Manitoba recognizes family caregivers

WINNIPEG — Many of us know the challenges of having a sick family member and the first Tuesday of April officially recognizes family caregivers. These are people who have made many sacrifices to be a full time support system for someone they love who isn’t healthy enough to care for themselves.

Bill Neil is a 93-year-old veteran who has a sharp mind, but can’t quite do everything on his own after losing an arm in World War Two. That’s where his kids come in.

“I along with my one sister and two brothers visit him every day. There is someone who comes here every single day and looks after his needs,” said Nancy Devisser.

Devisser and her siblings help their father with daily tasks like groceries, mail, appointments and maintaining the home that he loves. It can sometimes be a challenge, but the family wouldn’t have it any other way.

“We as a family feel that he along with my mother who just passed, had looked after us so well all our lives, it’s our turn to look after him,” said Devisser.

Manitoba is the only province to have a legislated day dedicated to caregivers, recognizing all of the hard work they do.

“We want to let them know that we recognize them and the valuable contributions they make to society, and we want them to learn to maybe put themselves first a little bit,” said Katherine Peters, founder of Comforts of Homecare.

An event honouring family caregivers Monday evening provided information on services like social workers and medication, but the event was also meant as some time off for the busy caregivers.

“Family caregivers are a very special breed of people, they’re very selfless,” said Peters.