1:1 Caregiver Peer Support
1:1 Caregiver Peer Support
The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada is excited to expand the 1:1 Peer Support Program to caregivers (parents, spouses, friends, and family who care for people who live with MS). We recognize that for people who are informal caregivers for loved ones with MS, there are certain needs and subjects where talking to peers in similar situations can help provide some support and comfort.
The 1:1 Peer Support Program is a telephone/internet-based program for individuals living with MS and their caregivers. You or the person you care for may be newly diagnosed, you may have a specific question, or maybe you are dealing with an issue related to MS. Sometimes the best person to talk to is someone who has had similar experiences. Volunteers from across Canada are provided with extensive training to ensure they have the skills to best support you.
If you have any questions, please contact the MS Knowledge Network at msnavigators@mscanada.ca or 1-844-859-6789
Virtual MS Caregiver Peer Group
A nationwide virtual MS Peer Support Group for MS Caregivers is offered the 2nd Sunday of each month at 3:00pm ET. Bringing together spouses, partners plus other family and friends who support people living with an MS diagnosis (or allied disease) - to talk about overcoming challenges, navigating supports, sharing tips and personal stories. Offered on Zoom. To sign up for the virtual group and receive reminders, please send a message to supportgroups@mssociety.ca or contact the MS Navigators: 1-844-859-6789 or msnavigators@mssociety.ca
Caregiver Podcast: What They Didn't Tell Me About Caregiving
This podcast provides inspiring and insightful stories of people caring for family members living with a neurological disease amid the demands of their own lives. These episodes have been created with the financial support of Novartis, and are brought to you by Parkinson Canada, the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada and the Alzheimer Society of Canada.
Click here to listen to all 3 episodes including April's story. April was a caregiver for her husband who lived with multiple sclerosis. We’ll hear from April about how she handled the changes in her relationship, along with her thoughts on coordinating care, dealing with the feelings of guilt, and the invisibility that caregivers can experience.
Thank you to all the individuals who shared their stories for this important tool.
Webinars
Caregiver Partnership Webinars
As health charities supporting individuals with neurological conditions, the Alzheimer Society, the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, and Parkinson Canada have natural commonalities in the demographics they serve and support. A key commonality is the caregiver, who provides support to people living with these respective diseases. Recognizing that there are many topics which appeal to all caregivers in the broader disease community, our three organizations decided to partner to offer online education initiatives. You can watch the recordings below.
June 26, 2018: Living with Grief Long Before Death
October 25th, 2017: "I don't know what to say"... Beginning Difficult Conversations
May 26th, 2016: Learning How to Get the Help You Need: How Caregivers can Navigate the Health and Social Care System
December 10th, 2015: Taking Care of Yourself through the Ups and Downs of Caregiving
MS Can Do & NMSS Webinar Series
Sept 12, 2019: Embracing Carers Webinar Series: Communicating About the Tough Stuff
Sept 19, 2019: Embracing Carers Webinar Series: When Hands-on Caregiving is Added
Sept 26, 2019: Embracing Carers Webinar Series: Preventing Support Partner Burnout
Other Relevant Webinars
November 8, 2017: Income Security and MS: Planning for the Future presented by the Volunteer Legal Advocacy Program from the British Columbia & Yukon Division
For all national MS Society archived webinars, please click here.
Caregiver Partnership Articles
As health charities supporting individuals with neurological conditions, the Alzheimer Society, the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, and Parkinson Canada have natural commonalities in the people they serve and support. A key commonality is the family caregiver who provides support to people living with these respective diseases. Our organizations have partnered to share resources and provide new information and webinars to support family caregivers.
February 2018: Talking Finances
MS Society Publications for Caregivers
Practical Tips for Caregivers (4 page PDF)
A Guide for Caregivers (PDF: 935 KB)
Caring for the Caregiver newsletter
- Fall 2015 (PDF: 574 KB)
- Spring 2015 (PDF: 647 KB)
- Fall 2014 (PDF: 548 KB)
Other MS Society Publications
Resource Library - MS Canada magazine, booklets, books and DVDs, learning events, websites related to MS
MS in Focus Magazine
MS in Focus
The Multiple Sclerosis International Federation produced MS in Focus, a free magazine produced twice yearly in English, Spanish and German. The final issue, Issue 9 focused on caregiving and MS