While there is a growing awareness surrounding the needs of seniors, the wellness of their caregivers is often overlooked.
Family Service Toronto is looking to remedy that with an ongoing series of workshops and discussion groups designed to support neighbours, friends and family members providing care for an aging loved one.With stress often leading to burnout or fostering anger or guilt among caregivers, the workshops allow individuals caring for a senior a chance to feel less alone in the challenges they sometimes face."Caregiver stress is something most caregivers experience at one point or another," said Lynne Gallagher, workshop facilitator. "Our goal is to ensure that they can get whatever support they need."The workshops cover a range of topics from preventing caregiver burnout to aging and memory loss to advocating for the person receiving care. The latter is helpful to many who have no idea how to get the information and support their loved one's needs."People aren't always sure how to navigate the system - it's very complex," Gallagher said.The workshops also give caregivers a chance to spend some time with other like-minded people. That can provide immense benefits when they might otherwise feel as though they are constantly battling just to keep up with their obligations."When people are busy working and then they feel they have to go right home to care for someone, they tend to become isolated," Gallagher said. "Here, they can get information and support from others who are dealing with a lot of the same things."Family Service Toronto funding comes from the Ministry of Health and the United Way, which allows them to operate the workshops for no fee, though donations are welcome.The workshops run on a monthly basis at 355 Church St., just south of Carlton Street. The next meeting will deal with preventing caregiver burnout and will run from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28. Family Service Toronto also hosts a caregiver discussion group from 6 to 8 p.m. on the second Monday of every month. For more information or to register for a workshop or discussion group, call 416-595-9618.