Good Good News!
Making the private matter of caring for your family member or friend a public matter has long been a mission of the 29-year-old charity Family Caregivers Society of British Columbia.
With Health Minister Adrian Dix’s announcement of $75million in new provincial caregiver support funding, the Society is celebrating. “Today’s commitment to supporting family and friend caregivers across BC is significant, and unprecedented in Canada,” said Barbra Hopkins,President of Family Caregivers of British Columbia (FCBC).
“I am a care giver for my mother and had to reduce my work to part-time, and I also help care for my grandchildren, so I know first-hand what’s at stake.”
Hopkins is one of more than one million family caregivers across BC doing the same thing – juggling work, caring for an aging parent or chronically ill family member or friend – and trying to remain healthy despite the financial, physical and emotional toll of caregiving.
“After many decades of calling for a systemic approach to supporting caregivers, it’s finally going to happen,” adds FCBC ExecutiveDirector Barb MacLean. “We couldn’t be more pleased about this increased level of recognition and support for a very hard-working, invisible part of society.
”MacLean notes that the new provincial funding is earmarked to make a difference at the community level through increased respite and adult day program options.Caregivers need regular relief from caregiving duties and this funding will help significantly.”
FCBC operates the BC Caregiver Support Line (1-877-520-3267)and a virtual Caregiver Resource Center, as well as being a voice for care givers in the health sector.
“This funding is substantial enough to paint a brighter future for thousands of caregivers, ensuring they won’t break under the burden of caring,” says MacLean. “This is truly care for the caregiver, and a wise move to build capacity for us to age with dignity in our own homes, with the people we care about.”
Contact:
Barb MacLean
Executive Director
Family Caregivers of British Columbia
www.familycaregiversbc.ca - Email
Making the private matter of caring for your family member or friend a public matter has long been a mission of the 29-year-old charity Family Caregivers Society of British Columbia.
With Health Minister Adrian Dix’s announcement of $75million in new provincial caregiver support funding, the Society is celebrating. “Today’s commitment to supporting family and friend caregivers across BC is significant, and unprecedented in Canada,” said Barbra Hopkins,President of Family Caregivers of British Columbia (FCBC).
“I am a care giver for my mother and had to reduce my work to part-time, and I also help care for my grandchildren, so I know first-hand what’s at stake.”
Hopkins is one of more than one million family caregivers across BC doing the same thing – juggling work, caring for an aging parent or chronically ill family member or friend – and trying to remain healthy despite the financial, physical and emotional toll of caregiving.
“After many decades of calling for a systemic approach to supporting caregivers, it’s finally going to happen,” adds FCBC ExecutiveDirector Barb MacLean. “We couldn’t be more pleased about this increased level of recognition and support for a very hard-working, invisible part of society.
”MacLean notes that the new provincial funding is earmarked to make a difference at the community level through increased respite and adult day program options.Caregivers need regular relief from caregiving duties and this funding will help significantly.”
FCBC operates the BC Caregiver Support Line (1-877-520-3267)and a virtual Caregiver Resource Center, as well as being a voice for care givers in the health sector.
“This funding is substantial enough to paint a brighter future for thousands of caregivers, ensuring they won’t break under the burden of caring,” says MacLean. “This is truly care for the caregiver, and a wise move to build capacity for us to age with dignity in our own homes, with the people we care about.”
Contact:
Barb MacLean
Executive Director
Family Caregivers of British Columbia
www.familycaregiversbc.ca - Email
