a bi-monthly newsletter published by the caregiver support ... 2013.pdf · a bi-monthly newsletter...
TRANSCRIPT
North Shore Community Resources Caregiver
(NSCR) Support Program will be celebrating
Caregiver Week, May 4 to 10, with our
second annual Heart and Soul of Caregiving
event. It takes place Friday, May 10, 2013,
10:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Har El Jewish
Community Centre, 1305 Taylor Way, West
Vancouver.
Family caregiving encompasses a whole range
of unpaid tasks, from assisting with the
activities of daily living, such as bathing and
dressing, to providing emotional support,
transportation or light housekeeping.
As a group caregivers are saving the Canadian
economy about $25 billion, a figure
calculated by economist Marcus Hollander, in
Unpaid Caregivers in Canada: Replacement
Cost Estimates (available online).
It is estimated that almost everyone, at some
point in their lives, becomes a caregiver,
whether they’re caring for a parent, spouse,
family member or friend. For the majority, it’s
a labour of love that comes with the
satisfaction that they are making a difference
in someone’s life.
Caregivers often forget to care for
themselves. The purpose of the NSCR
Caregiver Support Program is to support
family caregivers in the work they do. Over
the years many caregivers have participated
in education sessions, network groups and
activities aimed at providing information,
support and resources. Along the way, we’ve
shared a few tears and a lot of laughter.
Celebrating Caregiver Week
by Josie Padro
May | June 2013
A bi-monthly newsletter published by the Caregiver Support Program
Page 2
Breathing easier at home
by Josie Padro
It’s good news that those who need oxygen
therapy can receive it in their home and can
venture out into the community with their
oxygen tank in tow.
Oxygen is prescribed just like any medication
or treatment and given to those need higher
levels of oxygen than is present in room air. It
is prescribed by flow rate, usually litres per
minute, and for the number of hours per day
it will be needed. Emphysema, pulmonary
fibrosis, or chronic heart failure are some
examples of conditions that may result in a
need for oxygen therapy.
To qualify for the Home Oxygen Program,
clients must be referred by a physician or
nurse practitioner. Once someone has been
admitted to the program, an oxygen
therapist will visit the home to set up the
equipment and to teach the patient and their
caregiver how to use the equipment. The
Home Oxygen Program will then schedule a
follow-up appointment roughly a month later
to
make sure the oxygen and equipment are
being used correctly.
Oxygen is delivered to the home by a
company that will also provide the
equipment needed to deliver the oxygen,
such as nasal prongs. They will show clients
how to use the equipment and ensure that it
stays in working order. They can also supply
portable oxygen in smaller tanks that can be
rolled along or attached to wheelchairs.
Points to remember
• Make sure you have an adequate supply
to last until your next scheduled
delivery; there is usually a charge for
extra deliveries.
• Never smoke near your oxygen tank.
Oxygen is extremely combustible and if
it’s exposed to an source of ignition it
can cause a fire.
• Store oxygen canisters well away from
gas stoves, fireplaces or any open flame.
• Use a disposable razor rather than an
electric razor if you shave while the
oxygen is on.
• Make sure you have working smoke
detectors in your home.
May | June 2013
The Family Caregivers’ Grapevine Page 3
May 2013 Calendar of Events
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 Spring Tea
2:00-3:00 PM
Evergreen
House
2 Caregiver
Network
Group
7:00-9:00
3 4
5 6 7 8 Caregiver
Network
Group
10:30-12:30
9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 Caregiver
Network
Group
10:30-12:30
30 31
We meet each month in two groups. Our Wednesday group will have it’s June meeting early,
May 29 at 10:30 am, while the Thursday group will meet on it’s usual day, June 6. The groups
offer a welcoming atmosphere to share ideas and experiences, and to know that there is
support and encouragement for your caregiving role. Please join us for your first meeting, or
to re-connect with the group.
Caregiver sessions will be on hold during the summer holiday break in June (except for our
June 4 picnic!). Network groups and planned sessions will resume in July.
Caregiver Network Groups
Page 4 May | June 2013
Spring tea
Join us for an informal afternoon to learn
about resources in the community, meet
other caregivers and receive encouragement
in your caregiving role.
Wednesday May 1, 2013, 2:00 to 3:30 pm, in
the lobby of Evergreen House, 231 East 15th
Street, North Vancouver. Drop in anytime!
Renewal and rejuvenation: self-care for
challenging times
In this gathering we will learn about coping
with stress and creating balance in daily life.
Participants will identify their personal stress
signals, learn relaxation strategies, and
receive ideas for self-care. Presented by
Karyn from the Caregiver Support Program.
Wednesday May 22, 1:30 to 3:30 pm, Room
203 in Capilano Mall, 935 Marine Drive,
North Vancouver.
Caregivers’ spring picnic
Join us for a potluck picnic set to music,
Tuesday June 4, noon to 2:00 pm, John
Lawson Park, Ambleside, at the covered
picnic area. Please bring a dish to share.
Rainy day plan: meet at Capilano Mall, Room
203.
No need to register! Hope to see you there
for the festivities.
Asparagus tips
May and June are peak season for locally
grown asparagus, says the BC Association
of Farmers’ Markets. The tasty green
spears are packed with folate, and
Vitamins A and C.
Whether they’re thick or thin, choose
spears that have tightly closed tips. They
can be stored in the refrigerator for
several days, but are best when eaten as
soon as possible after being harvested.
Asparagus taste best when they’ve been
prepared simply. After snapping off the
fibrous ends, the spears just need a light
steam. They can then be drizzled with a
little oil and lemon juice, balsamic vinegar
or topped with grated parmesan.
Tossed with a bit of olive oil and
barbecued for about two minutes, they
take on a smoky crunch. No matter how
they’re prepared, the important thing is
to avoid over-cooking.
Look for the locally grown spears at
grocery stores and farmers' markets.
The Family Caregivers’ Grapevine Page 5
A prayer
Dear God, give me grace for this day, not for a lifetime,
or for next week, nor for tomorrow ....just for this day
Direct my thoughts and bless them
Direct my work and bless it
Direct the things I say and give them blessing too
Direct and bless everything that I think and say and do
So that for this one day, just this one day,
I have the gift of grace that comes from your
Presence.
—Author unknown
Life is better when you are laughing
I am blessed to have a father with a keen
sense of humour and a mother who
always appreciated that humour. During
an exchange of words recently regarding a
difference in their opinions on some
topic, Dad quipped, "I knew this marriage
wouldn't last!" Quite the contrary! On August 22, 2013
they will celebrate their 71st Wedding
Anniversary!
Thank you to caregiver Ruth Murphy for sharing these words. We are always looking for stories, thoughts and
anecdotes to share with our readers. Please send yours to Karyn at [email protected].
There is always, always something to be grateful for.
—Ruth Murphy
Think like a tree
Soak up the sun
Affirm Life's magic
Be grateful in the wind
Stand tall after a storm
Feel refreshed after it rains
Grow strong without notice
Be prepared for each season
Provide shelter to strangers
Hang tough through a cold spell
Emerge renewed at the first sign of Spring
Stay deeply rooted while reaching
or the sky
Be still long enough to hear your own leaves
rustling.
—Karen I. Shragg
Resistance to care
by Josie Padro
Page 6 May | June 2013
While many of us are willing to help a family
member or friend, sometimes that help is
resisted or declined all together. Everyone one
has the right to refuse help, but it can be
worrisome when there could be a risk of harm.
Resistance to help can have a number or
causes. The family member who has up until
now lived a lifetime of self sufficiency may find
accepting help a blow to self esteem. They
may worry about their ability to afford extra
care or special equipment.
The following suggestions may help:
Have an open discussion. Ask if there are
specific tasks that the person needs help with.
Share your observations and thoughts about
what kind of help they could use. For example,
“ I notice you become short of breath when
you work in the garden. How about if we found
someone to do the heavy lifting for you?”
Share your concerns. You may say, “I would
feel so much better if you had some help with
the house work. I know it really tires you out.”
Or, “I worry that you might fall. Would you be
willing to use a walker when you do your
errands?”
Supply information. Gather reading material
that your family member can review on their
own time and at their own pace.
Don’t rush. In so many instances accepting
help is like issuing a visible public statement
that you have become less able. It may take a
while to get used to the idea of using aids like
wheelchairs or a hearing aids.
Seek reinforcements. If you are the only one
making a suggestion, it may carry less weight
than if others voice the same concern. Family
meetings can be a good way to open
discussion. Go along to doctors’ appointments
and raise your concerns while you’re there;
your worries may be eased or validated.
When someone we care about rejects what we
think is best, we may have to take a second
look at what we are asking and why. Is the
person in danger? Have we explored all the
alternatives? If the person is a competent
adult, don’t they have a right to accept risk?
Our role as caregivers is to care and it can be
distressing to stand by while a family member
rejects the help we think they need. With a
little creativity and patience we can hopefully
arrive at a solution that’s acceptable to
everyone.
The Family Caregivers’ Grapevine Page 7
Mother nature: a prescription for stress reduction
by Josie Padro
Shinrin-yoku, which translates to forest
bathing, is a Japanese term used to describe
the stress-reducing properties of a walk in
nature. Nature wakens our senses: the scent
of a pine tree, the restful colours of the
forest, the texture of a leaf, the sound of rain.
Luckily for us, the North Shore offers many
places where we can bathe in the beauty of
the great outdoors.
North Shore walking trails range from the
challenging Grouse Grind to the strollable
seawall between Ambleside and Dundarave.
Relatively recently the City of North
Vancouver completed the Harbourside
Overpass connecting Kings Mill Walk to West
1st Street, which allows pedestrian access to
North Shore Spirit Trail.
Hiking and walking groups offer not only
organized treks but also the company of
others. The North Shore Recreation Guide,
www.northvanrec.com, lists contact
information for North Shore and Lower
Mainland groups of all ages and abilities.
A regular walk in the neighbourhood is a great
way to keep in touch with the seasons. It’s
also a good way to get to know neighbours –
and very often their canine companions.
Visiting a garden is another way to commune
with nature and reduce stress. Park and
Tilford Garden at the southwest corner of Park
and Tilford Shopping Centre, 333 Brooksbank
Avenue, is a beautiful collection of trees and
plants. The three-acre garden was established
in 1969 by Canadian Park and Tilford
Distilleries Ltd. Admission is free.
Something new and interesting is always
blooming in the eight themed areas, including
a traditional rose garden, an oriental garden,
and a herb and veggie garden. In December
brights seasonal lights decorate the entry.
Friends of the Garden is a group of volunteers
who help maintain the grounds. They
organize a spring plant sale and with partial
proceeds going toward maintaining the
garden. To volunteer or for more information
call 604-984-8200.
North Shore Community
Resources Caregiver
Support Program
Suite 201
935 Marine Drive
North Vancouver, BC
V7P 1S3
The Family Caregivers’
Grapevine is a bi-
monthly publication that
seeks to support family
caregivers by promoting
the importance of self-
care and providing
practical information.
If you have any
questions or feedback
about the newsletter,
please contact Josie
Padro by email at
or by phone at 604-985-
7138, local 106.
Resources for Family Caregivers BC 211 Info Line...........................................................................................................211
Capilano Community Services Society........................................................604-988-7115
Crisis Line (24/7).........................................................................................604-872-3311
Health Link Nurse Line (24/7)......................................................................................811
Lions Gate Hospice Society.........................................................................604-988-2312
Lions Gate Hospital.....................................................................................604-988-3131
North Shore Disability Resource Centre……………………….............................604-985-5371
North Shore Home and Community Care……………………………….................604-986-7111
North Shore Grief Recovery.......................................................................604-979-1600
North Shore Palliative Care Program..........................................................604-984-3743
Seniors’ Peer Support Program...................................................................604-987-8138
Older Adult Mental Health..........................................................................604-904-6200
Seniors’ One Stop............................................................604-983-3303 or 604-925-7474
The Caregiver Support Program is for people who are
caring for an adult friend or family member. You are a
caregiver if you assist someone in any of these ways:
coordinating care, providing emotional support, assisting
with decisions, doing housework, preparing meals or
providing personal care.
We offer education sessions, network groups, information
and consultation related to the emotional and practical
aspects of caregiving. For information and registration
regarding all sessions, please contact Karyn by email at
[email protected] or by phone at 604-982-3320.
Caregiving by the numbers
• Caregivers provide about 80 percent of care needed
by people with long-term health conditions.
• 1 in 4 of those caring for a senior are seniors
themselves.
• 57 percent of caregivers are employed.
• About one-third of caregivers are not close family:
14 percent are friends; 5 percent are neighbours;
11 percent are extended family.