With Chilliwack’s aging population hovering around 20,000 and growing, professional caregivers are being spent of time, energy and resources.
But Chilliwack Hospice is hoping to help ward off caregiver fatigue.
On Sept. 27, Chilliwack Hospice is presenting a one-day workshop, Caring for the Caregiver: Ways to Reorganize and Re-energize.
The workshop is targeting professional caregivers, including physicians, nurses, social workers, home support workers, police officers, students, hospice organizations, funeral service providers, clergy, and more.
“Fraser Health is the fastest growing health authority in B.C. and healthcare workers anticipate the need is going to be there to provide far more services because of the aging population,” said Liz Lynch, executive director of Chilliwack Hospice.
“This workshop is going to be a discussion for those healthcare professionals on how they are going to sustain themselves in the workplace. This is all about trying to manage that burnout situation.”
Bestselling author Dr. David Kuhl will be presenting at the workshop.
Kuhl, author of What Dying People Want: Practical Wisdom for the End-of-Life, and Facing Death Embracing Life, Understanding What Dying People Want, is the founder and director of the Centre for Practitioner Renewal. He is also an associate professor in the faculty of medicine at the University of British Columbia, and was a recent recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for his leadership in the field of hospice palliative care.
“He’s quite a draw; we’ve got people registered from North Vancouver to Chilliwack,” said Lynch.
The discussion will focus on areas of enhancing work life through personal, cultural, spiritual values and life experiences. It will also explore the meaning of collaborating in the workplace with colleagues.
“That’s going to be a big part of it, all these different healthcare and service workers have to work together to support each other,” said Lynch.
The Caring for the Caregiver workshop is on Sept. 27 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Woodlawn Mt. Cheam Funeral Home on Hocking Ave.
Cost is $90 or $55 for students and Hospice volunteers.
To register or for more information, visit the website www.chilliwackhospice.org or call 604-794-4660.