NorQuest College and Caregivers Alberta connecting caregivers to education and community resources

November 12, 2020

The Family Caregiver Wellness Virtual Event is aimed at bringing together this often isolated and overburdened group of family caregivers – as well as organizations who support this group – to provide support and resources, fine-tune and improve existing care, and improve quality of life for those living in home care scenarios.

“The COVID-19 pandemic really put a spotlight on the crucial – but often overlooked – role played by family caregivers,” says Sandy Sereda, Executive Director of Caregivers Alberta. “During this two-part virtual event, caregivers will learn from health care experts the skills and techniques to best care for their loved ones, and find out valuable support resources to ease the pressure on these loving and important members of Alberta’s health care front lines.”

The event will also feature a keynote by professor and family caregiver expert Dr. Jasneet Parmar, as well as educational workshops, assistive technology and vendor demonstrations, and community support building opportunities.

This event is co-produced by NorQuest College and Caregivers Alberta. The two organizations thank the Vendor Showcase companies who sponsored the event, especially Chartwell Retirement Services, who is the main sponsor. The organizations are also partially funded by the Government of Canada and the Government of Alberta, respectively, which the producers of the event also thank.

To learn more and to register, visit bit.ly/familycaregiverwellness

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About NorQuest College: NorQuest College is Edmonton’s community college serving over 19,000 students annually throughout the province with full-time, part-time, online, and face-to-face learning options. NorQuest helps learners with diverse educational backgrounds complete or further their studies through foundational programs. Our post-secondary diploma and certificate programs and continuing education options offer rewarding career paths in health, community studies, business, environment, technology, hospitality, and diversity and inclusion training. Our suite of customized and corporate training options ensure organizations and their workforces are prepared for the demands of the future. By collaborating with business, industry, government, and communities, we ensure our learners receive workforce relevant, inclusive, and transformative educational experiences.

About NorQuest College Family Caregiver Wellness Initiative: The Family Caregiver Wellness Initiative supports family members by empowering them with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to care for their loved one. The initiative is not meant to displace homecare services nor to overburden the caregiver, but to increase their knowledge, skills and confidence to provide care safely. Our online videos and workshops will give the caregiver the flexibility to learn from anywhere and use of simulated topic related scenarios enrich the learning for the caregiver. Workshop topics are wide ranging and include: roles of the caregiver caring for seniors with varying levels of needs; developing health observations and healthcare decisions for your loved one; effective communication skills with health-care providers and your loved one; and pairing technologies and tools to assist in daily living.

About Caregivers Alberta: Caregivers Alberta is a not-for-profit organization that offers support and resources to caregivers throughout Alberta. As Alberta’s only dedicated caregiver organization, we improve the lives of Alberta’s caregivers by:

  • Providing group and one-on-one supports that help caregivers connect with others, navigate the system and look after themselves while providing care.
  • Increasing communities’ capacity to support caregivers by educating professionals, promoting networking and referrals, and sharing programs
  • Advocating for policy changes that will make a difference in caregivers’ lives

Media enquiries

Mike Reeves

External Media Consultant

Phone: 780.288.3651

Email: Mike.Reeves@NorQuest.ca