United for Caregivers: How Community Connection Transforms Lives 

Across British Columbia, thousands of caregivers quietly support loved ones who are aging, ill, or living with chronic conditions. Family and friends provide over 80% of eldercare – a contribution that is often unpaid and unseen.  

Caregiving is more than a role—it’s an “extra shift.” In Canada, on average, caregivers provide over 30 hours of unpaid care each week, nearly a full-time job. Nearly half feel tired, anxious, or overwhelmed. Many are seniors themselves, with almost one in five over age 65, often facing their own health challenges while caring for others. 

Dorothy is one of these hidden heroes. She became the primary caregiver for her husband John. She recalls: 

“I guess it started when my husband retired in 2015, and that’s when his health started to really decline.” 

As John’s condition worsened, Dorothy found herself increasingly isolated.  

“When we moved to Penticton, we didn’t have a lot of people here we knew. So there’s no family, no support, no group that we actually socialized with… going into the caregiving situation was a solitary move, which doesn’t bode well a lot of times.” 

Dorothy’s Journey: Carrying the Weight of Care 

Dorothy’s caregiving journey began gradually, but the responsibility quickly grew. Their lives became centered around medical appointments and treatments. The emotional toll was immense, especially as Dorothy tried to shield her husband from her own stress: 

“A lot of people think that when you’re a caregiver… it’s complicated but it’s not difficult. The difficulty is not showing your fear or your emotion to the person that you’re caring for because you don’t want them to worry about you.” 

A turning point came for Dorothy after her own knee replacement surgery. Struggling to manage both her recovery and John’s care, she reached out to OneSky Community Resources Society for help with housekeeping through their United Way BC Better at Home program. That call led her not only to help with housekeeping, but also to a second United Way BC-funded initiative- one designed specifically to support caregivers like her. 

Empowering Caregivers Through Connection 

For caregivers like Dorothy, finding support can be life-changing. The  Penticton Caregivers Support Program, offered through OneSky Community Resources Society and funded through the United Way BC Family & Friend Caregiver Supports program, provides a vital network for those caring for adult family members or friends with complex health needs. 

Program Coordinator Sheena Ross explains: 

“The program is designed to connect caregivers to supportive resources, empowering them to navigate the health care system and provide compassionate, tailor-made emotional support.” 

Support is offered in ways that meet caregivers where they are—via text, email, in-person meetings, or group settings. 

One of the most valued offerings is the weekly lunch program at Cherry Park, which fosters a warm, welcoming environment: 

“It’s like a really comfortable setting… we all just sit around and break bread. It’s very organic. There’s no structure to it. Some folks will just bring up what’s on their minds.” 

These moments of connection are more than social—they’re therapeutic. Many caregivers in Penticton are seniors themselves, often without nearby family or support networks. As Sheena notes: 

“I often come across people that are just running on empty… they’re exhausted and have nowhere to go. We live in a place where there’s a lot of seniors and not a lot of support.” 

The program also offers informal respite, with volunteers available to sit with care recipients while caregivers take a much-needed break.  

Healing Through Peer Support 

For Dorothy, joining the program was more than just finding help—it was discovering a sense of connection and relief. After years of caregiving in isolation, the program offered her a space to breathe.  

“It was the knowledge that you could go there, you could have a little bit of relief and have some conversation and some laughs and some support that broke up everything else, which I really appreciated.”  

Dorothy found comfort in the weekly lunch gatherings, where she could simply listen, reflect, and be present among others who understood her journey. Even during the most difficult times—like when her husband was hospitalized—she found solace in the group: 

“I didn’t necessarily need to talk because everybody there knew what I was going through… it was just the comfort of being there and being accepted….not worrying about anything…it was a free hour in my life that gave me a little bit of joy.” 

Through the program, Dorothy formed meaningful friendships, including a close bond with another caregiver whose husband passed away just two months after John. Their shared experience created a deep connection: 

According to Sheena, many participants describe the program as a vital source of support: 

“They feel like they’ve been battling this alone… just to feel connected is really great.” 

United Way BC: Strengthening Communities Through Care 

The success of the Penticton Caregivers Support Program is rooted in a broader network of care and collaboration. At the heart of this network is United Way BC, whose Family & Friends Caregiver Supports program plays a vital role in sustaining and empowering local initiatives like this one. 

By funding and supporting community-based caregiver programs across the province, United Way BC ensures that coordinators—often working in isolation—have access to the resources, training, and peer connections they need to thrive. These supports include comprehensive educational materials, skill-building opportunities, and a sense of community that helps caregivers feel more confident and capable in their roles. 

For Sheena, the sole coordinator in her region, this support is more than just practical—it’s deeply personal: 

“We can feel quite alone in our community… so it’s really nice to come together with other community people that are doing the same thing.” 

Thanks to United Way BC’s commitment to caregiver wellbeing, programs like Penticton’s are not only surviving—they’re growing stronger, together. 

Life After Caregiving – Finding Purpose and Connection 

The end of a caregiving journey often brings a mix of grief, relief, and uncertainty. For Dorothy, the year following her husband’s passing was a blur. 

“Last year was a year that was just… I don’t know, don’t remember much. But this year was my year to start taking care of myself.” 

Dorothy continued to find comfort in the Caregiver Support Group. 

“The group gave me a sense that even though I was grieving, I could still go back, and I could still talk to the people, and I could still listen and enjoy them.” 

As she began to heal, Dorothy transitioned from the Caregiver Support Program to OneSky’s Out and About program, which helps caregivers reconnect with broader social circles.  

Dorothy also began volunteering, helping facilitate caregiver luncheons when Sheena couldn’t attend. She offered a listening ear and a safe space for others to share their stories. 

For Dorothy, these new connections have become a cherished part of her life. She’s built friendships based on mutual understanding and care—relationships that continue to grow and support her. 

Let’s Be United for Seniors 

Dorothy’s journey—from isolated caregiver to empowered community member—is just one example of the transformative impact caregiver support programs can have. Thanks to the generous support of our partners and the BC Ministry of Health, more than 2,100 caregivers in BC were supported through the United Way BC Family & Friend Caregiver Supports program last year.   

Programs like this help older adults stay active, connected, and engaged—ensuring they don’t face the challenges of aging and caregiving alone. With your help, we can expand our reach and provide even more care and connection to seniors across BC. 

Join us in creating a future where every senior has the support they need to thrive. 

Let’s Be United for Seniors. Donate Today.