Navigating the Impact of Complex Illness as a Caregiver

I was honoured to present "Navigating the Impact of Complex Illness as a Caregiver" during National Hospice Palliative Care Week to VON Canada Grey Bruce, Supportive Care Program and an incredible group of Caregivers and Care Providers.

Following the diagnosis of a complex illness, it is common for family to feel a range of emotions including sadness, anxiety, anger and hopelessness. Facing these challenges can sometimes bring people together, while often, it can feel like it pulls people apart. Caregiving requires balancing multiple roles and stressors, while also navigating grief and uncertainty.

Caregiving can feel isolating and often means losses of identity, ritual and connections. Navigating the changes and uncertainty as a caregiver is part of the added demands of an illness experience.

Harris (2016) states, "Grief is a response to disorganization that occurs after an assumption about the world is challenged by a significant loss. Conflict occurs between assumptions & situations that challenge those assumptions. Grieving is the process of how the new assumptive world is (re)formed over time"

Yet, amid all the challenges and changes, grief is carried and often unaddressed. Most assume it happens only once someone is dying or has died. So much non-death loss and grief occurs throughout our lifetime, especially following the diagnosis of a complex illness, throughout the illness experience, at time of death, and for the balance of our lives as we (re)form the world around us.

Caring in Canada (May 2024) via Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence provides results from the National Caregiving Survey of 3,000 Caregivers and Care Providers highlighting:
- Caregiving takes a toll on a caregiver’s wellbeing
- Caregivers are working ‘extra-shifts’
- Caregivers 65+ also need care
- Caregiving has a financial toll
- Care provider shortage is linked to poor working conditions
- Diverse communities face barriers and gaps in support

Integrated and accessible support is needed for caregivers throughout the illness experience.

*Family is best defined by the person receiving care. It can include family of origin, or chosen family.

National Caregiver Day is the first Tuesday of April in Canada.

“More than 8 million family and friend caregivers in Canada are providing care in the home. Most caregivers will feel unprepared and overwhelmed at some point. If you are caring for someone who is ill or living with mobility challenges, these modules are for you.

Access them anytime of the day or night, as many times as you need, and at no cost (FREE) via https://www.virtualhospice.ca/caregiving/

These modules include useful information, strategies, and suggestions for preparing for and providing care as illness advances:

-Strategiesfor difficult conversations

-Video demonstrations of caregiving tasks 

-Guidance for recognizing and managing symptoms

-Suggestions for accessing programs and services

-Ways to care for yourself

Content is arranged in chapters and pages. Click a Chapter to see the pages and topics covered. You can move through the module pages using the list on the left-hand side or using the arrows at the bottom of the page. To return to the home page click the logo at the top left of the screen. Some modules include video clips showing how to do caregiving tasks or people sharing their experiences.”

Source: Canadian Virtual Hospice 

If you have questions, email info@virtualhospice.ca

#NationalCaregiverDay #CelebrateACaregiver

The ARQ of Grief Support

The ARQ of Grief Support:

1. Awareness

2. Reflection

3. Questions
   

The ARQ of Grief Support via NACG, The Dougy Center & KinderCare is a framework you can use to create meaningful, supportive interactions with children, teens and adults facing grief, loss & grieving

Source: https://childrengrieve.org/12-resource/309-resources-2

National #Family #Caregiver Day.

"On the first Tuesday of April, Canadians come together to recognize family members, friends, neighbours and other significant people who take on a caring role to support someone with a diminishing physical ability, a debilitating cognitive condition or a chronic life-limiting illness.  Known as National Family Caregiver Day or National Carer Day, this special day encourages all Canadians to pay tribute and recognize the valuable contribution of family caregivers to our lives and our society as a whole."#Family

Compassionate Care Benefits. #Caregiver #Support #hpm

"Compassionate care benefits provide temporary income support to eligible individuals who must be away from work to provide care for a gravely ill family member at risk of death.

Effective January 3, 2016, the enhanced benefit, announced in 2015, allows claimants to collect up to 26 weeks of benefits, up from the current 6 weeks. Further, the period during which benefits can be taken is expanded to 52 weeks (up from 26 weeks). Benefits can be shared between family members.

Eligibility for compassionate care benefits remains the same, including the requirement for a medical certificate signed by a doctor attesting to the family member’s condition".