In every community, there are quiet heroes who show up without being asked, put others’ needs first, and often go unnoticed.
They’re family caregivers – unpaid individuals who care for someone close to them facing illness, disability, or age-related challenges.
But it’s not just those being cared for who are dealing with challenging situations.
According to the Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence, one in four caregivers report fair or poor mental health, and half of caregivers have experienced financial stress in the past year as a result of their caregiving.
Fortunately, Family Caregivers of BC (FCBC) is there to offer support.
Since 1989, this BC-based charity has been 100% dedicated to family and friend caregivers, helping them navigate one of life’s toughest roles – and helping to prevent serious consequences like adult abuse, neglect, and self-neglect along the way.
Why the Work of Family Caregivers of BC Matters
There are over 1.4 million caregivers in B.C. alone, and across the country, one in four Canadians are providing some form of unpaid care.
Many are balancing jobs, raising kids, and trying to stay afloat while supporting a loved one with complex health needs.
Yet, most don’t even consider themselves to be caregivers until they’re in the middle of a crisis, and that’s a problem.
“We’re really good at focusing on the care recipient,” said Barb MacLean, Executive Director of FCBC. “But we’re not very good at focusing on who’s caring for these people outside of the formal health system. And 80% of that care is provided by family and friends.”
Needless to say, caregiver burnout is common, and so is financial stress, poor mental health, and complete physical exhaustion.
Left unsupported, caregivers are at high risk of collapsing under the weight of their responsibilities – often without ever asking for help.
And this is where FCBC comes in.
A History Rooted in Compassion
Family Caregivers of BC began with a simple idea, which is that people caring for loved ones shouldn’t have to do it alone.
It was co-founded after a social worker named Faith Magwood, who noticed that families and friends were already informally supporting each other in hospitals and homes, saw the need for more structure, more recognition, and more resources.
Today, the organization is a central hub for caregiver support across British Columbia.
Its mission is to improve the quality of life for family caregivers through support, information, and education, and to provide leadership to strengthen the voice of family caregivers and the significance of their role.
What FCBC Offers Caregivers
Caregivers who connect with FCBC are never just handed a brochure.
They’re invited to share their story, offered time and space to talk, and supported in identifying their needs – sometimes for the first time.
FCBC’s Caregiver Support Line is often the first point of contact, and it offers caregivers:
- One-on-one emotional support
- Help navigating B.C.’s health system
- Connection to local resources and education
- Guidance in creating a personalized support plan
The organization has also developed a social prescribing program called Caregiver Rx, which encourages health-care professionals to actively refer caregivers for support.
Everything FCBC offers is designed to shift caregivers from surviving to coping, with the end goal being to ensure they’re thriving in their roles as family caregivers.
How This Helps Prevent Abuse and Neglect
Adult abuse, neglect, and self-neglect don’t always happen in dramatic ways.
Often, they stem from isolation, overwhelm, and unmet needs.
In fact, social isolation is an ideal breeding ground for the development of abusive situations.
When caregivers are overburdened, unsupported, anxious, or depressed, they’re at greater risk of making mistakes, breaking down, or unintentionally neglecting the person they’re trying to care for.
What’s more, caregivers are also at risk of suffering their own health decline by neglecting their own needs.
They may even become a target of abuse from the person they’re caring for, which is often linked to cognitive impairment.
And with financial abuse on the rise, caregivers are in a unique position to see what is happening and take steps to prevent it.
With that in mind, FCBC helps prevent multiple types of abuse by providing and advocating for caregiver support and education before a crisis occurs.
A Call for Systemic Change
Beyond the direct support it provides, FCBC is pushing for long-term change.
This organization’s top priorities include:
- Advocating for a national caregiver strategy
- Raising awareness about the importance of caregiving
- Ensuring caregivers are identified early and treated as partners in care
- Continuing to improve access to emotional, financial, and educational support
“We have a health system that just kind of waits for people to break and then, boom, let’s try and help them in these last moments,” said MacLean. “We want to change that.”
National Caregiver Month: Are You Caregiver Aware?
Here in Canada, May is National Caregiver Month – a time to spotlight the challenges caregivers face and recognize the work they do.
With that in mind, FCBC is promoting National Caregiver Month by collaborating with organizations across Canada for the seventh annual Caregiver Aware campaign.
This year, the focus will be on identifying caregivers everywhere, whether they’re your co-workers, neighbours, family, or friends.
Caregiver Aware 2025
Join the movement across Canada to raise awareness about the crucial role family caregivers play in our communities and take action to let a caregiver know there is support.
What Real Family Caregivers Have to Say
Here’s what some family caregivers (whose names have been withheld for privacy purposes) had to say after connecting with FCBC:
- “I felt lost and didn’t know where to turn to understand health services. After some coaxing from a friend, I called the Caregiver Support Line and felt like I’d received a lifeline and wished I’d done it sooner.”
- “I’ve learned that I have to prioritize my own health – like putting on your oxygen mask in an airplane – to have the energy to keep caring. I have created my own support plan and regularly meet with other caregivers who get it. I thank FCBC from the bottom of my heart.”
Want to Help?
Know a caregiver?
Encourage them to contact Family Caregivers of BC for support. They can call the Caregiver Support Line at 1 (877) 520-3267 or visit www.familycaregiversbc.ca.
