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Introductory Newsletter November 2022

Here’s a brief overview of how we can help you.

Hours and Hours

It happens to all of us eventually. We’re either providing assistance and support to our loved ones as they advance in age and care needs, or we’re the ones aging and receiving the support.

Regardless, it all adds up. Usually, it is insidious; a few hours here and there to help with errands or appointments. Before long, it is taking up a larger and larger part of your day. But what does it look like.

I had the opportunity recently to talk with Jacquie Eales, Research Manager, Research on Aging, Policies & Practice at the University of Alberta. One of the areas they have researched and compiled data is that of unpaid caregiver hours. With Jacquie’s blessing, I will share some of that data with you in this post.

First of all, let’s take the birds’ eye overview of what that looks like across the provinces of Canada. This infographic shows the percentage of population per province engaged in caregiving, as well as the amount of time spent in millions of hours per year, and the economic value in billions per year, at $17 per hour.

Now, let’s break it out by category for a clearer visual representation:

As you can see in the above picture, one-quarter to one-third of our population is engaged in providing caregiving support.

This next image breaks out the amount of time friend and family caregivers are providing each year, in millions.

Calculated at $17 per hour, the economic value of these millions of hours of support represent significant value, as shown in the following image.

Attribution: Family-caregiving-worth-97-billion_2022-02-20 by Research on Aging, Policies and Practice, University of Alberta, https://rapp.ualberta.ca/snapshot-of-aging/

The amount of time provided to support our aging population clearly is far from trivial.  Keep in mind that during the Covid-19 lockdowns, many family/friend caregivers could not access their loved ones, creating stress for the staff at the various facilities housing so many of our seniors, frustration for the friends and family members, and isolating a cohort that already suffers from loneliness and seclusion.

Societies have always depended on the support of friends and family members to assist with those who require support.  This is something that the vast majority of us never would question and is a fundamental kindness.  But options exist to provide balance and wellness for everyone concerned.  A consultation with NEXsteps can show you how you can provide the love and support to your loved ones while striking a better balance with the other aspects of your life.  Call  587-287-5913 or email nexsteps@agapimarketing.com to schedule your consultation.

You can also see our videos on YouTube

Introducing NEXsteps – Age with Confidence

The past 2+ years dealing with COVID-19 have been challenging for everyone, and on many levels. During the initial phase, no one knew what to expect. Lockdowns caused many businesses to close, often with no ability to reopen in the future. The impact of the lack of business reverberated throughout nearly all types of businesses; with no customers and no idea what the future held, many opportunities were lost and many businesses had to learn to pivot to continue.

I took this opportunity to reflect on what I felt was most meaningful to me at this phase of my life. I have spent the past several years managing the care and transition of aging friends and relatives. This has been both rewarding and challenging. There are many aspects to the aging process and the development of an aging plan that simply can’t be anticipated, especially if you are a caregiver “newby”. Then, just a couple months ago, I made a decision to shift my focus from general business consultation and marketing to consulting with the aging, and their friends and family members who will have the responsibility of managing their care and their aging plan.

I invite any of you who are faced with this planning to reach out. An initial ninety minute consultation to develop a proper aging plan will ensure that you can move forward with confidence and efficiency. Don’t spend hours of your time chasing answers that I have already have discovered. Call me directly at 587-287-5913 or email nexsteps@agapimarketing.com

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