Caregivers given training

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Taking care of a sick relative can be challenging, even if it's only for a few hours each day. But with the proper training, friends and family members of people who are ill can be equipped with the knowledge and experience it takes to safely care for their relatives at home.

That is why St. John Ambulance has partnered with Aboriginal communities and is offering the Help for Home Caregivers program.

Christopher Chan, branch operations co-ordinator at St. John Ambulance, said, "The objective of the course is to help secondary caregivers to take over." A secondary caregiver is usually a family member or friend, while the primary caregiver is a qualified community nurse or someone with special training. "The course is designed to teach basic techniques so that the secondary caregiver can help or take over for the primary caregiver."

Chan said course participants pay just $20 because of funding provided by B.C. Hydro. He explained that B.C. Hydro approached the organization with an interest in community service.

"This program was one of the things we wanted to do with Aboriginals, as we thought it would be quite useful for the communities."

Elisha Odowichuk, spokesman for B.C. Hydro, said $50,000 was donated to St. John Ambulance, with $20,000 of it being directed to the First Aid and Help for Home Caregivers program. "We work very closely with Aboriginal communities with a lot of issues, and we wanted to give back to the communities, by supporting special programs like the Help for Home Caregivers," said Odowichuk.

"It's important to maintain healthy communities by providing that training-and it gives people the opportunity to enhance the communities they live in."

While the course is not restricted to remote communities, Chan noted, "Those are the bands that have contacted St. John for classes. The way it has worked so far is that the bands contact the First Nations Health Committee, which will then set up the class with St. John Ambulance."

Pilot courses have been held in Prince Rupert and Anaham Lake and the program is expanding. "The demand for the course is there and more courses will be offered once the instructors are in place," said Chan.

Barb Mack participated in the seven-hour course at Anaham Lake and said it went very well. Mack, who is on the board for the Anaham Elders Society, said, "There was a lot of great information for home caregivers, especially some of the skills we learned and the general care techniques," adding, "The instructor even had us get in a wheelchair. We really got an idea of what it was like."

Mack said the course was especially important in the Anaham area. "We don't have any respite care for Elders here. Some of the family members are the only caregivers."

The program is largely the result of other partnerships, including Health Canada, the Chiefs' Health Committee and the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.

Lauren Brown, homecare nurse advisor for the Chiefs' Health Committee, described the program as "awesome" and said, "It's a prime example of creating partnerships where funding is limited."