THE season of caring is upon us, so why not do something nice for a caregiver in your life - and tell the rest of Canada about it?
That's what those involved in a promotion launched this week by Canada Cares, a program that supports and recognizes caregivers of all kinds across the country, are encouraging community members to do.
Canada Cares is inviting Canadians in communities from coast to coast to take the caregiving challenge and celebrate the season by sharing compassionate holiday stories with fellow Canadians, said Caroline Tapp-McDougall, vice-resident at Toronto-based health care publisher BCS Group and the brainchild behind Canada Cares, in the release.
Every person who participates in the challenge - by submitting a story, photo or video on the Canada Cares website (canadacares. org - will be entered into a draw to win one of thousands of dollars worth of prizes, from a day at the spa and gift cards to an accessible vehicle.
Whatever kindness you're doing for a caregiver this holiday, they want to hear about it, whether it's baking cookies for a friend who's caring for her mother or shopping for someone who has a relative in the hospital, to driving a neighbour around, shovelling a walkway, helping with holiday decorations, or doing errands for the parents of a child with special needs, Tapp-McDougall explained.
Following studies that show the number of caregivers in Canada is on the rise - with current estimates pegged at upwards of 5 million and one in four Canadians identified as a family caregiver - there is a need to recognize and support our country's caregivers, according to Canada Cares.
Canada Cares is a not-for-profit program which involves a virtual community, grassroots events, and national and regional caregiver awards. It has been created through a partnership between health care organizations and businesses across the country.
For a list of tips on how you can show kindness to a caregiver this season, or to share your caregiving story, visit canadacares.org. Submissions of a maximum of 50 words must be received by Jan. 15, 2013.
