Individuality was the main theme of the two speakers, Janice Cameron and Fiona Mackey, both from the Cowichan Family Caregivers Support Society, who spoke at the Cowichan Seniors' Advisory Society's monthly membership meeting in March on the topic of caregiving.
Cameron is a project guide with the Support Society and also a facilitator with the First Nations 'circle'. Mackey is also a facilitator with the society's Caregivers Support Circle Pilot Project, which has just completed the first operational year of a two-year term. On completion of the project, the results will be evaluated for use in other communities.
The Cowichan Family Caregivers Support Society, Cameron pointed out, does not duplicate the services already in the community but rather it 'links-up' with people, organizations or groups who provide care.
Cameron described the caregiver as one who is lonely, tired, and in need of support in caring for a frail, usually elderly and very ill loved-one who is dependent on being cared for on a 24-hour basis.
Illustrating by chart, Cameron spoke of how she 'viewed' the 'encircling' help provided around the caregiver. Dealing with the first component, the one to-one emotional support, Cameron said she spends some time recruiting people who can give this kind of assistance.
The second component on the chart encircling the caregiver was support of groups, which are given assistance based on 'their' particular needs. There are three support groups in the area: Duncan, Shawnigan Lake and Mill Bay.
Advocacy, also a part of the circle, gives voice to caregivers' concern and issues, and the support Circle Pilot Project supplies the needs of both the caregiver and the one receiving care, determined by their individual needs.
The expected outcome of the Support Circle Project, Cameron told the audience, "is raising self esteem, development of meaningful relationships, extending social support and networking with caregivers."
The remaining components on the chart, resource information and referral are available, and the last items on the chart: library, workshops and community development, are in place to assist caregivers groups.
Mackey opened her talk by telling the audience that, "the aim of the 'circle' project is to acknowledge the contributions of caregivers to their families and the community; to draw on the interdependent nature of communities in supporting the care-giver, and to improve the quality of life for both the caregiver and the person receiving care."
Mackey is one of five facilitators with the Society's Circle Project.
Mackey followed along the same lines as Cameron, explaining that, "We do not tell people what to do. We're there to facilitate what is the best supportive role, and this means recognizing people's needs, as well as recognizing the importance of the close committed relationship between family and friends."
As a facilitator, Mackey helps prevent feelings of isolation by the caregiver or care receiver by bringing people into the circle with different kinds of gifts to share.
"Could be," Mackey said, "taking someone out on the bus, take part in a hobby, perhaps basket weaving, or taking part in a game like 'scrabble' with someone who really enjoys the game. Bringing people together to speak in their 'first' language is also a good gift.'
Mackey also recruits volunteers for the project. Mostly volunteers come by referral. "You do what you can," Mackey said, and "you get back as much as you put out."
Mackey, in closing, shared with the audience a 'hope' of hers that she can help facilitate a 'circle' like the one around her friend, Lily, who is 96 and who has a natural, spontaneous circle of support from her community. Her relationship with each person is wanted, genuine, two-way and cherished. Each member of her circle value and respect one another and to Mackey's mind: "It's like a return to the 'old days' - a world based upon community which succeed through the fundamental goodness of the human heart."
For more on the Cowichan Family Caregivers Support Society, phone Ranjana Basu at 743-7621.