainly, a generous move.

Even during this 15-minute radio program, I was reminded of the numerous issues which family caregivers assume. Many of these will be foreign to them. For your own sanity, please find a way to deal with your own specific issues. It can be tremendously difficult to bottle up issues and emotions forever; the cork will likely pop at some time.

Resounding Evidence for Family Caregiver Support

I was alarmed to read a news release this morning. This news release, from the Family Caregivers' Network Society, explained that two new studies just released by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) highlight the significant role that family members and friends play in caring for our country's ailing seniors.

Among the study findings are the following points:

• One in six people who care for an ailing senior at home are in distress.
• Distress is highest when caring for over 21 hours per week, caring for someone with depression and cognition problems and those displaying aggressive behaviour.
• Dementia care is particularly stressful.
• Support is critical in maintaining family caregiver health.

It could be well worth your time to read the full CIHI report regarding this study. To access this, just Google search the term "CIHI Report Supporting Informal Caregivers - The Heart of Home Care".

Strained Canadian Healthcare System Expected to Drain Resources of Caregivers

Can the Canadian healthcare system adequately handle the needs of our country's ever-growing senior population? According to a recent survey, over half of respondents feel not. The numbers from this poll, as reported in a recent news article (Postmedia News), indicate that 51 per cent of those surveyed suggest that the health care system will get worse before it gets better - possibly as soon as only two to three short years from now.

It's a proven fact that our country's population is getting older. Just look to the latest Canadian Census and you can see that baby boomers (living from British Columbia to Prince Edward Island) are aging. As we age, our physical and mental health can slide and care must be provided ... if these seniors cannot be housed in hospitals and/or appropriate long-term care centres with adequate staff, someone must look after Canada's aging residents. That job, typically, falls on the shoulders of family caregivers.

Our expected strained healthcare system is also expected to put more of a financial strain on users; however, this is facing some resistance. Whether by paying more for healthcare (through taxes or user fees), Canadians are unwilling to just open their wallets and/or purses wider. In the news article, it is stated that "Few Canadians are prepared to cough up more cash for healthcare. Twenty-two per cent said they are willing to pay more in taxes to ensure adequate health services for Baby Boomers as they age and even fewer - 15 per cent - are willing to sacrifice health promotion programs."

The issue of our country's strained healthcare system is not just simmering on the stove ... it is about to boil over. Considering the gloomy forecast, something must be done to adequately provide for these aged Canadians and their families.