Vancouver

Designed for caregivers of people with dementia, this St. Paul’s Hospital based clinic supports caregiver skill-building, education, and strengthening of self-care strategies through evidence-based group and/or individual interventions. Our team includes a social worker, occupational therapist, and geriatric psychiatrists and is positioned within the Older Adult Out-patient Clinic, allowing for integrated, comprehensive, and coordinated service alongside the care of the person with dementia. Current groups include CARERS (problem solving technique, and communication strategies using simulation with a trained actor/simulated patient) and Mindfulness-Based Dementia Care (MBDC) (mindful awareness of self and person with dementia, mindful communication, and self-care strategies using formal and informal meditation practices).

Self-referrals and physician/nurse practitioner referrals are accepted. Caregivers who provide regular support and care to a person with dementia, live in the Vancouver area, have adequate English for group participation, and are at moderate to high risk of emotional and functional sequelae of caregiver distress are eligible. The caregiver receives care directly for their health and well-being once referred rather than off the side of the patient’s chart. The clinic supports caregivers to:

• Reduce risks to their own physical and psychosocial health and well-being
• Increase resilience and reduce caregiver distress
• Enhance caregiver confidence and competence, thereby improving the well-being of both the caregiver and the person with dementia
• Improve their ability to collaborate effectively with the health care team providing care for the person with dementia
• Optimize the ability of the family system to support community living for the person with dementia where suitable
• Optimize their ability to cope with transitions into residential care or hospital settings