Holidays are usually a time for family and festivity. Holidays can also be a stressful time, and

when you are caring for a loved one, this added stress can be hard to manage. During the holidays, cheerful surroundings may contrast sharply with the way you are

feeling. When confronted with the merriment of the season, it is normal for family

caregivers to experience “holiday blues”, or an increased sense of

sadness, anger and/or resentment.

It is important to know that these feelings are completely normal

and should not be ignored or hidden. You’re not alone in feeling

this way, and there are steps you can take to help you beat the holiday blues by reducing holiday stress:

• Join a Caregiver Network Group- attending a group will give you a chance to air your

feelings openly and to receive support from others in similar situations.

• Be selective. Pick and choose holiday traditions that mean the most to you and to your family members, and skip the others.

• Give yourself permission to take a break. Remember that you can only provide good

care if you are taking good care of yourself.

• Give yourself permission to enjoy the holidays. Spend time

with your friends and family, even if the person you are

caring for can’t participate.

• Have pot-luck celebration where each guest brings a dish to reduce stress of making a large meal yourself. Or, attend

one of the Caregiver’s Program potluck events! See

calendar for more information!

• Make foods that are easy to prepare like lasagna or stew, make something on the grill, buy prepared food or order in.

And, remember, paper and plastic make clean up much

faster!

• Give yourself a break! The way you are feeling is normal,

and nothing to feel guilty about.

Beating the Holiday Blues By Sana Shahram

HighlightsHighlightsHighlightsHighlights

The Family Caregiver’s Grapevine

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2010 VOLUME 1 ISSUE 3

Legally Speaking– Using a

Power of Attorney

2

Pharmacist’s Corner– Drug

Coverage Plans Cont’d

3

Navigating the System–

Arranging for Home

Support

4

Gift Ideas for People with

Dementia

5

A bi-monthly newsletter published by the North Shore Supporting Caregiver’s Across the Lifespan Project

In most general enduring Powers of Attorney, the person granting the

Power of Attorney (the Grantor) appoints someone to be his or her attorney

in accordance with the Power of Attorney Act. What is lawful for an attorney to do? For instance, may an attorney pay for

holiday gifts for family or friends of the Grantor out of the Grantor’s bank

account?

Lawful uses of a Power of Attorney

The attorney has the obligation to look after the legal and financial affairs of the Grantor. The Grantor must exercise good judgment in picking an honest and trustworthy attorney, as

the attorney could interfere, legally, in the Grantor’s affairs as soon as the PoA is signed.

The assets of the Grantor are always the assets of the Grantor and must be used for the

Grantor’s benefit. They never become the assets of the attorney or others.

It is legal for the attorney to:

• pay bills and direct investments • change banks or investment houses, as long as the Grantor’s name is on the accounts

• sell the Grantor’s home and, perhaps, purchase another home for the Grantor in the

Grantor’s name; if another home is not purchased, put the net proceeds into the

Grantor’s account or investments • commence or defend a legal action on behalf of the Grantor (i.e. an ICBC claim) or settle

a legal action

• arrange a line of credit or loan for the Grantor, as long as the proceeds of the line of

credit or loan are used for the benefit of the Grantor (i.e. consolidate debts; pay for long term care)

Not Lawful uses of a Power of Attorney An attorney under a PoA is not allowed to:

• make or change the Grantor’s Will

• commence divorce proceedings, unless it can be

established that a divorce is in the Grantor’s best interests

• make gifts or transfer assets to the attorney, family members, friends or charities without

the express consent (written consent is best) of the Grantor.

So, can an attorney buy holiday gifts on the grantor’s behalf? If the Grantor lacks mental

capacity or was pressured, any consent to gifts is not valid and the attorney may be

charged with fraud or forced to personally repay the gift to the Grantor or his/her estate.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The purpose of this column is NOT to advise people on their legal affairs or concerns, but to provide

basic information for discussion with their own legal counsel.

Legally Speaking – Uses of Powers of Attorney By Jackie Morris

Page 2 THE FAMILY CAREGIVER’S GRAPEVINE

Ask the Lawyer! We would like to invite your questions on legal topics to be answered in upcoming issues. We cannot, however, address individual circumstances. Please email any questions to sana.shahram@nscr.bc.ca.

Jackie Morris,

North Shore Lawyer

This article continues from last issue’s article and will focus on the differences between full,

partial, and ineligible medications according to Fair Pharmacare coverage.

Full benefit medications: Medications that are fully covered once a person has reached

their family maximum spent on medications. Before you reach your maximum, the full cost of these medications is applied to your Pharmacare deductible.

Partial benefit medications: Medications that are only partially covered by Pharmacare. Only the portion that Pharmacare recognizes will go towards your Pharmacare deductibles.

Ineligible medications: Medications that are not covered by Pharmacare under normal circumstances. The cost of these medications does not go towards your Pharmacare

deductible.

Why the difference? Cost and efficacy of the medications play a large role in determining

coverage. Full benefit medications are usually the least expensive within a given class, while

partial benefit medications within the same class are covered up to the price of the least

expensive. Other classes of medication that are more effective may not be covered at all

due to high cost.

Special Authority Requests: Requests filled out by a physician when a patient needs a

medication that is not covered by Pharmacare. Not all medications have special authority requests available and each medication has a unique set of requirements for approval. Most

require that you attempt to use the covered version of the medication first, and then if it

fails, you can apply for special authority and if approved, the drug is then covered by

Pharmacare.

Talk with your pharmacist: A pharmacist may be able to help you reduce costs when

medications aren’t covered. They can sometimes split pills, change dosing regimens, or switch you to an equally effective cheaper medication and/or a generic.

Questions to ask when your prescription medication is not covered by Pharmacare:

1. Is there a comparable medication that is a Pharmacare benefit?

2. Is there a special authority available, and what do you have to do to get the

medication covered?

3. Can your pharmacist help you reduce the cost? You will be surprised how much a few simple questions can save you at the pharmacy.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The purpose of this column is NOT to advise people on their health affairs or concerns, but to provide

basic information for discussion with their own health care provider.

The Pharmacist’s Corner – Prescription Drug Coverage

By Logan McNeil, RPh

Page 3 VOLUME 1 ISSUE 3

You may choose to arrange for private home support through an agency or through an

individual employee. Below are some questions to consider when deciding who to hire.

Questions to ask when hiring through an agency:

• What services does the agency provide? • How long has the agency been in business?

• Is the agency insured or bonded? Are the workers bonded?

• Does the agency supply references? What type of training is required of employees?

• Will the same person come to the home each time? • Will a supervisor oversee the quality of care that is being received?

• Does the agency perform an in-home assessment and create a care plan based on this

assessment? Will the caregiver or care receiver get a copy of the care plan?

• What are the agency's operating hours? How flexible are these hours? • What are the fees? Is there a sliding scale? Are there payment plan options?

• What are the financial procedures for billing, fee payment, insurance coverage?

• How does the agency deal with emergencies, holidays, and sick days?

• Who does the individual or caregiver contact, if dissatisfied with the service?

Questions to ask an individual home care support worker before hiring:

• Why are you interested in providing home care? What training do you have in home care?

• What are some of your past experiences with home care? • Are you currently providing care for others? Why did you leave your last position?

• How much time can you commit to this position?

• Are there any duties that you are unwilling or unable to do?

• Have you handled an emergency situation before? What happened? • How would you deal with someone who may resist your care?

• What will you do if you are sick and cannot come in?

• Are you bonded and can you provide a police check? Check references carefully.

Questions to ask yourself and the care receiver when arranging for home care:

• Are you and the care receiver comfortable with the agency/individual?

• Does the applicant have the skills the position requires?

• Do you trust the applicant, especially in emergency situations? • Are the personalities of the applicant and the care receiver compatible?

Navigating the System– Arranging for Private Home Support Adapted by Sana Shahram from Resource Guide for Family Caregivers: North Shore Edition.

The North Shore Family Caregiver Support Program strongly recommends that you check for references and legal liabilities of home care agencies. Contact the North Shore Family Caregiver Support Program at 604-982-3320 or www.nscr.bc.ca or Seniors’ One Stop at

604-983-3303 or 604-925-7474 for a list of home support agencies.

North Shore Community Resources does not make endorsements of any agencies.

Page 4 THE FAMILY CAREGIVER’S GRAPEVINE

Sign out great resources free of charge. Registration is free & books can be

borrowed for 3 weeks.

Resource Library Details:

North Shore Community Resources, 2nd floor Capilano Mall

Hours: Mon-Fri 9:00am-4:30pm For more info, contact Karyn Davies at 604-982-3320.

Visit the Family Caregiver Resource Library!

Page 5 VOLUME 1 ISSUE 3

Gift Ideas for People with Dementia Adapted from www.alz.org

Early Stage: In the early stages of dementia, the person affected may be able to continue

many of his or her regular activities with small adjustments. Here are some

gift ideas for people living in the early stages of dementia:

Memory and Daily Activity Aids

• Magnetic reminder refrigerator pads

• Post-it notes • Baskets or trays that can be labeled within cabinets or drawers

• Small pocket-sized diary or notebook

• Erasable white boards for key rooms in the house

• A memorable calendar featuring family photos, filled in with special occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries

• Memory phone that can store up to 8 pictures with the names and contact info of

friends and family

• Automatic medication dispenser • Nightlights that come on automatically when it gets dark

• Clock with date and time in large type

Moderate/Late Stages: In the later stages of dementia, people generally need assistance with day-to-day activities. Here are some gift ideas for people living in the later stages of

dementia:

Clothes: Comfortable, easy to remove, easily washable clothing such as sweat suits, knits,

large banded socks, shoes with Velcro ties, wrinkle free nightgowns, nightshirts and robes.

Music: Research has shown that music has a positive impact on individuals with Alzheimer’s

so buy favorite CD’s or burn a CD full of musical favorites.

Framed Photographs/Photo Collage: Copy photos of family members and

friends at photo centers, insert the names of people in the photo and put in

frames or in a photo album created specifically for that person.

Resource Review- Take Your Oxygen First: Protecting Your Health and Happiness While Caring for a Loved One with Memory Loss By Leeza Gibbons, James Huysman, PsyD, LCSW & Rosemary DeAngelis Laird, MD Adapted from www.takeyouroxygenfirst.com

Page 6 THE FAMILY CAREGIVER’S GRAPEVINE

Visit www.choosingjoy.com for more info

Choosing Joy, The Living Index For people with health challenges and those who care for them

The Living IndexTM binder provides a framework for people with health challenges and those

who care for them for managing the details of care, while at the same time choosing joy

every day. Inside you’ll find resources to better manage the challenges of living with chronic illness.

Choosing Joy was created by a Vancouver based mother and daughter team, Melanie and

Shira, and is based on their shared experiences since Melanie became a cancer patient in 1999. Together they created a framework for living joyfully in the face of illness and adver-

sity, and committed to helping others to find this joy.

Shira has generously donated several copies of the Living Index TM to the North Shore Family Caregiver Support Program. Free copies are available at NSCR.

Written for those giving care to individuals with Alzheimer’s dis-

ease and other memory loss disorders, Take Your Oxygen First: Protecting Your Health and Happiness While Caring for a Loved One with Memory Loss is an informative and inspiring guide to

taking care of yourself in order to meet the challenges of giving

care to another. Heartfelt, candid accounts by television and ra-

dio host Leeza Gibbons and the members of her family – who cared for their mother Jean for more than a decade after her

diagnosis with Alzheimer’s disease- are combined with current

medical, nutritional, psychological and spiritual information and

advice for caregivers.

In Take Your Oxygen First, Leeza Gibbons introduces you to her

family, including her father Carlos, Sr., her sister Cammy, her

brother Carlos, and his wife Anne Marie, and all of their kids, and each of them shares with you their intimate experiences in giving care to Jean, in the

hope that everyone taking care of a loved one can learn to take their

oxygen first.

Take Your Oxygen First is available for loan in the NSCR Resource Library.

SILVER HARBOUR SENIORS’ CENTRE PRESENTS: Free Legal Advice & Referral Clinic

North Shore lawyers are here to help you! Silver Harbour’s free Legal Advice & Referral Clinic is staffed by qualified lawyers, volunteering to assist seniors with legal concerns & questions. This clinic is open to all adults 55 & over living on the North Shore – you do not need to be a member of Silver Harbour Centre to make an appointment. At the clinic, the lawyer will offer you summary advice, information, & interpretation of documents. If you require more extensive work, we’ll refer you to an appropriate professional from our list. Please sign up at the front desk for a confidential ½ hour appointment (Thursdays, 9 to 11 am) Silver Harbour Seniors’ Centre Other free Legal Advice clinics are available on

144 East 22nd St, the North Shore; ask North Shore Community

North Vancouver Resources receptionist 604 982-3301

Page 7 VOLUME 1 ISSUE 3

The Canadian Virtual Hospice provides support and personalized information about palliative and end-of-life

care to patients, family members, health care providers, researchers and educators.

Virtual Hospice is an award-winning website that provides personalized information and support to patients,

family, and people working in health care.

Developed and staffed by health experts, and funded by the federal government the site is fully bilingual and

there is no cost for accessing the information or services that are available 24/7.

The site offers up-to-date information on physical, emotional and spiritual issues, caregiving, financial

assistance, and much more. Key features include:

1. Ask a Professional: Caregivers can ask a question confidentially to a team of palliative care experts and

receive a detailed, personal response within 3 business days.

2. Asked and Answered: A collection of key questions asked by Canadians and answered by our team of

experts. A range of topics is covered including, lack of appetite, supporting someone with a terminal

illness and how to communicate with friends and colleagues during this difficult time.

3. Programs and Services: Listings of over 600 local programs and services across Canada, indexed for

easy reference.

4. Books, Links, and More: Listings of over 800 resources including websites, downloadable files, books

recommended by our team of experts.

www.virtualhospice.ca

The Supporting Caregivers

Across the Lifespan Project

We are located at:

North Shore Community Resources

201-935 Marine Drive

North Vancouver, BC

V7P 1S3

Phone: 604-985-7138

Fax: 604-985-0645

The Family Caregiver’s

Grapevine is published

bi-monthly and is intended

to support family caregivers

by promoting the

importance of self-care

while providing practical

information and resources.

If you have any questions

or feedback about the

newsletter, please contact

the editor at :

sana.shahram@nscr.bc.ca

This project is funded by the

Government of Canada’s Social

Development Partnerships

Program. The opinions &

interpretations in this publication

are those of the authors & do not

necessarily reflect those of the

Government of Canada.

The Supporting Caregivers Across the

Lifespan Project

• Education sessions for family caregivers

• Social recreation programs

• Expressive arts programming

• Tele-learning education sessions for family caregivers (educational workshops over the phone)

• Education for professionals working with family caregivers

• Education for employers

• Family Caregiver Network groups

• Stress management & relaxation workshops

• Telephone support & individual consultation

• Educational workshops

• Information & referral to community services

• Library with books, videos & other educational resources

Supporting Caregivers Across the Lifespan Project works in partnership with the North Shore Caregiver Support Program. Together we provide a wide variety of educational workshops,

caregiver support and resources for family and friends supporting someone with an illness or disability.

You’re not alone.

We’re here to help. Contact: helen.wait@nscr.bc.ca or 604-988-3313

Additional activities by the Caregiver Support Program:

The Project provides:

Are you a family caregiver? You are if you provide a family member or friend who is chronically ill, elderly, palliative or living with a disability with any of the following types of assistance:

Personal Care: dressing, bathing, eating. Household Work: house cleaning, shopping/errands, preparing meals, yard work. Coordination of Care: transportation, appointments, arranging services, visiting. Support: phone check-in, supervision, emotional support. Nursing Care: medication, changing dressings.