We all like our independence, but we likely have come to take it for granted.

For people living with disabilities, independence is something they strive for every day. Through the Carefor Befriending Program’s Social Club, adults with physical disabilities can feel a sense of freedom from their everyday challenges by spending time with their friends.

Matt Runions has been a member of the Social Club for over 15 years and is fond of his Carefor family. “We’re all friends here, and it’s a lot of fun,” Matt explained. From going bowling to now doing activities online, Matt knows he can count on the group to feel independent and included. He shared, “This is my thing I can do without my parents. Although I do like going for coffee and other things with them, this is just for me.” Club activities also allow caregivers to unwind and gives them peace of mind knowing their loved one is safe with the Club.

Lisa Steer-Vachon, Team Leader of the Social Club for the past 10 years has seen firsthand the impact autonomy has had on the 110 members of the Club. “This program is important because everyone should have peers that they can socialize with and confide in,” Lisa explained. For Club members, a sense of independence helps build their self-confidence and can make them feel more empowered and fulfilled through engagement with others outside their family circle. Lisa shared, “Independence promotes confidence and self esteem. It helps people feel secure, strong and makes everyone less vulnerable. Our members find support and encouragement outside of the home.”

An important element the Befriending Program prides itself on is offering inclusive activities, where members can choose to participate without barriers. Lisa explained, “Having accessible activities is what really brings people together. Everyone in the group knows no matter what we’re doing and where we’re doing it, it’s going to be accessible and they feel a sense of independence. Trying something new is always a little scary but our program encourages each other to do everything we can to live a life filled with friendship and laughs.”

Matt, who lives with his loving parents looks forward to being able to be see his friends in-person once the Club can congregate. Matt shared, “I miss my friends, and can’t wait to see them. This Club is important to me and all of them.”

The Carefor Befriending Program relies on donations to offer safe and accessible activities to its 110 members year-round across the Eastern Counties. You can support these activities by making a donation today.

Carefor, in partnership with Carleton University, has developed a new program for individuals living with Young Onset Dementia in the Ottawa region.

The program, called “The Club,” is the first of its kind in Ottawa. Its purpose is to bring together people living with Young Onset Dementia, which affects individuals aged 65 and under, keeping them active and socially connected in order to improve their quality of life and slow the advancement of the disease.

“We feel that we’re wanted and we’re able to do things that other people can do. We just need things that help us on a day-to-day basis, and having all these people with me, [it’s] good energy. We’re really good together,” Club member Angela Scheps says.

This much-needed program also gives care partners a chance to have some respite to run important errands or simply relax.

It is estimated that 16,000 Canadians and approximately 2,000 local residents are living with Young Onset Dementia. It is through these high-quality health care programs that people living with Young Onset Dementia can feel supported in their own community.

“If people were sick, they’re looked after, but if you are just hanging around and not doing anything, that’s your life that you’ve always had; and then even though you’re still alive, it’s not at all the same,” Club member Crystal White says.

Support programs like “The Club” rely heavily on fundraised dollars. Help keep our day programs running by donating at www.carefor.ca/donate.

The moment Tara stepped foot into the Cornwall Hospice seven years ago, she knew it was going to be one of the most difficult yet memorable experiences of her life as she said goodbye to her daughter, Amber.

From birth, Amber spent much of her life in the hospital due to congenital conditions. Amber was a young girl with the biggest heart. Although she had a challenging life, the fourteen-year-old had the power to connect with everyone she met. Tara, Amber’s mom shared, “She was one of a kind. She had a smile that would light up the world.” Although Amber was non-verbal, she had her own way of communicating with people around her and made a lasting impression. Tara knew Amber’s time on this world would be short, so as a mother she did everything in her power to enjoy the most out of every day, and to keep her comfortable.

As Amber’s condition progressed, her family sought out support from Carefor Hospice. Tara said “Many people think of Hospice as just in the final days or hours. It’s not. My journey with Hospice began about two years before she passed, with many conversations with Dr. Randlett about Amber. They offered a lot of support and guidance through Amber’s palliative journey.” Tara found when she needed help, whether she had questions or needed a piece of equipment to keep Amber comfortable at home she could call the Hospice to find relief.

When the time came, Amber spent her final twenty-four hours in this world in the care of the Carefor Hospice. While staff tended to Amber, for those precious hours Tara found herself no longer being a caregiver but the mother of a young girl. Tara shared “Whenever your loved ones are sick or ill, you feel like you’re more of a caregiver than you are a spouse or a mom or what ever you may be to that person. What Hospice gave me in those last twenty-four hours was the ability to just be her mom. I can never repay them for that.”

In the years to come, Amber’s family wanted to share their gratitude for the Hospice. Amber’s Angels, a Hike for Hospice team honouring Amber’s memory was formed by friends and family near to Amber’s heart. Tara shared, “From hearing the bagpipes when we first set out to seeing to seeing all the amazing families that come together to raise funds and to provide support for our Hospice is truly an incredible moment.”

Amber and her mother are among hundreds of individuals felt the kind support of Hospice every year. You can help the Carefor Hospice in Cornwall by signing up for the Virtual Hike for Hospice, or by making a donation today.

When we’re children, we don’t grow up thinking our moms would ever forget. She’s the one who raised and shaped us into who we are today. The one who made sure nothing would go amiss. She reminded us about our lunch before going to school or not to forget to call her if we’re running late. She was the one we could rely on. When Mother’s Day came around, it was finally our time to remember all she has done for us.

As our parents age so much of what we took for granted suddenly becomes seen and appreciated. But when this person near and dear to our heart is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, Mother’s Day stops being one day, but is celebrated every day. For Luminita and Mihaela Serbanescu, since their mother, Gabriela, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s seven years ago, they know it’s up to them to remember.

Luminita and Mihaela are the ones now keeping their families’ memories of the past alive remembering the days that were. They’re also responsible for remembering the present. “Now we’re the ones to remind her where she’s going and responsible to cook her food, grab the groceries, and schedule appointments,” Luminita said.

While they miss the mother who introduced them to their favourite books and was part of their fondest childhood memories, they’re grateful that she was there when they needed her the most.

“It’s horrible to know that person isn’t there anymore. She really has become a totally different person. It’s hard for us to see mom go through that change, but now it’s our time to be there for her.”

Shortly before the pandemic, the sisters were thinking about placing their mother in the care of a nursing home. “It was a hard decision, but we knew it was the last resort,” Luminita said.

Ultimately, they felt confident that with the help of Carefor’s Carling Adult Day Program and making some changes to their own lives, they could spend more time with mom and give her all the loving care she deserves, at home.

Luminita sold her house and Mihaela retired, both moving into an apartment building a few floors from each other so that their mother could have better mobility. Both sisters split up tasks to ensure mom is well cared for.

Carefor’s in-person program gave mom companionship, care, and kept her mentally stimulated. Now more than a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, the lack of respite has been hard for the family. Despite these challenges, the sisters are grateful to have each other and to know that Carefor is always there for support – whether near or far.

“Mom started attending the program five years ago. She always said Carefor staff are ‘people of quality.’ Now, with the pandemic and mom’s worsening eyesight, they still continue to reach out and show that they care and that means a lot,” Luminita said. “If we were still in Romania, we couldn’t get the support like we do here. We’re lucky to be in Canada to get a lot of help.”

Across Ottawa are the people who cared for us – our mothers. While the world locks down they still need help, perhaps more than ever. Carefor staff are finding creative ways to make a positive impact to keep them healthy and to help them feel less alone at home. Your donation helps us reach out to these families in ways we never have before. Please give today.

The United Nations chooses to recognize July 30th as the International Day of Friendship, reflecting the idea that friendships between peoples, countries and individuals inspire peace and build bridges between communities.

With COVID-19 affecting our lives so severely, we’ve all taken a new perspective on what friendship means and how to maintain it through social distancing. Programs like the Carefor Befriending Program in Eastern Counties are essential for many people in the region to stay connected through the outbreak.

The Befriending Program takes the true meaning of friendship to heart, offering compassion, comfort and respect to members of the Carefor Social Club. The club is a safe space for adults with physical disabilities and their families to seek support both from peers and volunteers through planned group activities.

Kevin Snider has been an active member of the club for over 20 years and has come to be a familiar face in the group. Kevin misses being able to get together with his friends at social activities like bowling, dining out at restaurants, and going to the mall.  Kevin says about seeing his friends at the club: “I feel happy, and it makes me feel good. Everybody is a friend,” which is a shared sentiment with other club members.

Although the program has moved online in the past few months, it hasn’t stopped Kevin from staying in touch with his friends. The group still engages with one-another using Zoom and Facebook to do exercises, games, and activities together. Members of the club also connect over the phone as some participants are unable to use a computer.

Carole Snider, Kevin’s mom and a volunteer with the group, believes this program fills a void within the region. “This club is the best thing that’s ever happened to him. This program gives them a fullness of life other than doctors visits.”

Lisa Steer-Vachon, the team leader of the Befriending Program shared, “The Carefor Social Club is inclusive and everyone is treated as an equal. If we’re participating in an activity online or in-person everyone is participating on the same level. We’re like a family.”

Although Kevin can’t see his friends in-person right now, he eagerly looks forward to seeing them online every day. Kevin offered, “I hope everyone makes the best of every day,” which is not only a powerful message to his one-hundred friends and members of the Carefor Social Club in Eastern Counties, but to us all.

Learn more about the Carefor Befriending Program here.

Addressing ageism, myths of aging, and having the opportunity to have genuine interactions with seniors is not typically a topic of conversation in many elementary schools. Kids are often too focused on the here and now. Carefor’s Carling Adult Day programs want to change that.

Carling Adult Day programs, offering a mental health social support group for isolated seniors and a respite program for individuals living with dementia, is leading community initiatives that show the value and importance of bringing generations together. Program staff have been exploring and facilitating meaningful interactions between young people and older adults.

To bring this idea to fruition, day program staff Meghan Kenny connected with Dr. Jenny Small, the director of St. Timothy’s Classical Academy. Dr. Small was delighted with the idea of having her students participate in the Intergenerational Program.

Beginning in October 2019, groups of Grade 3 to Grade 8 students closely interacted with day program clients for more than an hour. Each group visited the programs once prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting future meetups.

“We wanted to show students that while it’s easy to imagine an older senior, they often don’t see them as people with individual likes and dislikes, hopes and dreams. We really wanted them to see how seniors are much like them, but just older,” says Meghan. “This initiative is also a great opportunity for seniors to connect with students and relate to them in a different world then the one they grew up in.”

Despite COVID-19 derailing the project, Dr. Small encouraged her students to continue to connect with seniors during this time of heightened social isolation.

“The lockdown, although protecting vulnerable people from serious illness, has unfortunately increased social isolation and exacerbated the effects of dementia and other mental illnesses amongst seniors,” says Dr. Small. “It’s vital to help them feel connected to society and feel a sense of being cared for.”

As a result of this initiative, 44 students have been paired with seniors, mailing messages of hope and best wishes to them during this challenging time. For Let’s Get Together Club client Isobel Heron, 90 years of age, she shared how the personal letter she received from a student really warmed her heart.

“I was surprised and quite pleased to receive a young man’s letter. In the letter Thaddeus said that he and his mom are praying for me and keeping me in their thoughts. Isn’t that interesting, that we are three generations apart and they are thinking of me? I was really touched by that comment.”

While the students and seniors are not physically able to spend time together, they are staying connected virtually during this, and that is what really matters.

“It’s important to show our seniors that we love, respect and value them as important members of our community. Although they may feel more isolated now, as a result of the pandemic, we must do our best to ensure they know we care about them,” Meghan says.

Learn more about Carefor’s Adult Day programs and how they are making a difference in our community. Our programs rely heavily on fundraised dollars – please offer your support during this time of need by giving at carefor.ca/donate.

“My father has been the world’s best father”, Marilyn Wilson says of her father, whom she has been caring for since developing dementia. Marilyn’s father, Eric, is part of the Perley Day Program, a respite care program offered by Carefor.

For Marilyn, caring for her father is a way of returning the favour of caring for her growing up. “I find it a privilege to be able to be able to be here and care for my dad, and to give him the love and support that he gave us as children”, she says.

Marilyn is always positive about living in the present. “I was the one then asking all the questions, and now the wheels have turned, and that’s okay”, she says of the dynamic shift. “We’re going the journey together”.

To learn more about the Perley Day Program, click here or email us at info@carefor.ca.

How time flies, especially as we age. And it’s in those later years getting out and staying connected in your community becomes so important to your overall wellbeing.

For Lorraine and Gerald, retirement called them to a familiar home in Williamstown where they found relaxation and friendship after living in Cornwall for many years. However, it was the people who they bought their home from that opened the door of the Carefor Lan-Char Support centre to them. Lorraine explained, “We had known the homeowners for a long time, and when we were new to the area, they suggested the centre as a way to get out and meet some people.” From there, Lorraine and Gerald became frequent visitors to programs including the Diners Club, the physio classes, and more.

Looking on the past nineteen years of being part of the South Glengarry community, Lorraine thinks of the sense of community that comes from living in a rural area. She shared, “Living in the country, it’s a whole different atmosphere. It’s peaceful. And the people are so different – they don’t’ mind stopping and helping you. We’re all here for one another.” That same sense of community is felt through the Lan-Char Support Centre, with the friends they’ve made over the years.

However, things changed when Gerald had a fall in early 2021, and Lorraine found herself needing support. The couple was offered to take part in the Going Home Program, a service specifically tailored for seniors being discharged from the hospital to help support them and their loved ones in the early days of recovery. Services include meals, transportation, homemaking, etc.

After the first 10 days, Gerald and Lorraine decided to continue to receive healthy meals through the Meal Delivery Program. Lorraine shared, “It just makes life easier. The price is right, and I don’t need to worry about buying groceries to have the kind of meals we do.” As a caregiver, Lorraine sees the Meal Delivery program as a reprieve a few days a week. Lorraine said, “It’s less days that I have to think about what we’re going to have for lunch. A lot of times we just finish breakfast and within an hour Gerald is asking what we’re having for lunch so it’s nice to know I don’t need to worry about it.”

It’s hard to believe that the Carefor Support Centres have been providing services to seniors like Lorraine and Gerald in Lancaster and Alexandria for more than 30 years. Carefor’s Going Home and Meal Delivery programs is just two examples of programs that support people in a time of need. It’s programs like these that are essential to the Glengarry area to help ensure people stay healthy, and it’s been through donor support that we’ve continued to be able to offer them over the last three decades.

For Linda Beimers, transitioning into retirement was not easy. When she lived alone in an apartment, she described the experience as depressing and lonely.

“I was really starting to get depressed. I needed to talk to people,” she says.

Now after nearly three years at Carefor Pembroke Residential Complex, she hasn’t looked back: “I really like it here.” 

Whether it’s her roommate, residents in the hallways, entertainment rooms, communal eating area, or the staff, Linda always has someone to talk to: “That makes me cheerful,” she says.

Theresa Denault, Linda’s roommate, has been at Civic Complex for a couple years, and also considers staff and residents as her extended family. “There’s freedom here; It’s just like home to me.”

While Linda and Theresa’s friendship is special in its own way, it’s not uncommon. For our residents, Carefor is truly a home away from home, filled with laughter, friendship, and a sense of belonging.

Learn more about the changing face of retirement and retirement living in Pembroke.

Seeking high quality care is only the tip of the iceberg when planning end of life care. Patients and their families are also yearning for compassion and could benefit from additional supports.

Faye Watson is familiar with the need for these supports as her husband, Tim, passed away peacefully at Carefor Hospice in July of 2019.

Prior to Tim’s ten-day stay at Hospice, Faye had taken on the role of caregiver allowing her husband to remain at home for three years with the help of home care services. “The nurses would come and see him, and so would Dr. Lee. It was hard on him. He was so used to doing everything on his own, and it slowed him down.”

Like many spouses, Faye wanted to do everything possible to keep Tim at home. “You don’t want to place him in a home, and you want to look after him as much as you can.”

Tim was a hard worker, retiring from a 30-year career at Domtar in 1995. Married to Faye for over 57 years, the couple had two sons who kept them busy over the years coaching the boys in minor football.

Once retired, Tim filled his days by running errands and watching movies. “Because he had a hard time breathing with his COPD and was using oxygen, watching movies was something he could do and enjoy.”

Once Tim’s disease progressed, Faye turned to Hospice to help make him comfortable in his final days. “The girls up there were so good to him. They bathed and shaved him. They even cut his hair. He was really well treated. You couldn’t ask for better.”

Faye found her own comfort by joining the Caregiver Support Group, and later partaking in the Bereavement Group. These programs, along with all other services offered through Carefor Hospice are open to the community with the hope of acting as a support network, creating an open forum for talking about death and dying. “I’ve met a lot of nice people and it was very helpful to me. They would come and pick me up and drop me off at home after the meetings, so it got me out of the house. They do wonderful work up there.”

Faye is still an active participant in the Bereavement Group at Carefor Hospice, now communicating with the group on conference calls. She misses seeing the staff and participants and looks forward to returning to the in-person program format down the road.

Carefor Hospice in Cornwall offers an essential support network to your community. For more information on the supports available, click here.

If you’d like to help ensure the future availability of these programs, click here to donate.