Millions of Canadians provide caregiving assistance to others, sometimes without sufficient support and usually without proper recognition. It’s estimated that by 2056, the number of seniors aged 65 years and older will double, while those 80 and over will triple. In its current state, our healthcare system is not well prepared to scale accordingly and this will only put added pressure on the family caregiver who is typically juggling multiple demands and often doesn’t know where to turn for support and guidance.
For the past two years, Dr. Gordon Atherley has hosted a program entitled “Family Caregivers Unite” on VoiceAmerica, an Internet talk radio station. Dr. Atherley’s program explores in depth the Family Caregiving experience from all perspectives, often highlighting issues that are unique to the caregiving relationship. The June 28, 2011 episode, for instance, explores the challenges one family caregiver experienced in looking after the financial affairs of her aging father, something that for many of us is tough enough to do for ourselves let alone for a loved one.
I highly recommend that you join the discussion. Dr. Atherley’s show runs Tuesdays at 1:00pm (EST) and over 90 previously recorded episodes are available online. You can have a listen here: \”Family Caregivers Unite\” with host Dr. Gordon Atherley.
Hi Karen:
Thanks for sharing some of your personal struggles. It sounds as though you have plenty of firsthand experience to share on the complexities in caring for aging parents. You are certainly not alone in feeling this way and I appreciate your candour on issues that go beyond taking care of a love one’s state of health – attempting to speak with your doctor who cites ‘privacy’ concerns is something that’s not often discussed.
Dr. Gordon Atherley, mentioned in Uniting Family Caregivers, is a subject matter expert and a family caregiver activist. You might benefit from listening in on his online radio show and I would encourage you to do that. If you’d like to get in touch with Dr. Atherley, please let me know.
Best,
Robert
Hi Robert ~
Don’t even know where to being this tale. My parents, most notably my mother, sold our family cottage (of 50 years) at probably $200,000 – $400,000 less than it was worth. To say there was an unscrupulous real estate agent is putting it mildly. Aside from that I offered to purchase the cottage, had financing arranged, but in her words “I’d rather sell it to strangers” and she did. She treats family like strangers and strangers like family. So, I’m concerned about her handling of financial affairs, etc. It is very difficult to discuss these issues with family doctors as they always cite “privacy”. I wish our government had “Senior’s Aid” akin to Children’s Aid; Office of the Public Guardian isn’t cutting it at the moment…too many hoops at the moment and not all of us have a law degree to navigate the system. I might add my father is a retired lawyer battling Parkinson’s and I have an older brother, also a lawyer who has battled substance abuse issues for years, so I hope you understand where this conversation could be headed. I would appreciate any words of wisdom and thank you.