Family Caregiver Support Group
Families provide various types and amounts of supports to family members. Many of the family members receiving supports are seniors, but they could be children, brothers or sisters or other adults who require support of one kind or another. Care may be provided in the individuals home, a lodge or long-term care centre, the caregiver’s home, or any other location in which the individual receiving care resides. This support may take many forms; emotional support; helping with tasks around the home; looking for information; making connections with the physician; transportation; and may be supports for an individual who requires a lot of support, or for someone who just needs help with a few supports. Either way, these are just a few of the ways in which family or friends may provide caregiving supports.It is estimated that individuals provide more than 80% of the required care in the home and that this contribution saves the Canadian Health Care system more than $5 billion annually (http://www.ccc-ccan.ca/media.php?mid=59, p. 2).
Unfortunately, providing this care has a personal cost attached for the caregiver; health and physical well-being may be affected; decrease in social activities – being too tired to go out after providing care; emotional anxiety, concern and worry, which can lead to depression and stress; monetary stresses related to loss of income, benefits or other consequences that may result from caring for someone. Caregiver’s need support and the Family Caregiver Centre has support groups which can help. Check them out. Even if you only go to listen, you will discover that you are not as alone as you might think you are; others are having, or have had the same experiences, stresses and concerns as you are now experiencing. See how a support group can help. There are two groups you might visit:
1. First Wednesday of the month / 2:00 – 3:30 pm / Begins Wednesday Oct. 1, 2008 / located at Lutheran Church of the Cross at 10620 Elbow Dr. SW2.
2. Third Monday of the month / 7:00 – 8:30 pm / Confederation Park Seniors Citizens Centre / Located at 2212 – 13 St NW
If you would like more information, contact Charlene at 403.303.6027 or check out the Family Caregiver Centre Website at http://www.calgaryhealthregion.ca/programs/famcaregiver/contact_us.htm
