Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Activities to ease stress for family caregivers and those they care for

- BETTER LONG-TERM CARE RESEARCH TEAM

The Better Long-term Care Research Team is a team of family partners, health-care profession­als, researcher­s and trainees. Improving the quality of life and health outcomes in long-term care is our vision. We have several strategies to achieve this vision. We are working toward improving the quality of life and well-being of residents living in long-term care and their families.

Another of our strategies is to connect caregivers to resources to improve their well-being as they care for their loved ones. Our team has partnered with the Memory Café located at Crossmount Senior Health Corporatio­n, a local aging-in-place community.

When meeting on their regular program, the Memory Café provides a dementia-friendly social atmosphere for people who may have limited opportunit­ies to engage with others living in similar circumstan­ces.

The research and Crossmount team will constantly look for opportunit­ies to connect interested older adults with high-quality resources.

Over the coming weeks, we will provide suggestion­s, resources and activities with the hope that they will help family caregivers and the persons they are caring for to cope with the challenges and feelings they may be experienci­ng during this difficult time.

Please let us know what you would like to see in terms of resources and ideas. We appreciate your input and you can email us at ltc.research@usask.ca or leave comments at betterltc.ca.

Another place to look for support and resources is the Saskatoon Council on Aging (SCOA) at scoa.ca or connect with Sheila at 306-652-2255.

Here are some activities you might like to try.

 ?? GETTY IMAGES ?? Social distancing and self-isolating can be difficult. Try listening to your favourite music while you take a bubble bath, light some scented candles, or try out that facial mask, suggests a recreation therapist.
GETTY IMAGES Social distancing and self-isolating can be difficult. Try listening to your favourite music while you take a bubble bath, light some scented candles, or try out that facial mask, suggests a recreation therapist.

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