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Family Caregivers And The Important Role
They Play In LTC
Have you ever wondered when is the right time for a loved one to transition into long-
term care? Whether it is your elderly parents or another family member that requires
special support in their daily activities, it comes a time when home care provided
by family caregivers is not enough and decisions need to be made. To speak about
this transition process and the ways in which families can help their loved ones receive
better care in their new facilities and have an easier adjustment period, we spoke
to Sam Peck, Executive Director of Family Councils Ontario (formerly Family Councils’
Program) who has helped numerous family caregivers and long-term care home staff
improve their work to achieve the best possible outcomes for residents and patients.
This is what Sam told us:
When Do You Know It's Time For Your
Loved One To Transition To Long Term
Care? And How Can You, As A Family
Caregiver, Manage That Transition?
SAM PECK: Each family situation is so different. So the transition is dependent on I
think a number of factors. The care needs of the person who is going to be moving into
long term care. The vast majority of long term care residents over the age of 85 have
multiple underlying health conditions. Most, upwards of about 70% have a diagnosis of
some sort of cognitive impairment like dementia. So that's often what puts families in the
position of needing to make that decision, that transition where they can't care safely or
well for their loved one at home.
And caregiving is hard. Caregivers in the community, it's 24/7. And so there's a high
degree of caregiver burnout because there isn't enough home care available for folks.
So it's usually a combination of what the resident who's going to be moving into long
term care needs. Often with some sort of crisis at this point around dementia or care
needs and the family just not being able to do it anymore, which is not a failure on their
part. It's just they can't do it anymor