As a family caregiver you spend

most of your time focusing on

someone else’s health and needs.

But, did you know that the stress

of caregiving may be impacting

your own health in a detrimental

way. Now, before you shrug this

off as something that “goes with

the territory” of being a caregiver,

read the following

to understand why

you should not

dismiss your feelings

as “just stress” and

how you can protect

yourself.

Providing care to

someone else,

whether full-time,

part-time, hands-on

or long distance, can

take a huge toll on you both

physically and emotionally. It is

now recognized that the stress of

caregiving results in any number

of long-term health effects for the

family caregiver, including an

increase in the incidence of

infectious diseases, depression,

and sleep deprivation among

caregivers, as well as signs of

premature aging and a higher

mortality rate. In fact, studies

have shown that caregivers are

nearly twice as likely to report

having chronic conditions as their

non-caregiving counterparts,

while elderly people caring for a

spouse with dementia were shown

to have a 63% higher mortality

rate than spouses of the same age

who were not caregivers. As one

study quotes “Caregiving itself,

then, appears to be a potentially

lethal risk factor.”

So, what’s a family caregiver to

do? Well, for one thing, you need

to recognize that the

stress of caregiving

isn’t something that

you should ignore or

just deal with.

Practicing self-care is

very important in

order to protect your

own -- and ultimately

your care recipient’s –

health; in fact, it could

be a matter of life or

death. Self-care includes anything

that can help decrease your stress

as a caregiver, including getting

exercise, eating right, having

regular medical checkups, and

seeking support services (both

physical and emotional) in a

timely manner..

Although it may be hard to focus

on self-care, it is critical that you

do; maintaining a personal

balance will enable you to

maintain your health and to

continue to care for your family

member or friend. See sidebar

for tips on self-care!

Caregiving Impacts YOUR Health by Sana Shahram

Inside this issue:Inside this issue:Inside this issue:Inside this issue:

North Shore Family North Shore Family North Shore Family North Shore Family

Caregiver NewsCaregiver NewsCaregiver NewsCaregiver News

5 Steps to More Healthful

Caregiving

1.Remind yourself until you

actually believe it that self-

care is a necessity, not a

luxury.

2.Reach out for help – this will

lessen the load.

3.Stay in touch with friends

and family. Many caregivers

become socially isolated.

Sharing what is going on

often will lessen, the burden.

4.Find a way to exercise- this

is easier said than done! Try

to do something you like.

You can power walk around

the house for 10 minutes. .

Exercise reduces stress, and

blood pressure, helps to re-

duce depression, anxiety,

and anger.

5.Do one small thing for your-

self each day - a relaxing

bath, call a friend, etc.

SUMMER 2010SUMMER 2010SUMMER 2010SUMMER 2010 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1

Legally Speaking–

Understanding Power of

Attorney

2

Pharmacist’s Corner–

Managing Medications

3

Navigating the System–

Home/Community Care

4

“I’m Still Here” DVD

Review

6

North Shore Caregivers

Get Help!

6

Meet the Staff 7

A Power of Attorney is a legal

document. When you give someone

power of attorney you give him or her

the legal power to take care of financial

and legal matters for you. This might

include paying bills, investing your

money or selling your house. The

person you give this power is called the

attorney. He or she is

not your lawyer. The

power of attorney

does not give that

person authority to

make decisions about

your health care. It

covers financial and

legal matters only.

Types of Power of Attorney:

SPECIFIC: Allows your attorney to do

a specific task. The power ends when

the task is completed. An example is

selling your car.

GENERAL: Gives your attorney a very

wide power. It is generally used when

decisions need to be made about your

property or financial matters. An

example is when you are out of the

country for an extended period of time

and need someone to manage your

affairs for you.

ENDURING: Allows your attorney to

act for you even if you become mentally

incapable.

It ends if you die or the court appoints

someone to act for you.

Procedure: • You must be mentally competent

and understand the nature and

effect of the document.

• Your attorney should be someone

you trust.

• It must be in writing and you must

sign it.

• You need at least one witness.

• Banks often have their own forms

for power of attorneys. Several

standard forms are

available at stationery

stores.

If you are dealing with

land it is more

complicated and you

should have a lawyer or

notary public assist you.

• If you want to cancel your power

of attorney, notify your attorney in

writing and date the document.

Then, write to the organizations

who have been dealing with the

attorney and tell them it has

ended.

For more information: Lawyer Referral: 30 minute

consultation for $25 604-687-3221

Dial-a-Law: Free, pre-recorded legal

information.

Lower Mainland: 604-687-4680

elsewhere: 1-800-565-5297

Law Students Legal Advice Clinics:

604-822-5791

North Shore Community Resources

Legal Information: 604-985-7138

EDITOR’S NOTE:

The purpose of this column is NOT to

advise people on their legal affairs or

concerns, but to provide basic information

for discussion with their own legal counsel.

Legally Speaking– Understanding Power of Attorney By Fariba Aghdassi

Page 2 NORTH SHORE FAMILY CAREGIVER NEWS

HELPFUL WEBSITES FOR FAMILY CAREGIVERS:

• Caregiver Wellness: www.caregiverwellness.ca

• Care-ring Voice Network: www.careringvoice.com

• VON Canada: www.caregiver-connect.ca

• Family Caregivers’ Network Society: www.fcns-caregiving.org

• Family Support Institute: www.familysupportbc.com • Community Living BC: www.communitylivingbc.ca

• Canadian Caregiver Coalition: www.ccc-ccan.ca

Did you know that almost 50% of Canadians fail to

take their medications as prescribed by their doctor?

For some medications, even slight variations can lead

to unnecessary disease progression, complications, and

sometimes death. As a caregiver you are often given

the difficult task of managing your family or friend’s

medications, so it is important to know how a

pharmacist can help you in this process!

Here’s a list of what information you should get from

your pharmacist whenever a new medication is

initiated:

Tip! Keep info organized in a binder for quick

reference.

What is the medication for?

If your family member is being treated for several

different conditions, or if certain medications are used

only occasionally, they can be easy to confuse.

What is this medication going to do, when will it

start working, and how long must it be taken?

If you don’t understand why something needs to be

taken, it is easy to be complacent about providing it,

or to stop its use prematurely.

How and when should the medication be taken

for?

Medications come in all shapes and sizes. Some are

oral, while others are topical, rectal, etc. Some can be

split, others may be damaged if broken, crushed or

exposed to light. As a caregiver, you will know things

that may impact your care recipients ability or

willingness to take certain medications; share this input

with your pharmacist so that they can help you choose

medications that will work for the person you care for.

Also, things such as food, other medications and

supplements can impact medications positively and

negatively, so it is important to know how these things

may have an impact.

What are the potential side effects, and how should

they be managed?

Unfortunately all medications can cause side effects.

Some side effects will go away, some can be managed,

and others require a medication to be discontinued all

together. Contact your physician or pharmacist to

determine the cause and the best course of action.

Unless told to do so, do not abruptly stop medications as

this is not safe for all medications.

What should be done if one or more doses have

been missed?

This is largely dependant on the medication

so make sure you know what to do for each

drug.

If you are still struggling with managing

medications, the good news is there are options.

Again, your physician or pharmacist can be a great

source of information. They may be able to help you

streamline the medications that your family member is

taking to decrease the number of tablets or times a day

medications need to be taken. Most pharmacies can also

provide medications in blister packs that provide

individual dosing for morning/lunch/supper/evening

each day of the week, to help cut down on mistakes.

Even after all of this, you may still find yourself in a

situation where you need medication advice and your

doctor and pharmacist are out of reach. If this happens,

you can call HealthLinkBC by dialing 8-1-1 (toll free) to

be connected with a registered nurse 24/7 or with a

pharmacist between 5 pm to 9 am everyday who can

provide you with advice. Translation services are also

available in over 130 languages. The important point to

always remember, however, is when you need help, help

is always available.

EDITOR’S NOTE:

The purpose of this column is NOT to advise people on their

health affairs or concerns, but to provide basic information

for discussion with their own health care provider.

Pharmacist’s Corner– Managing Medications By Logan McNeil, RPh

Page 3 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1

A person may be eligible for services

such as home care nursing or

physiotherapy and occupational therapy

if they are a Canadian citizen, have

Permanent Resident Status (landed

immigrant), and have been living in

British Columbia for three months.

Also, if care is required following early

discharge from an acute care hospital,

care at home rather than hospitalization,

or care because of a terminal illness.

To be eligible for subsidized services,

such as home support, assisted living,

adult day care, case management,

residential care services and/or palliative

care services,

people must:

• be 19

years

of age

or

older

• have

lived in British Columbia for

three months

• be a Canadian citizen or have

permanent resident status

• be unable to function

independently because of

chronic, health-related

problems or have been

diagnosed with an end-stage

illness by a doctor

How can I access home and

community care services and how

much do they cost? A person may

refer him/herself for assessment, or

someone representing them, can apply

for services by contacting the North

Shore Home Health Program Central

Intake Office. Healthcare

professionals, such as a doctor, nurse,

pharmacist or social worker, can also

make enquiries on a client’s behalf.

For North and West Vancouver,

Lions Bay and Bowen Island,

contact the North Shore Home

Health Program at 604-986-7111.

When you call, you will be connected

with Central Intake. The Central Intake

staff will ask a series of questions over

the phone to determine

the health care needs of

the person being

referred. If they

determine that home

and community care

services are not

appropriate for the

caller, they may redirect them to other

community health program services or

may refer them to resources and

community services appropriate to

meet their needs (see page 5 for

information on the Resource Guide for

Family Caregivers North Shore

edition). If Central Intake staff

determine that a referral to Home and

Community Care Services is required,

the appropriate healthcare professional

will visit with the care receiver to

determine their health care needs and

eligibility.

Navigating the System– Home and Community Care Adapted from “Resource Guide for Family Caregivers: North Shore Edition”

Page 4 NORTH SHORE FAMILY CAREGIVER NEWS

5 STRESS BUSTING TIPS:

1.Unload a little- even if it is on someone else’s shoulders.

2.Start a “Gratitude Journal” – Everyday write down 5 things or special moments you are grateful for. These will be helpful to you now and later.

3.Breathe! Stop what you are doing. Take long, slow, deep breaths. It’s amazing how often caregivers hold their breath without knowing it. Breathing deeply releases stress.

4.Do one thing you love to do. This will give you energy so you can continue to give to others.

5.Accept that you

cannot make life

perfect for the one

you care for – you are

doing your best in the

love and care you

provide.

Created in collaboration with Family Caregiver Network Society, this 162-page guide is presented in an easy-

to-read format and contains practical information to help caregivers make informed decisions. The majority

of the material in this guide is generic and is applicable to all family caregivers.

This Resource Guide is FREE (while quantities last) for unpaid family caregivers, $20 for professionals and comes with a handy contact list of Resources for Family Caregivers. This valuable resource will assist family caregivers to identify:

• What it means to be a caregiver.

• How to balance family caregiving and employment.

• How to communicate with health care providers.

• What community-based supports are available.

• How to choose the most appropriate home-based care services.

• Expectations of a residential care facility.

• Health care staff roles and responsibilities.

• How to manage when a family member is admitted to an acute care hospital.

• What is normal aging.

• What is palliative care.

• What financial and legal considerations need to be made.

• How to advocate for the caregivers and the care receivers.

To obtain a copy of the Resource Guide for Family Caregivers contact Helen:

604-982-3313 helen.wait@nscr.bc.ca

the Caregiver Support Program

(registration is free). Karyn is available

to show you how the library system

works.

Resource Library Details:

NSCR Hours: Mon-Fri 9:00am-4:30pm

For more information, contact Karyn Davies

at 604-982-3320.

The Family Caregiver Resource Library

is full of interesting and helpful books,

journals, CDs (including relaxation CDs)

and DVDs on various topics related to

caregiving. Drop by, to sign out any of

these great resources which are available

free of charge to registered members of

Family Caregiver Resource Library is Open!

Resource Guide for Family

Caregivers, North Shore Edition

Book Launch

Page 5 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1

The DVD of the play I’m Still Here is

written by Vrenia Ivonoffski, and is

based on findings from research

conducted with people living with

Alzheimer’s disease or a related

dementia and daughters whose mothers

were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s

disease.

This insightful and powerful DVD

examines questions about the effects of

Alzheimer’s disease on a person’s

identity and relationships. It provides

the often overlooked perspective from

the actual person with the disease, with

the characters in the play with dementia

repeatedly expressing that they feel they

are not being listened to. The characters

explore the frustration associated with

having all of their emotions, actions and

thoughts suddenly deemed demented

post-diagnosis. Indeed, the play seems

to suggest that the stigma and

suspension of personal freedom

associated with dementia often out-

paces the progression of the actual

disease. The play also offers the

balancing view of family caregivers and

their attempt to provide the best and

most suitable care for their loved ones

while also dealing with the emotional

impacts of the disease. Both

perspectives offer a plethora of thought-

provoking and conversation-initiating

topics for both caregivers and people

living with Alzheimer’s disease or a

related dementia.

A ‘must see’ play for those newly

diagnosed with dementia, their families

and care providers alike, I’m Still Here is

at once educational and uplifting. The

play suggests that although Alzheimer’s

disease may alter parts of the person

that it affects, it does not completely

take them away; they’re still here.

A copy of the DVD “I’m Still Here” is available for loan, for 2 weeks free of charge, in the North Shore Community Resources Library. The West Vancouver Memorial Library also has a copy. The DVD is also available for purchase at www.marep.uwaterloo.ca/ucts/still.html.

REVIEW: “I’m Still Here” Presents the Human Side of Dementia

By Sana Shahram

The Supporting

Caregivers Across the

Lifespan Project

Activities

• Literature Review and

Research on Caregiver

Best Practices

• Needs assessments:

Focus groups and surveys

for Family Caregivers,

Employers, Professionals

• Content development for

a Website – “Family

Caregiver North Shore” to

provide resources for

Caregivers, Professionals

and Employers

• Education for

professionals and

employers

• Bi-Monthly Newsletter –

North Shore Family

Caregiver News

• Social Recreation

Program for Caregivers

and Care Receivers, the

latter who experience mild

to moderate dementia

• Creative Arts Based

Programming for Family

Caregivers

• Education Sessions for

Family Caregivers

• Network groups (Support

and Education) for

parents of youth with

disabilities who are in

transition (age 15- 25).

• Tele-Conference

Education Sessions for

Family Caregivers

North Shore Community

Resources (NSCR) is excited to

announce funding from the

Government of Canada's Social

Development Partnerships Program for

a new three year project called Supporting

Caregivers Across the Lifespan! This project

will address the needs of unpaid family

caregivers who provide support/care for

family members or friends who are

aging, have chronic illnesses or have

disabilities. This project will work in

partnership with our existing North

Shore Caregiver Support Program.

Services are available to all adults who

perform the role of unpaid caregiver.

This includes caregivers who are helping

family members at a distance or those

whose care receiver is already living in a

care facility.

Caregivers are encouraged to contact

Helen Wait, Program Assistant at

helen.wait@nscr.bc.ca , 604-982-3313.

for further information. The project will

conclude in September 2012.

North Shore Family Caregivers Get Help! By Cindy Bouvet

Page 6 NORTH SHORE FAMILY CAREGIVER NEWS

Page 7 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1

Meet the Staff at North Shore Family Caregivers

Barb Maclellan, Manager of Information and Volunteer Services Barbara MacLellan has a

Master’s degree in Communications and is the Manager of Information and Volunteer Programs

at North Shore Community Resources where she has worked for 17 years. She is responsible for

a variety of programs including Community Information, Caregivers Program and Project, Legal

Information and Advocacy and Seniors One Stop Information. She has many years of experience

sitting on and chairing boards of directors including nine years on the North Vancouver School

Board, two as its chair and continues to volunteer her time with a number of community organi-

zations.

Cindy Bouvet, Family Caregiver Project Coordinator Cindy Bouvet coordinates the new

Supporting Caregivers Across the Lifespan Project, a 3-year federally funded project. From 2007

-2010 Cindy coordinated the North Shore Caregiver Support Program. Cindy brings with her to

this role her many years of experience as a Recreation Therapist supporting seniors in care and

as a faculty member in the Therapeutic Recreation Program at Douglas College. She completed

a Masters in Adult Education in 2005.

Cindy is also a care partner to her 85 year old Mom in Montreal. Cindy is very excited about working with the very

talented and energetic “Family Caregiver Team.”

Karyn Davies, Family Caregiver Program Coordinator Karyn is delighted to be working

with the team here at North Shore Community Resources and hopes to bring an ongoing

vibrancy and openness in her role as Program Coordinator. Working in various healthcare

settings has brought Karyn incredible gifts in her life; her work with children, families, sen-

iors and adults with disabilities has painted her career landscape with colour and meaning.

Karyn is an avid lover of the natural world, a writer and a believer in the vital role of the creative arts (music and

dance) in fostering personal wellness. She looks forward to connecting with Family Caregivers in upcoming ses-

sions and events!

Helen Wait, Family Caregiver Program Assistant Helen Wait is a long time North Shore resi-

dent with a business and education background. Helen was Chairperson for Seymour Golf &

Country Club’s Charity Golf Tournament in 2009 and 2008 and has taught computer classes at

Silver Harbour Centre. In her role, Helen enjoys creating Family Caregiving posters and working

with the team at North Shore Community Resources to create valuable support programs and re-

sources for caregivers on the North Shore.

Sana Shahram, Family Caregiver Project Researcher/Writer Sana Shahram was born

and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia. After completing her undergraduate studies at

UBC in Cell Biology/Genetics and English Literature, she moved to Boston to complete

her masters of Public Health at Tufts University School of Medicine where she specialized

in Health Communications.

Sana has watched as her mother has cared for her parents for the past 13 years, and currently cares for her father

with her family’s help while he undergoes cancer treatment. She hopes that these experiences will allow her to con-

tribute new perspectives and ideas in this exciting role.

If your name is selected, you will win a

hand crafted lap quilt made by the

Mt. Seymour Quilters Guild.

Submit your ideas by email (if you can)

to helen.wait@nscr.bc.ca or by phone at

604-982-3313 by June 21, 2010.

Name the Newsletter Contest

North Shore Family Caregiver Support Program A program for people caring for friends and family members.

A family caregiver is anyone who provides unpaid care and support at home, in the

community or in a care facility to a friend or family member who is chronically ill,

elderly, palliative, or is living with a disability.

Services:

• Caregiver support groups and educational workshops • Stress management strategies and relaxation techniques • Telephone support and individual consultations • Information & Referral to health care and community services • Library with books, videos and other educational resources • Limited subsidies are available to qualified participants whose fam-

ily member requires respite care to make their attendance at groups possible.

What happens in a network group?

• A network group gives people the opportunity to: • Connect with other caregivers • Explore the challenges • Learn new skills • Share ideas

Caregiving can be an incredibly rewarding experience, but it is also com-mon for caregivers to experience increased stress, health problems and financial consequences.

For the sake of your own health — and that of the person you are caring for — it can be helpful to find out how to take care of yourself and ensure you get the support you need.

For More Information on the Program contact Karyn Davies at 604-982-3320 or karyn.davies@nscr.bc.ca

Phone: 604-985-7138 Fax: 604-985-0645

North Shore Family Caregiver Support Program

Questions/

Comments?

If you have any

questions or

feedback about

this issue of the

newsletter,

please contact

the editor at :

sana.shahram@

nscr.bc.ca. This project is funded by

the Government of

Canada’s Social

Development Partnerships

Program. “The opinions

and interpretations in this

publication are those of the

author and do not

necessarily reflect those of

the Government of

Canada.”

201-935 Marine Drive North Vancouver, BC V7P 1S3

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Web!

Www.nscr.bc.ca