Caregivers Nova Scotia Association is dedicated to providing recognition and practical supports to friends and family giving care. The Association is non-profit, with a volunteer board of directors and a staff of three.
Caregivers Nova Scotia gratefully acknowledges financial support received annually from the Nova Scotia Department of Health - Continuing Care Services.
We define caregivers as individuals who give care and support to family and friends who require assistance due to chronic physical, mental or cognitive disabilities. Caregivers range in age from children to seniors.
Our Vision is: "Caregivers are supported as essential partners in care."
Our services for caregivers take many forms, including workshops, informative newsletters focused on caregiving issues, a book and video lending library, telephone caregiver assistance and community based peer support groups.
In addition, we participate in various government Task Forces and Working Groups to help influence public policy for the benefit of caregivers.
Here is a partial history of our Association (please note - our name changed from Family Caregivers Association of Nova Scotia to Caregivers Nova Scotia Association in January 2005):
1990
Care for Caregivers' Project funded by Health Canada
Volunteers were trained as peer facilitators from across Nova Scotia to give six- week educational workshops to caregivers caring for older family members.
1990 - 1997
Support for Caregivers' Workshops
Following the Care for Caregivers' Project, volunteers organized and facilitated Support for Caregivers' Workshops in Halifax and later in Truro and New Glasgow areas.
1998
Caregivers' Support Needs: Insights From The Experiences Of Women Providing Care In Rural Nova Scotia
The information gathered from the Care for Caregivers' Project and the Support for Caregivers' Workshops gave valuable insight into the concerns of urban caregivers. However, less was known about the rural caregivers and their unique challenges. A successful application was made to the Maritime Centre for Excellence in Women's Health to conduct research into caregivers' health issues in rural Nova Scotia.
Summer 1998
Prior to the release of this research report, a group of interested individuals researched family caregiver associations and networks in Canada, and beyond. The goal was to learn how to organize an association for caregivers in order to establish one in Nova Scotia.
October 1998
Family Caregivers Association of Nova Scotia takes shape
Past or current caregivers from across Nova Scotia were invited to form the Family Caregivers' Association of Nova Scotia. Three participants from the Care for Caregivers' Project and facilitators from the Support for Caregivers' Workshops served on the first Board of Directors.
November 1998
The research findings Caregivers' Support Needs: Insights from the Experiences of Women Providing Care in Rural Nova Scotia were released. A list of 37 practical supports was developed, one was to create an association with and for caregivers. There were four critical messages for policy makers:
March 2000
FCgANS receives funding
Dating back to October 1998, caregivers who served as volunteers for FCgANS, made presentations to professional associations and community groups. In January 1999, FCgANS volunteers made a presentation to the Ministers of Health and Community Services. A provincial election was called a short time after this meeting, and FCgANS took this opportunity to ask all the Political Parties for their position on family caregiving issues. The Progressive Conservative (PC) platform promised to "invest our health care dollars wisely by involving caregivers, volunteers and communities every step of the way." They further committed to supporting Adult Day programs, tax incentives and an expansion of respite services. The PC party formed the new government and in the Speech from the Throne, addressed the issue of supports for family caregivers. In February 2000, FCgANS met with the Ministers of Health and Community Services at the invitation of the Premier, to discuss support for the Association, including a financial commitment. During the Winter of 2000, Community Links and FCgANS worked collaboratively to submit a grant request to the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation. The grant requested funding through the Foundation's national Respite for Family Caregivers Project. During the Spring, FCgANS was one of eight projects selected for the Project.
May 2000
Family Caregivers' Association of Nova Scotia sets up an office and opens its doors.
December 2000
Official launch of Family Caregivers' Association of Nova Scotia with logo featuring the hummingbird. It symbolizes performing the impossible; working at lightening speeds, surviving extremes and often flying solo - just like family caregivers.
FCgANS 2000 - 2005
FCgANS established a toll-free number in Nova Scotia 1-877-488-7390, to assist family caregivers with information and resource referral. The local telephone number is 902-421-7390.
FCgANS publishes FCgANews, quarterly newsletter covering topics and issues of concern to Nova Scotia's family caregivers. The newsletter also provides caregivers the opportunity to share their experiences and concerns.
FCgANS assisted in the development of two Community Respite Initiatives (Strait/ Richmond area and Glace Bay/New Waterford area). FCgANS is currently assisting in the development of Community Respite Initiatives in Pictou County.
Provided input to a private member's bill to amend the EI Act to include financial support for family caregiver leave.
FCgANS established a Caregiver Support Group Fund to help defray out-of- pocket expenses for support group leaders.
Launched first "Caregivers' Awareness Week" to recognize and promote the more than 85,000 Nova Scotians providing care and support to family, friends and neighbours.
FCgANS is represented on the Board of Directors for the recently- established Canadian Caregiver Coalition (Fall 2000), a Canada-wide coalition of health advocacy groups and caregiver organizations working together to raise awareness and support of the approximately 2.8 million family caregivers across Canada. (Source: Canadian Medical Association Journal, press release "Value of unpaid caregiving tops $5-billion: coalition", 09/05/01)
FCgANS submission to Commission on Future of Health Care in Canada www.healthcarecommission.ca (Fall 2001). An overview of the caregiver's role in today's health care system and significant changes needed to help reduce the personal and financial burdens facing caregivers.
FCgANS participated in the National Think Tank on Gender and Unpaid Caregiving held November 2001 in Prince Edward Island. The nation's leading homecare experts met to strategize how to position homecare as a top priority on the national health agenda and to improve the situation of caregivers in Canada. From this Think Tank came the Charlottetown Declaration on the Right to Care which represents a renewed vision for Canada's healthcare system. The declaration states, "Canadian society has a collective responsibility to ensure universal entitlement to public care throughout life without discrimination as to gender, ability, age, physical location, sexual orientation, socioeconomic and family status or ethno- cultural origin. The right to care is a fundamental human right."
FCgANS presented information and research findings to the Department of Health on the critical shortage of respite services available to family caregivers. At the request of the Department of Health, a Respite Working Group was later established to provide advice and recommendations to the Minister of Health on policy and direction to address the respite needs of family caregivers in Nova Scotia. Twenty-eight recommendations were identified and published in the May 2000 report, Integrating Respite Services in Nova Scotia. It was further recommended that a Respite Coordinating Committee be established to implement the Group's recommendations on a timely basis. The Department of Health announced $1 million of additional funding to increase home care respite services from 32 hours to a maximum of 40 hours monthly.
FCgANS, Community Links and Nova Scotia Command of the Royal Canadian Legion come together to sponsor, promote and facilitate a provincial falls prevention project entitled, Working Together to Prevent Falling Among Seniors. The project is funded through Health Canada and Veterans Affairs Canada.
