This week is Caregivers' Week in Quebec. Some 300,000
people in Quebec take care of an older family member. Often that person has a
long-term progressive illness, such as Alzheimer's disease. The caregiver is on
duty 24/7.
Judy Ross knows about
that. She's the executive director of Mental Health Estrie, and she's clocked
more than 26 years caring for older family members, including one with
dementia. "When caregivers are giving so much of themselves, sometimes they
don't realize that things are happening to them," she said.
Things such as
getting plain burnt-out. Maybe chronically anxious. Maybe depressed. Depression
is insidious, Ross said. It creeps up on you. Caregivers are at special risk
for getting sick.
So
who takes care of the caregiver? Mental Health Estrie is organizing a special
presentation about caregiver wellness in Cookshire this Friday. It's in
English, and it's free of charge.
The project offers
complimentary home respite care for loved ones of caregivers who attend the
presentation. This could include direct reimbursement for the cost of hiring a
person's usual respite provider for the afternoon said Ross.
"We've
put the focus on preventing depression and anxiety, because that's an expertise
that MHE has," said Eric Akbar Manolson. He's organizing the event for the MHE.
The mini-project is supported by l'APPUI Estrie, a group formed three years ago
by the Quebec government to assist caregivers of seniors and organizations that
offer them aid. "Appui" means "support."
"This project is only
going to give more tools to people," said Manolson. "We're not taking away from
anything else that's being done by other organizations." Information about
local resources will be offered during the session, as well as a short demonstration
about using music to connect with people who are living with a dementia or
other health problems.
The speaker in
Cookshire is Susan Macaulay. She'll be "Sharing a caregiver's journey - through
image, film and lessons learned!" For 18 years, Macaulay worked as a public
speaking coach and trainer in Dubai. Then in 2011, she came back home to the
Townships to care for her mother full-time. Her mother has Alzheimer's disease.
Macaulay has been blogging her experience on www.myalzheimersstory.com. It's an amazing,
nuanced story. For example, she videos herself dancing with her mom, outside,
on the veranda, and in the kitchen.
"I'm going to tell my
story around caring for my mom and some of the challenges I faced, and still
face, and some of the solutions I've been able to come up with on my own,"
Macaulay said.
Her presentation is
on Friday, November 7, at 1:30 to 4 p.m., at the Manoir de l'eau vive, 210
Principale East, Cookshire, in the 2nd floor Activity Room. Parking
is available behind the church next door. The event is presented in
collaboration with the English-speaking caregivers' groups of the Centre
d'action bénévole du Haut-Saint-François (volunteer action centre).
For information, or to arrange for support for respite care, contact Mental
Health Estrie at 819-565-3777 or mhe.info@bellnet.ca.
PAUL POIRIER'S ART
An
exhibition of artwork by Paul Poirier is in Bury until November 8, organized by
the Bury Historical & Heritage Society in collaboration with the Bury
Library. It's at the Bury Library, which is located at the Bury Municipal Hall,
569 Main Street (side door). The library is open Wednesday from 6 to 8:30 p.m.,
and Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon.
And at the Armoury
Community Centre, 563 Main Street, three films by Paul Poirier will be shown on
Friday, November 7, at 7 p.m. The films are entitled "Le 150ième anniversaire
de Bury," "Fête à la cabane à sucre," and "Quelle chasse." They're silent
films.
CLC PLANNING SESSION
The Eaton Valley
Community Learning Centre is hosting a "Planning Session 3" facilitated by
"Learn Quebec's" provincial resource team of Paule Langevin and Emma Legault.
It is on Friday, November 7, at 1 to 3:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend.
More info: The CLC's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/eatonvalleyclc.
SAINT-LOUIS SALE
For the restoration
of the Saint-Louis-de-France Church in East Angus is a sale on Friday and
Saturday, November 7 and 8, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Donated items to be sold
include furniture, books, kitchen accessories, bedding, toys, and decorations.
The sale is located in the presbytery basement, 166 St-Jean E., and indoors at
185 St-Jacques Street, East Angus. Info: Marie Aubin Roy, 819-832-2589, or
André Nadeau, 819-832-2315.
BULWER HARVEST
A Harvest Supper is
at the Bulwer Community Centre on Sunday, November 16, at 4-6 p.m. On the menu
are ham, potatoes, baked beans, salad, rolls, apple and pumpkin pie, and
beverages, all for $10/adult and $5/child 6-12 years old. This is a fundraiser
for the Centre. The Bulwer Community Centre is located on Jordan Hill Road in
Bulwer.
The Bulwer Community
Centre is also available for rent for parties or family events. It's got a good
kitchen, tables, and an excellent floor for dancing. New rental rates are in
effect. Info: Leigh Grapes, 819-875-3543.
CHURCHES
United:
Sunday worship is at Cookshire United at 9:30 a.m., and at
Sawyerville United at 11 a.m. Tami Spires, Student Minister. Info: 819-889-2838
(listen to message or leave one).
Anglican:
Sunday services are in Bury, with Sunday school, at 9:30 a.m., and Cookshire at
11 a.m. (819-239-6902).
Baptist:
In Sawyerville, the worship service is at 9 a.m. in French, and 11 a.m. in
English. Sunday school is at 10 a.m. in English and French (819-239-8818).
Do you have news to share? Call 819-300-2374 or email
ra.writes@gmail.com by November 10 for publication November 19 and by November 24 for December 3.
