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Taking Care: Resources
for Caregivers
Caregiver to Caregiver Tip #3: Knowledge is
Power
A caregiver’s
time is often stretched however taking time to seek out information
about caregiving
and MS can help
to strengthen and build upon your coping strategies as well
as increase your knowledge of MS.
Some information resources that you might
find helpful can be found by clicking on the following links:
Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada Information Resources
Publications
The MS Society produces numerous publications related to
multiple sclerosis. They cover topics such as basic facts about
MS,
how to cope with the disease in daily life, nutrition and
emotional issues, to name just a few. These publications are
available
upon request and can be helpful in learning more about the
disease as well as strategies to deal with the disease and
its effects.
A Guide for Caregivers
Caring and Sharing, Spouses and Partners is a publication
of the Quebec Division, MS Society of Canada. Available
online at www.mssociety.ca/qc/publicationsEn.htm#family
Contact your local chapter or division for a complete list
of available publications or download our publications
from the MS Society website. Or view our Publications
and the Recommended
Reading List.
Information and Referral
You can turn to the MS Society to find credible and reliable
information about MS symptoms, treatments, research, programs
and other topics such as income support, insurance and family
issues.
In addition to providing information on multiple sclerosis
and related issues, the MS Society provides referral services
and connects people with MS and their caregivers to vital community
support resources. Depending on the community, people with
MS may have access to a wide range of programs and services
such as exercise classes, transportation assistance, homecare
and many others. On a community-by-community basis, the Multiple
Sclerosis Society of Canada maintains a database of appropriate
resources that can help people manage MS and cope with it in
their daily lives.
Call toll-free in Canada: 1-800-268-7582
E-mail: info@mssociety.ca
Website: www.mssociety.ca
National Information Resource Centre
At the heart of the National Information Resource Centre (NIRC)
is ASK MS. ASK MS is a collection of approximately 1,500 articles
on diverse topics related to multiple sclerosis. Whether research
and scientific papers or articles for the layperson, you can
be confident that the information from this collection is credible.
Should you have a question that articles in this collection
might answer, please ‘ASK MS’ by contacting your
division at: 1-800-268-7582.
Division and Chapter Libraries
Contact your local chapter or division of the MS Society of
Canada for a listing of possible resources available for
loan including books and videos with information on caregiving,
self care and MS.
Other Information Resources
Local public libraries and bookstores
Publications on caregiving and/or MS are also generally available
from libraries or bookstores in your community. Amazon Bookstore
is an online bookstore with a large selection of books on
caregiving www.amazon.ca
Caregiver Organizations or Networks
Canadian Caregiver Coalition
110 Argyle Avenue
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 1B4
Phone: (613)233-5694
www.ccc-ccan.ca
Caregiver Network Inc. (online service only)
www.caregiver.on.ca
Provincial Caregiver Organizations
Other Websites with Information for Caregivers
www.caregiver.on.ca
This website is for the Caregiver Network which is an Ontario-based
Canadian resource center created to help caregivers of the
elderly and ill. There are many items of interest to caregivers
around the country.
www.ccc-ccan.ca
This is the website for the Canadian Caregiver Coalition. The
site provides information about the ongoing activities of this
organization whose mission is "to come together with a
unified voice, to influence policy, and to promote awareness
and action to address the needs of informal caregivers of all
ages across Canada".
www.familycaregivers.ab.ca
This is the website of the Family Caregiver Centre in Calgary.
However, the site provides fact sheets and other useful information
for caregivers across the country.
www.vac-acc.gc.ca/providers
The Department of Veterans Affairs Caregivers Resource Inventory
catalogues federal government projects, initiatives, programs,
studies, research, publications and products related to
caregiving and seniors. The information provided is for
caregivers as
well as health care professionals and other service providers.
www.nmss.org (USA)
The is the website of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society
in the United States of America.
www.nfcacares.org (USA)
This is the website for an American national caregiver
organization called the National Family Caregivers
Association. The site
contains information on common needs and concerns that
family members and caregivers may have about various
types of services.
A list of publications and resource materials for caregivers
that can be ordered on line is also accessible from
this site.
www.caregiving.org (USA)
This is the website for the National Alliance for Caregiving,
a national American non-profit agency for caregivers.
This website features the Family Care Resource Connection
which
is a comprehensive searchable database of reviews
and ratings of books, websites and other resources for
family caregivers.
www.caregivingfoundation.org (USA)
This website includes a caregiver support kit focused for caregivers
of persons with Alzheimers disease but also has information
relevant to all caregivers.
www.familycaregivers.org (USA)
This is the website for The Center for Family Caregivers,
an American non-profit organization that provides support
and
education materials to family caregivers who provide care
for chronically ill or disabled family members. This
site includes
tips for caregivers and information on the stages of caregiving.
Some information is focused specifically for caregivers
of aging parents but most information is relative to all
caregivers.
www.wellspouse.org (USA)
This is the website for the Well Spouse Foundation, a membership-based
organization based in the United States providing information
and support for caregivers caring for a spouse with short-term
or long-term illness and disability.
**The MS Society of Canada is an independent, voluntary
health agency and does not approve, endorse or recommend
any specific
product or therapy but provides information to assist
individuals in making their own decisions.
We want to hear from you. If you have any questions
or comments related to the caregiver pages of the website,
please contact us at jennifer.eades@mssociety.ca.
We would also like to hear your suggestions and ideas
for additional content and recommended resources. |
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