Calling all care partners! Join us as we learn with and from others this fall semester. The BC Brain Wellness Program will host expert speakers we have come to trust to support, educate and broaden the care partner's toolbox of coping strategies.

Care Partner Workshops

Hiring a Paid Caregiver – Everything you did not know that you needed to know Monday January 20, 2025 — 10am-11:30am

Instructor: Stephanie Chan

Hiring a paid caregiver can feel like a daunting task. With so many options available these days and the cost of home care going up each year, how do you know what is right for you? At this seminar, we will discuss everything you need to know about hiring home help, including:

  • Where to find home care services

  • The differences between the home care provided by the public health authority and private-pay home care, including scope, method of access and costs, necessary paperwork

  • How to prepare for home help, getting your relative on board, and what to look for in selecting your caregiver

  • What to expect after you hire home help and how to maintain a great relationship with your caregiver

What Every Caregiver Needs to Know: Practical Tools for Thriving in Your Role
Monday, February 10th — 10:00-11:30AM

Instructor: Brandi Bailey

Join Brandi Bailey as she shares insights from Plan Well Guide’s popular free resource 10 Ways to be a Stellar Caregiver without Burning Out. Brandi will walk you through practical strategies to lighten the load and help you care for your loved one while also caring for yourself. Essential topics include setting boundaries, developing a crisis plan, staying organized, enhancing communication skills and creating an advance serious illness plan. Throughout the session, Brandi will weave in strategies for anticipating the unknown, equipping caregivers with the tools and insights needed to navigate unexpected challenges with clarity and confidence.

Representing Plan Well Guide, a leader in Advance Serious Illness Planning, Brandi will highlight how their resources assist families in preparing for crucial medical decisions before they are needed. Thoughtful planning now can make all the difference later, ensuring peace of mind for both caregivers and their loved ones.

Together, we’ll explore ways to make caregiving more manageable, meaningful, and sustainable for you and your family.

Emotion Coaching - An Essential Skill for Care Partners
Monday, March 17th — 10:00-11:30AM

Instructor: Chantal Bourke

The role of a caregiver comes with many responsibilities and duties that must be performed to ensure your loved one’s care and process is well managed. But what about when emotions run high? When conflict within this relationship compromises goals and appointments and care? There are answers and skills to support the overall emotional health, flexibility, and care of your loved one and your relationship. Chantal will be speaking about the importance of being your loved ones "emotion coach" while being in the important but challenging role of their caregiver.

Partners Who Care: A Chance to Talk and Connect
January 27, February 24, March 24— 10:00-11:30 AM

Instructor: Jean Ward


These sessions will revisit the care partner workshop content from the previous week and offer you an opportunity to bring to the group any thoughts or reactions. All care partners are welcome to join regardless of workshop attendance. Come and connect with folks who get what you are going through. Feel free to bring your questions, your ideas, your feelings and your laughter.