Caregiver Support
Supporting those who support people living with type 2 diabetes
People with diabetes are over three times more likely to be hospitalized for cardiovascular disease compared to those without diabetes. These serious outcomes not only affect the person living with the condition but also increase the physical, emotional, and financial demands on caregivers.
Emotional & Mental Well-Being
Family Caregivers of BC (FCBC)
One-to-one emotional support, coaching, and caregiver counselling. Family Caregivers of BC (FCBC) is a provincial, not-for-profit organization that proudly and compassionately supports over one million people in British Columbia who provide physical and/or emotional care to a family member, friend, or neighbour.
Caregiver Resiliency Toolbox
What is resilience, and how can you build your resiliency skills? Explore the Caregiver Resiliency Toolkit: 4 Steps to Develop Your Resiliency with Caregiver Resources’, then check the resources and tools below for extra guidance and support to help strengthen your resilience in key areas.
Self-Management BC Health Programs
Self-Management BC, funded by the Province of British Columbia, provides free health programs for adults of all ages living with one or more chronic health conditions. These programs are available across BC and can be accessed in person, online, virtually, by phone, or by mail.
Canadian Mental Health Association
Mental health supports for caregivers. CMHA provides clear, reliable information to help you understand mental health, find support, and strengthen well-being. Whether you need immediate help, want to learn how to protect your mental health, are seeking information about mental illness and recovery, or want guidance around alcohol and substance use, you’ll find practical resources to support yourself and others.
Bounce Back BC Coaching Program
Bounce Back BC is a free, evidence-based program that helps adults and youth manage low mood, stress, or anxiety. It offers self-guided workbooks and telephone coaching to support mental health and build coping skills, making it easier to bounce back from life’s challenges.
Self-care involves nurturing your physical, emotional, social, spiritual, personal, financial, and work well-being to maintain balance and resilience. It includes activities like exercise, stress management, setting boundaries, meditation, hobbies, budgeting, and taking breaks at work.
Although many of us recognize it may happen eventually, few plan ahead to become a family caregiver. We rarely know when a loved one’s health will change or when our caregiving responsibilities will start.
Intention Setting for Caregivers
Setting an intention helps caregivers pause, focus, and nurture themselves amid the challenges of caregiving. It provides clarity on priorities, encourages self-awareness, and supports self-compassion, reflection, and self-care, helping caregivers manage stress while balancing their own needs with those of the person they care for.
Healthy Caregiving Starts with Self-Care: To support a loved one effectively, caregivers must first understand and care for themselves. This resource emphasizes self-check-ins, self-compassion, routines, and intention setting, highlighting that self-care is a daily practice of small, meaningful steps rather than an indulgence.
The Dance Between Guilt & Resentment
Many caregivers, especially those in the “Sandwiched Generation,” face the challenge of supporting aging parents or becoming the primary caregiver for a spouse. Balancing these responsibilities with work, family, and personal commitments can create a push-and-pull of emotions, where feelings of guilt for not doing enough and resentment for the added demands often coexist.
Caregiver Preparedness
In Canada, diabetes contributes to:
Caregiving can start gradually with small acts of support or suddenly after a major health event. Over time, these responsibilities can grow, making caregiving a central part of your daily life and a new normal.
Caregiving affects more than just physical tasks, it can influence relationships, mental and physical health, finances, and daily life. Caregivers often face unexpected challenges, including changes in family dynamics, work-life balance, financial strain, limited time for self-care, and emotional stress such as depression, anger, or isolation. They are also at higher risk of injury and adverse health outcomes.
Canadian Gov - Caregiver Resources
The Government of Canada provides a wide range of supports and information for people caring for family members or friends. Resources include financial assistance through Employment Insurance (EI) caregiving benefits, the Canada Caregiver Tax Credit, guidance on care planning and conversations, dementia and caregiver readiness videos, tips for balancing work and caregiving, and links to mental health support in your province or territory. These resources are designed to help caregivers manage their responsibilities while maintaining their own well-being.
One of the best things about writing is that it’s meant to be enjoyable. Free writing is a great way to begin—simply sit down and write whatever comes to mind.
“Caregiver burnout” happens when a family caregiver becomes physically and emotionally drained from providing care. Ignoring their own needs can lead to irritability, exhaustion, resentment, and anxiety, increasing the risk of illness and making it difficult to provide the quality care their loved one needs.
A major challenge for family caregivers is social isolation. Even with strong social networks, many feel alone in their caregiving journey, often surprised to learn that thousands of others in their region and province share similar experiences.
This resource highlights common stresses faced by family caregivers and offers strategies to prioritize your well-being. It provides guidance on navigating the healthcare system, setting boundaries, communicating effectively, and accessing emotional support to prevent burnout.
Caregiving can be rewarding but also physically and emotionally demanding. Self-care is essential and personal, involving self-awareness, self-compassion, and connecting with others for support. Strategies include recognizing your needs, taking breaks, asking for help, setting boundaries, and engaging in activities that nurture well-being.
If you are the primary caregiver, it’s important to plan for support if you or the person you care for needs to self-isolate or becomes ill. Reach out to your support network, including healthcare providers and home-care services, to ensure care continues. While self-isolation helps prevent the spread of COVID-19, it can increase feelings of loneliness and impact mental health.
This checklist helps caregivers monitor how the person they are supporting is managing daily life. Answer each question with “Yes” or “No” and note any recent observations or changes.
Making changes to the home can ease caregiving and improve safety as a person ages or their health declines. Simple modifications, such as installing grab bars, handrails, or stair lifts, can make daily activities like bathing, cooking, and moving around safer and more manageable for both the care recipient and the caregiver.
Becoming a caregiver often comes unexpectedly, whether by choice, necessity, or a mix of both. While it can be challenging, approaching this role with a positive mindset and some planning can turn it into a fulfilling opportunity for growth, learning, and connection.
Caregiving is often driven by love, but it can also bring feelings of duty, obligation, and grief. Both caregivers and care recipients experience changes, from small daily shifts to major adjustments as care needs grow. Accepting these realities, while honoring one’s own feelings, allows caregivers to adapt, problem-solve, and find meaning even amid challenges.
Respite Care Options
Canadian caregivers provide:
30 hours
of unpaid care each week, equal to a full-time job
47%
of caregivers are feeling tired, 44% anxious, and 37% overwhelmed
1 in 4
caregivers report fair or poor mental health due to caregiving demands
1 in 3
unpaid caregivers in Canada are distressed, feel angry, or depressed
Caregiver Support - Vancouver Coastal
Vancouver Coastal Health offers resources and respite services to support people caring for a friend or loved one. Caregivers can access information, emotional support, grief support groups, and short-term respite care—either at home through nursing support or in hospice or long-term care settings, helping reduce stress and sustain caregivers’ well-being while they continue to provide care.
Caregiver Respite/Relief
As a caregiver, it can be challenging to meet all the needs of your loved one, and sometimes additional support is necessary. It’s important to communicate openly, respect their wishes, and remember that, unless they have cognitive difficulties, they have the right to make their own decisions, even if they differ from what you would choose.
Are You Eligible for Respite Care in BC
To access B.C.’s home and community care services, you must meet general eligibility criteria, including residency, age, and health-related care needs. Each service also has specific needs assessments, so contact your local home and community care office for details.
How to Arrange for Respite Care
To arrange home and community care in B.C., contact your local health authority’s Home and Community Care Office or have a healthcare professional make a referral. If needed, a professional will assess your eligibility, determine the services required, and explain any associated costs.
Financial Support & Cost Relief
Many caregivers face financial stress when providing care, often citing funding needs as their greatest challenge. This guide offers information on programs and resources in British Columbia that may provide financial relief. It is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal or financial advice; users are encouraged to verify details through the linked sources.
Volunteer Services That Can Help You
A variety of volunteer organizations across BC provide practical and social support for seniors, caregivers, and community members. Services include friendly visits, phone check-ins, transportation, light home and yard work, dog walking, reading and writing assistance, income tax help, and guidance on legal or financial matters.
Caregivers often face legal questions when supporting someone with a disability, illness, or age-related needs. This guide provides information and links to programs and resources in Canada to help address legal concerns and personal planning, but because each situation is unique and laws can change, users should verify details through the provided sources.
Learning Centre
Resources for Indigenous People
In B.C., caregivers supporting Indigenous individuals (First Nations, Métis, Inuit) can use the 64-page **Aboriginal Cultural Practices** guide from Vancouver Coastal Health as an introductory resource. While focused on Indigenous care, much of the guidance is relevant across the province.
Finding Common Ground
Resolving Conflicts in Family Caregiving: This webinar offers family caregivers practical strategies for handling conflicts related to changing care needs, end-of-life decisions, finances, and differing family perspectives. Participants learn tools for preparing difficult conversations, as well as mediation and conflict coaching techniques.
Communication Tips for Caregivers
Clear communication is key to healthy relationships. Family caregivers interact with care recipients, relatives, and healthcare professionals, and effective communication requires listening, understanding different perspectives, and practicing these skills to improve over time.
What You Practice Grows Stronger
Meditation helps train the mind, building mental habits that improve focus, resilience, and thoughtful responses to challenges. By observing thoughts without judgment, we learn to recognize them as just thoughts, not necessarily reality, reducing worry and helping us break unhelpful mental patterns.
Watch: Caregiver Learning Centre
Watch caregiver webinars and videos for evidence-based guidance on all aspects of caregiving. Webinars are live online sessions where you can see and hear presenters, ask questions, and participate in polls; they are offered in 1- or 1.5-hour sessions, and all recordings are archived for later viewing.
Caregivers Out Loud: A Podcast
Tune in to Caregivers Out Loud, a podcast by Family Caregivers of BC, where caregivers share authentic stories about the challenges, rewards, and personal growth that come with caregiving. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or your favorite app to connect, listen, and learn from inspiring caregivers.
Support Groups
What is a Caregiver Support Group
A caregiver support group brings together individuals who are caring for an adult family member or friend, whether at home or in a care facility, who is elderly, chronically or terminally ill, or has a disability. Members meet to share experiences, exchange practical advice, and provide each other with emotional support.
Supporting Organizations
Canada offers a wide range of programs, organizations, and digital tools to support family caregivers, providing education, respite, emotional support, and practical resources to help manage caregiving responsibilities. These services empower caregivers, reduce stress and burnout, and improve both their well-being and the quality of care for those they support.
Caregiver Support, Groups & Workshops
CHATS offers free caregiver support and education services to help individuals care for loved ones while maintaining their own health and well-being. Services include one-on-one consultations, support groups, workshops, and virtual programs, all designed to enhance coping skills, prevent burnout, and connect caregivers with community resources.
Caregiver Support - Vancouver Coastal
Vancouver Coastal Health offers resources to support people caring for a friend or loved one. Caregivers can access information, emotional support, grief support groups, and short-term respite care—either at home through nursing support or in hospice or long-term care settings, helping reduce stress and sustain caregivers’ well-being while they continue to provide care.
Caregiver Support - Fraser Health
Fraser Health offers caregiver support through social worker clinicians who provide guidance on stress, burnout, grief, advance care planning, and advocacy. Services are available to new clients via the Fraser Health Access Line (1-855-412-2121 or online booking) and to current clients through their Home Health location across multiple communities in the Fraser Health region.
Greater Victoria Caregiver Support
The Greater Victoria Caregiver Support Program (GVCSP) by Family Caregivers of BC offers holistic support to the region’s family and friend caregivers, helping them access resources, build personal networks, and gain skills and confidence in their caregiving roles. Services include individualized intake, ongoing emotional and practical support, peer-support groups, community connections, presentations, and a Community of Practice for local support group facilitators.