Caregivers work every day of the year. They provide care for a loved one—an aging parent, a partner with chronic illness, a child with disabilities, or a friend facing mobility or cognitive challenges. Caregivers are the quiet backbone of our communities, offering time, compassion, and emotional strength.
Caregiving is meaningful and deeply rewarding, but it is often without recognition or rest. Caregiving can also bring significant physical, emotional, and financial strain, as well as anxiety, grief, guilt and loneliness. The emotional stress of witnessing a loved one’s declining health or increasing dependence can be heartbreaking. The physical demands of tasks like bathing, lifting, or mobility assistance may lead to injury or burnout. There is also financial pressure from expenses related to medical needs, transportation, or home modifications. A caregiver then faces loneliness, because they have little time for social activities or personal interests.
Understanding caregiver needs and ensuring they have support is essential for the wellbeing of both caregivers and those they care for. Supporting caregivers strengthens families and communities. When caregivers receive help, they are better able to provide quality care for longer, safeguard their own mental and physical health, balance daily responsibilities, build resilience and avoid burnout. Investing in caregiver wellbeing ultimately benefits the person receiving care, the healthcare system, and society.
Unison Veiner Centre provides meaningful resources and support for caregivers who are caring for older adults. These supports help address emotional, educational, and practical challenges that come with caregiving, and aim to reduce isolation and prevent burnout. We offer support in-house, and through community partnerships.
At the Veiner Centre, we are proud to offer Unison Connect, a Seniors Supports department, and an Active Aging program that all aim to foster connection. Unison Connect is a social prescribing initiative where caregivers, or the older adults they care for, can be connected to a “Link Worker” to identify non-medical needs affecting health like social supports, transportation, home maintenance, or accessing community resources.
Our Senior Supports Department helps caregivers navigate systems and supports for their loved ones including guidance on government benefits (CPP, OAS, GIS, etc.), community referrals and assistance with tax filing for low-income seniors. Our Active Aging programs also helps caregivers connect with community, reduce isolation, and carve out time for themselves.
Unison offers Caregiver Support Groups through three community resource partnerships: The Alzheimer’s Society, Bridges Family Programs, and the Parkinson’s Association of Alberta. These groups provide emotional support and educational resources, workshops, community support, and help navigate finances and the system.
With the Alzheimer’s Society, we host three support groups:
1: Care Partner Support Groups run on the second Tuesday of each month, from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM.
2: First link Connections are scheduled for the 3rd Tuesday of the month.
3: Dementia Support on the 3rd Thursday of the month.
The Bridges Family Program comes to the Veiner Centre on the third Tuesday of each month to offer the Grandparents who Parent Group for peer support and education specifically designed for grandparents who are parenting their grandchildren.
The Parkinson’s caregiver support group, organized by the Parkinson’s Association of Alberta, occurs every two months on the third Wednesday of the month.
Caregivers give so much of themselves, through time, energy, love, and emotional labour. Supporting them is not only compassionate, but necessary. Caregiving is a journey, and no one should have to walk it alone.