Valerie Wiens

Self-Care in a Cup

Can you feel the stress in the air? Or that feeling of tightness in your chest? That’s because it’s December! Even in my own “trying to simplify”, I rub up...

December 11, 2021

Visiting with Seniors in Care

Keys to communicating and making connections I captured this photo of a client last week during a visit with her in long-term care. She absolutely loves her...

May 5, 2021

DOs and DON’Ts of caregiving communication

Looking after loved ones with compassion, conversing without conflict

March 23, 2021

Having “The Talk” about Eldercare

AND, NO, DENIAL ISN’T A STRATEGY! Opening up and talking honestly to an aging parent or spouse about future care needs and options can be awkward. However...

February 9, 2021

An eldercare story – Mary & Rick

A story of caregiving with respect and aging with dignity

January 6, 2021

Getting older is natural but aging is for the birds!

Coping with loved ones’ losses as they age The many, often cumulative, changes that occur with age mean that seniors and their family caregivers are continually...

November 30, 2020

How to support an aging loved one during a pandemic

Caregiving with compassion in COVID times Like the rest of the world, our business had to make several shifts in 2020 with likely more to come in the next few...

November 1, 2020

Family Caregiving - it's only a matter of time...

Did you know that by 2030, seniors are projected to account for close to one in four people?[i]This will represent almost a 10% increase from 2013. The senior...

June 4, 2019

Strategies for Resiliency

I have the honour to write a monthly column in Inspire Senior Living for my work with Family Caregivers of BC. This month we talked about Strategies to Build...

March 9, 2019

Know Your Holiday Hot Buttons

For many of us, December marks the start of holiday gatherings and festivities, making it feel like “the most wonderful time of the year.” Some family...

December 18, 2018

Accessing Community Resources

If you are unsure about what kind of help you can access in the community when caring for someone, you are among the many British Columbians who find navigating...

September 14, 2018

Are You a Healthy Caregiver?

Last week, my phone was ringing off its hook with family caregivers. Their caregiving needs all varied. One caregiver was calling for a parent who couldn’t...

August 14, 2018

Creating Space to Heal

Late last year I worked with a woman who was struggling to cope with her partner’s attitudes towards his Parkinson’s disease. She felt worried, frustrated...

February 13, 2018

Don’t Let Caregiving Turn You Into A Grinch

I was in a gift shop yesterday and, as I am often noted for, spoke out loud to no one in particular, “Wow, this holiday season has really snuck up again on me...

December 12, 2017

Caring for a Loved One With Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is difficult for the person affected and the person caring for them. As part of my work with Family Caregivers of BC, I write for Senior Living...

October 17, 2017

Balancing Work and Caregiving

You have a looming deadline at work and your mother keeps calling because your father has fallen yet again. You are notified by your mother’s housing provider...

October 9, 2017

Take a hike! Or in my case, a bike!

It’s that time again – summer holidays – and for myself, that meant a 6-day solo excursion to Oregon tackling some road cycling, enjoying some great new sights...

July 24, 2017

Self-Compassion For All

It becomes understood that happiness is not dependent on circumstances being exactly as we want them to be, or on ourselves being exactly as we’d like to be...

May 5, 2017

Speaking Up & Getting What You Need After Brain Injury

Speaking Up & Getting What You Need After Brain Injury with Valerie Wiens, MA (Gerontology) Wednesday, April 19, 2017 1:30 - 3:00 pm Nanaimo Harbourfront...

April 11, 2017

Caregiving: Unexpected Changes

My Dad is 95 years old and honestly, some days I can’t believe he is still alive. I’m his only daughter and caregiver. I’ve been looking after him for 4 years...

March 20, 2017

The Ins and Outs of Hiring Private Care

In the past few months, Family Caregivers of BC received numerous calls from individuals asking about how to hire private care, through an agency or an...

January 31, 2017

Coach Caregiver, aka Valerie, LIVE to Answer Your Caregiving Questions

Join me and the fantastic Jodie McDonald, Executive Director for the Cowichan Valley Caregivers Support Society, for our final live Coach Caregiver session of...

December 12, 2016

Advance Care Planning Isn't Just For Seniors

“It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit This quote reminds me of my mom. No, she...

November 16, 2016

Just Put Me In The Cheapest Cardboard Box!

No fancy casket for this middle-aged gal. Seriously, put me in the lowest end box, cremate me and then party up a great life lived, with a few tears and plenty...

November 1, 2016

Recent Articles by Valerie Wiens