MARK YOUR CALENDAR for the SCOA Caregiver Virtual Online Forum in November (watch for registration reminders in October) Webinar: featuring Virtual Reality for Pain Management and Dementia Dr. Susan Tupper (PT, PhD, Saskatchewan Health Authority)
SCOA Caregiver Forum Virtual Reality for Pain Management and Dementia Date: Wednesday, November 18, 2020
Thank you to grantors and partners: Saskatoon Community Foundation, Saskatchewan Health Authority, Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation [SHRF], Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation
An informal caregiver is an unpaid individual who cares for and gives support to a
family member, friend or neighbour who is frail, ill or disabled.
Caregiving can be a stressful job. The stress felt by many new caregivers is the lack
of choice they had when thrust into this new role.
As you prepare to care for a loved one, consider options available:
1. Personally caring for your loved one
2. Asking for help from friends and family
3. Asking for help from a professional service
Your first step: Contact Client/Patient Access Service (CPAS) Phone: 306-655-4346
In Saskatoon, Client/Patient Access Services (CPAS) will aid you in sorting out your needs, options, and the professional services available to you and your loved one. CPAS is a department of the Saskatchewan Health Authority, Saskatoon Region. There is no direct cost to you or your loved one for CPAS services.
CPAS staff will assess your loved one to determine eligibility for and
provide access to:
Home Care Services
Volunteer Services
Meals on Wheels
Community Day Programs
Community Services
Long Term Care Services
Permanent admission
Planned respite
Unplanned respite
CPAS also provide information on:
Personal Care Homes
Enriched housing options
Other community resources
Advance Health Care Directives
Other resources that can help you get started with caregiving:
Counselling and Support Groups
Community Social Work, Saskatoon Health Authority, Saskatoon Region 103 – 310 Idylwyld Drive N, Saskatoon Phone: 306-655-3400
Support groups are offered which provide information on topics relevant to caregiving and provide a safe atmosphere to share ideas and concerns and to receive support. They are offered at various times throughout the year. For more information or to register call 306-655-3400.
Individual counseling is available for issues related to caregiving. To request a referral, contact CPAS intake at 306-655-4346.
There is no fee for social work services or groups.
Information and Resources on Caregiving
Caregiver Information and Support, a program of the Saskatoon Council on Aging 2020 College Drive, SaskatoonPhone: 306-652-4411
Website: www.saskatooncaregiver.ca Email: info@saskatooncaregiver.ca
A caregiver drop-in-centre and awareness service can answer many caregiver questions such as “who can I talk to about this?” or “where can I obtain certain health care needs?” and many other common queries. Although information and referrals are provided; this is not a counseling service.
Saskatoon Council on Aging Inc. 2020 College Drive, Saskatoon Phone: 306-652-2255
Website: www.scoa.ca Email: admin@scoa.ca
Resource centre, educational programs, lifelong learning opportunities, positive aging Seniors Neighbourhood Hub Clubs – free drop-in program for older adults
Pilot projects which promote dignity health and independence of older adults
Free directories of activities and services
Caregiver Resource Guide: Created by Caregiver Information and Support, a program of the Saskatoon Council on Aging
When looking at the past year SCOA has many things to be thankful for. We have a great crew of dedicated and passionate volunteers. Our services could not be provided without their assistance. We received many donations to allow the organization provide much needed programs and services. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
We helped thousands of older adults and caregivers get information they needed from our one-stop information resource center and our caregiver information and support services.
We are currently in the midst of our membership drive. By becoming a full member, you are helping SCOA to continue operating to keep older adults active, informed and engaged. As a thank you we will give you $117.00 in gift vouchers/coupons from our generous sponsors. Please click here for more information
We have many new programs and activities starting up for the new year. Please share with your friends to spread the word about us and thank you for reading!
Join us for the 20th Anniversary of SCOA’s Caregiver Information and Support Centre
Call SCOA at 306-652-2255 to register
Looking Back – Moving Forward Caregiver Forum
When: NOVEMBER 20, 2020 TIME: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm Where: Circle Drive Alliance Church – 3035 Preston Ave. S. Cost: Tickets $20.00 (lunch and refreshments included) Registration must be paid in advance Register with SCOA for all Caregiver Week events 306-652-2255
Greetings: Honourable Warren Kaeding (Minister Responsible for Rural, Remote Health and Seniors)
Virtual Reality for Pain Management and Dementia: Dr. Susan Tupper (PT, PhD, Saskatchewan Health Authority)
Celebrating 20yrs of the SCOA Caregiver Committee: Dick Strayer and Audrey Gullickson
“Caregiver Experience” Video by: USask Nursing Students
FIM Exercises: Kimberly Willison/Music by Mark Diakiw
Facilitated group discussions led by: Alex Hodson, Jennifer White and U of R/ USask Nursing Students
FREE Caregiver Workshop “Self-care and coping with caregiving” CANCELLED
Presented by USask nursing students When: Monday, March 16 TIME: 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. Where: Preston Park 1 (114 Armistice Way)
Register with SCOA 306-652-2255
FREE Caregiver Workshop “Building a self-care community” CANCELLED
Presented by USask nursing students When: Tuesday, March 17 TIME: 12:45 p.m. – 1:45 p.m Where: St Thomas Wesley United Church basement (corner of 20th & Ave. H)
Register with SCOA 306-652-2255
FREE Provincial Electronic Health Record PresentationCANCELLED
Technology is changing the way Canadians experience care. In this presentation, Dr. Tracie Risling from the College of Nursing at the University of Saskatchewan will share some of the research that her team has done on electronic health records. Learn more about how these systems work, what kind of health information is in this record, and how you can get signed up. At the end of the program, the library will present on resources for caregivers.
When: Wednesday, March 18 TIME: 1:00 – 3:00 p.m Where: Alice Turner Branch Library (110 Nelson Road)
As a caregiver, Dick Strayer knew what it was like to feel alone and not know where to turn. He is a founder of the Saskatoon Council on Aging’s [SCOA] Caregiver Support and Information Centre, a program that provides support for seniors who are caregivers. Through his work with the program, he spoke with hundreds of caregivers in Saskatoon and area.
“One of the best medicines is for caregivers to talk to other caregivers. Caregivers experience feelings of loneliness and it is great to find out that you are not alone, that there is someone there to help and where you can get advice.”
I’m a firm believer in the cause and I have a tremendous amount of respect for the organization. They deserve all the support that I can give them.” ~ Dick Strayer
Dick’s vision for the future would be a provincial Caregiver program, training for caregivers and for people to know more about SCOA’s work.
“I devoted a lot of time to something that I truly believe in. It’s had an effect on my life no question.”
Dick gives to SCOA because “I’m a firm believer in the cause and I have a tremendous amount of respect for the organization. They deserve all the support that I can give them.”
“SCOA and Caregiver are at the top of my list always.” ~ Dick Strayer
You can help us build a better future for older adults and caregivers – Donate now!
How to donate: 1. By Phone: 306.652.2255 2. in person at our office in the Saskatoon Field House, 2020 College Drive 3. Online at CanadaHelps
by Susan Tupper, PT, PhD, Strategy Consultant, Pain Quality Improvement, Saskatchewan Health Authority
The idea of being transported to another reality, where you can see, hear, and touch a virtual world as if it were real has been the topic of science fiction since the short story Pygmalion’s Spectacles was penned by Stanley Weinbaum in 1935. Since the mid-1960s, the technology of interactive videos has grown to include flight simulators, video games, exposure treatment for phobias, medical education, and pain management. You may be wondering how virtual reality can affect pain. What can a video do to change arthritis or a disc bulge? The answer to that question lies in knowing how pain works.
Most people think that pain and tissue damage, such as arthritis, are perfectly intertwined. More tissue damage will lead to more pain and vice versa. Fortunately, it’s not that simple. Information about danger or damage to our tissues travels along specialized nerves to the spinal cord and eventually to approximately 20 different areas of the brain that work together to create the experience of pain. We’ve learned a lot about pain over the past 40 years and now know that the signals coming from the tissues are modified at the spinal cord and brain to either increase the signal or completely block it. This is very useful to help us respond appropriately to our environment. For example, if you’re running down the road and sprain your ankle, it’s important to be able to feel pain so you can take care of your ankle until it feels better. However, if there’s a truck speeding toward you, it’s more important to NOT feel pain and get off the road. Once you’re safely out of harm’s way, the ankle pain will slowly appear. Though the tissue signals play a role, the brain determines whether or not we feel pain. The good news is that we can manipulate the brain to change pain. This is where virtual reality comes in.
Our research team is exploring how virtual reality can be used to help people with dementia manage pain. We also want to use virtual reality to train family care providers to recognize pain and better manage pain in themselves and their loved ones.
We are currently recruiting family caregivers for 30-60 minute interviews. We are particularly interested in hearing from male caregivers, those living in rural communities, or those of non-European heritage. The interview can be held on the phone or in a location that’s convenient to you. For more information on how to participate, please contact Dr. Susan Tupper (study lead investigator) at susan.tupper@saskhealthauthority.ca or 306-655-1041, or Kirstie Gibson (research assistant) at kig579@mail.usask.ca or 306-202-6330.
Our team includes researchers from the Saskatchewan Health Authority, University of Saskatchewan College of Nursing, St. Thomas More College Department of Psychology, and Luxsonic Technologies Inc.. We received funding from the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF) and the Center for Aging and Brain Health Innovation (CABHI) and the Eunice Bilokreli Research Fund through the University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine to support this work. We appreciate the support that SCOA and the Alzheimer’s Society of Saskatchewan have provided as study collaborators.
Care for the Caregiver Forum – Friday, March 22, 2019
Caregiver App Launch: Lorraine Holtslander and Shelley Peacock (University of Saskatchewan)
Caregiver Self-Care presentation : Jeanne Beaudoin (Saskatchewan Health Authority)
“The Vulnerability of Caregiving”: Facilitated group discussions
Circle Drive Alliance Church – 3035 Preston Ave. S.
10:00 am – 3:00 pm (Registration 9:30 am)
Music by: Harpist Heidi Derksen, Cellist Jillian Gushulak Cost: $20 (Lunch included – must pay in advance)
To register call SCOA at 306-652-2255
Our thanks to Saskatoon Community Foundation
Caregiver Workshop – Monday, March 18, 2019
Cliff Wright Library presentation “Services for Caregivers”
Parkinson Canada presentation “Information for Caregivers”
Cliff Wright Library – 1635 McKercher Dr.
1pm-3pm
Cost: FREE
To register call 306-652-2255
“Saskatoon Seniors Continued Learning (SSCL), in collaboration with the College of Arts & Science, offers non-degree courses to people aged 55 and better. These popular courses deal with a wide range of literary, political, scientific, religious and artistic subjects.” More information
If you are new to the Caregiver role for a family member or struggling to adapt to the role, this course is for you. The course is designed to provide you with valuable information that can help you adapt to the role, develop your confidence and assist your family member with various challenges. You will also receive advice on searching out information and resources that are relevant to your own situation. March 25, 2019 to May 17, 2019
Tuition: $125 + GST
Register at saskpolytech.ca. For more information contact Faye Lendrum 306-775-7397
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. on Friday, September 21, 2018
Caregivers Guide to Stress Reduction: Practical Tools and Resources
In this session we will be discussing the impact stress has on our psychological well-being and some ways we can decrease our daily stress.The goal will be to provide everyday tools, activities, resources and options for caregivers to utilize on a day to day basis, in order to continue supporting their loved ones to the best of their abilities.
Chalaine Senger, Mental Health First Aid Trainer, Canadian Mental Health Association
Forever…in motion stress relieving exercises, with take-home exercise sheets, followed by group discussions.
Care for the Caregiver Forum – Friday, March 22, 2019
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. on Friday, September 21, 2018