What many miracles are wrought on a daily basis! Laundry is done. Groceries are gotten. Food arrives on the table. Dishes are washed. The floor is swept. Doctor's appointments are fielded. Pills taken. Tears find a comforting arm. Complaints find a listening ear. Blame finds a generous target.
These miracles are sure signs that an angel is at hand. We tend to take them for granted, these angels who are caregivers of ailing or aging family members. Caregiving knows no language barriers, but a quick glance at the stats show that more than a few caregivers speak English. No wonder - the English-speaking population in the Townships has fewer middle-aged people, and a high proportion of senior citizens, compared to our French-speaking neighbours. So it's natural that we also have a higher proportion of family caregivers, many of them being seniors, themselves, who spend huge hunks of time caring for their family members. In fact, 12.4% of Anglophone women and 7% of Anglophone men in the Eastern Townships spend more than five hours a week giving unpaid care to seniors, compared to 9.4% (women) and 4.9% (men) of Francophones. That's according to the 2006 Canada Census.
And time is not the only factor to consider. High-intensity caregiving puts the caregivers themselves at risk of high-intensity stress, health and work problems, and isolation. It's time we notice the angels among us, and encourage them to take care of themselves.
CAREGIVERS' GROUPS
The Centre d'action bénévole du Haut-Saint-François, in its quiet way, is doing just that. Among numerous Francophone support groups are two English-speaking groups, one in Bury and one in Sawyerville. Caregivers are forced to develop an amazing amount of expertise on many levels - dealing with the health care system, coping with knotty emotional issues, and managing logistics and strenuous physical demands. The monthly groups give them a chance to offer support, information and suggestions to each other. Info: 819-560-8540 (option 9), or hcs@cabhsf.org.
CAREGIVING VIDEOCONFERENCE
Last chance to participate in a health videoconference on Chronic Illness, Caring and Coping, this Wednesday, December 7, at 10 a.m. Two experts and a guest speaker will discuss the mental and physical needs and support required for coping with chronic illness. The presenters are Lisa Lacasse, Montreal social worker, and Ginette Mayrand, nurse educator for the Parkinson Society of Quebec. The guest speaker is Gerda Duncan, caregiver and co-founder of a newly created peer support group in Brome Lake. The interactive videoconference is offered at the Eaton Valley CLC in Bury by the Community Health Education Program (CHEP) and Townshippers' Association. No admission fee. Info: Lise Dougherty at 819-570-7255 or doughertyl@ped.etsb.qc.ca.
ONLINE RESOURCES
Resources in English for caregivers are also available at www.caregivinghelp.org, a free interactive website, www.careringvoice.com, offering free telephone workshops, and www.chssn.org/En/Health_Education_Program/health_resource_library.html , offering modules on chronic health challenges for seniors and caregivers.
CLC HAS NEW WEBSITE
For up-to-the-minute news about the goings on at the Eaton Valley Community Learning Centre, just three clicks and an abracadabra will take you to the CLC's new website: Click on www.etsb.qc.ca, click on the CLC menu in the upper right corner of the page, then click on the Eaton Valley CLC, and there you are, in Bury!
BULWER CHRISTMAS PARTY
It's a Christmas Party for all ages, at the Bulwer Community Center on Jordan Hill Road, on Saturday, December 17, from 8 p.m. to midnight. Santa Claus arrives at about 8:30 p.m. Music is by Scott Lowd, Todd Aiken and the Drew family. Potluck lunch; donation at the door. Info: 819-875-3452 (leave message).
CHURCH SERVICES
Anglican: Wednesday, December 7: a "Messy Church" is offered from 5 to 6:15 p.m. for families with children aged 2 to 12 (all ages are welcome). Storytelling, crafts, a short worship service and dinner. A pay-what-you-can free-will offering helps cover the cost of dinner and crafts. Parents are not allowed to cook or help with dishes. December 11 and 18: Sunday services are 9:30 a.m. in Bury and 11 a.m. in Cookshire. Saturday, December 24: A Christmas Eucharist is in Cookshire at 2 p.m. and Bury at 4 p.m. Informal Christmas Eve Service is in Lawrence at 7 p.m. (819-875-1568 or 819-239-6902).
Baptist: Sunday school is at 10 a.m. (English and French), and worship service is at 9 a.m. in French, and 11 a.m. in English, in Sawyerville (819-239-8818).
United: December 11: Morning services are in Cookshire at 9:30 a.m., and in Sawyerville at 11 a.m. A Carol Service is in Bishopton at 4 p.m. They include Sunday school and nursery (leave message at 819-889-2838). December 18: Scotstown Ecumenical Service is at 7 p.m., at the Presbyterian Church, to be led by the Scotstown United congregation. December 24: Christmas Eve Service with Holy Communion is at 4 p.m., in Cookshire. Note: There are no services on December 25 or January 1st.
Do you have news to share? Call 819-889-2520 or email ra.writes@gmail.com by December 12 for publication December 28 - the last issue before the New Year - and by January 9 for January 18.
Happy holidays!
