Parents Survival • 50/50 Fundraiser

In Alberta alone, more than one in five people aged 15 and up provide 647 million hours of unpaid care every year. An estimated 1.9 million Canadians aged 15 to 29 provide care to a family member or friend with a long-term health condition. This means caregivers being “sandwiched” between multiple care responsibilities.

Having multiple caregiving responsibilities was associated with a higher likelihood of experiencing negative impacts on the caregivers health and well-being. For example, in 2022 according to a Statistic Canada Report, 86% of sandwich caregivers reported at least one negative impact on their physical health and well-being, compared with 74% of caregivers for only adults and 62% of caregivers for only children. Large proportions of sandwich caregivers were most likely to report feeling tired (69%), worried or anxious (65%), and overwhelmed (50%) as a result of their caregiving responsibilities.

May is National Caregiver Awareness month and Parent’s Survival Resource & Connection Society ( PSRCS) is a nonprofit organization that has been trying to make a difference in Caregivers and individuals affected by disabilities or long-term health condition lives.

Parent’s Survival Resource & Connection Society mentors become a friend | mentor for those that feel alone in the process all across Alberta. With a mentor located in Crowsnest Pass and the office in Calgary they support caregivers and individuals in the struggles that come up in the diagnosis journey. Helping with everything from applying and preparing paperwork, finding resources, advocating with different issues that may arise that affect their quality of life. They become a friend | mentor for those that feel alone in the process.

But what makes them stand out from other resources?

PSRCS mentors work to fill the gaps where people tend to give up or they fall through the cracks of the system as the supports are not provided where they need assistance. One example would be a person with reading difficulties needs one on one support to fill out a 5 page application they may not understand. Parent mentors will assist them in filling out and submitting that paperwork and follow up with the agencies to ensure they are being cared for. Another example could be agencies having a hard time obtaining the support they need due to another agencies’ processes or lack of knowledge of the system they are applying for. PSRCS will support and bridge the gaps so the client can be assisted further while working on a flexible schedule to support your needs.

Parent’s Survival is coming into their third year of operation and is not yet government funded. Everything they have been doing for the community has come from donations and out of pocket expenses. This year they have decided to run a 50/50 draw to cover expenses while they learn to apply for government grants and while setting up partnerships. “This draw is one of our most vital aspects to the continuing of our operations,” states President and Co founder, Shelly Jaques.

If you are in need of support we welcome you to reach out to us via our book now button on our website parentsurvival.ca or email us at psrcs@pm.me

Written by Parents Survival Resource & Connection Society
Visit parentsurvival.ca for more details