You are
All caregivers
Are you a All Caregiver?
All Caregivers (AC) refers to a person, parent, or sibling who accompanies or cares for a loved one aged 0 to 64 who is living with them.
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Une déficience intellectuelle;
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Une déficience physique;
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Un trouble du spectre de l’autisme (TSA).
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This role can include various forms of support, such as assisting with daily activities, accompanying people to medical appointments, managing specialized services, arranging for services or providing emotional support.
Being a close caregiver means playing an essential role in a loved one's life while facing unique challenges. Our commitment to close caregivers is to offer you support, tailored tools, and a space to share your experiences with others living similar realities.
Recognizing your role
Beyond their unconditional love for their child, many parents also take on the role of caregiver, without always naming it as such.
When a child is living with a disability, whether temporary or permanent, parental responsibilities expand: medical support, learning support, coordination of services, advocacy... These tasks, often invisible, are at the heart of daily life for thousands of families in Quebec.
«Parents supporting a child or children living with a temporary or permanent disability are among the 1,500,000 caregivers in Quebec. They are parents and caregivers.»
Recognizing the role of caregiver does not mean diminishing the role of parent. It's about naming a reality so that we can be better informed, supported and surrounded.
You're a parent... and a caregiver. And you too are entitled to support.
Excerpt from the page «Being a Close Caregiver Parent» – Link here
Accepting the diagnosis
Learning that a loved one has been diagnosed is never easy. It takes time to understand and adapt to the situation.
We're here to help you through this stage and provide the support you need.
Being a parent and a caregiver
Families of people with intellectual or physical disabilities or autism spectrum disorders are similar to all other families in many ways.
However, the family of a person with a disability is different in terms of the greater intensity, variety and longevity of the effort required to care for the person.
Indeed, in addition to having to “work harder” (intensity) than a typical family (e.g., more daily care for feeding, hygiene, mobility, etc.), families of a person with a disability must also act on a greater number of dimensions such as rehabilitation or stimulation (variety). Also, several of these families provide support to their child throughout their life (longevity), since the child does not achieve the autonomy usually attained in adulthood.
Excerpt from the survey on services received and needs of parents of a person with intellectual disabilities and creation of a support program by Isabelle Picard, January 2012. – Link here
Support
We offer personalized support tailored to your specific needs, to accompany you throughout your caregiving journey.
Our one-to-one sessions offer you a confidential listening space where you can share your concerns, ask questions and receive practical, caring advice.
Our interactive workshops will provide you with concrete tools to better manage your role while preserving your well-being, and our expert-led conferences will enable you to deepen your knowledge on essential subjects.
Each session is designed to help you better understand, manage and live your caregiving role, while looking after your physical, psychological and emotional health.
Sessions are offered in the format that suits you best (face-to-face at our offices or elsewhere, Zoom, telephone, individual, couple or family).
Individual support
For all caregivers
Because each caregiver's reality is unique, we offer personalized support, tailored to your needs and at your pace. Support that adapts to you.
Our meetings can take place by phone, Zoom, or in person. You choose the option that suits you best.
We are here to offer you:
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- Une écoute attentive et bienveillante;
- Un accompagnement dans vos démarches;
- Des informations et références vers les ressources adaptées à votre situation;
- Moral support during more difficult times.
Whether it's to talk, look for solutions or simply be heard, you are not alone.
Cozy Coffee
A space for exchange and support
Each month, we offer a coffee and conversation session focused on a different theme. These gatherings provide a special opportunity to:
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- Partager votre vécu;
- Trouver écoute et réconfort;
- Découvrir des ressources et pistes de réflexion;
- Take some time for yourself in a supportive environment.
Terms and conditions
Frequency: once a month
Format: In person or via Zoom
Schedule: daytime or evening (depending on the group)
Whether over coffee or behind your screen, you are welcome for a warm and rejuvenating moment.
Caregivers' suppers
A friendly moment to take a breather
These dinners are an opportunity to:
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- Rencontrer d’autres proches aidants dans une ambiance chaleureuse;
- Partager vos expériences autour d’un bon repas;
- Créer des liens dans un contexte simple et amical;
- Prendre un temps pour vous, sans jugement.
Terms and conditionsFrequency: once a month
Location: in our premises or in a restaurant
Meals: at your own expense
These meetings are primarily intended to be a space for support and renewal, in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.
Conference workshop
The guilt
You often blame yourself… but why?
Guilt is a feeling that many caregivers carry in silence. Why not take a moment to talk about it together?
Through discussion and guided reflection, this workshop invites you to..:
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- Mieux comprendre l’origine de la culpabilité;
- Reconnaître ses impacts dans votre quotidien;
- Explore ways to take a gentler and kinder view of yourself.
Terms and conditionsFormat: Two Zoom meetings or in-person meetings
Part 1: How do I feel? Understanding and naming it
Part 2: What do I do with it? How do I soothe it?
Other workshops and conferences available:
Plusieurs ateliers-conférences sont présentés, abordant des sujets d’actualité pour les proches aidants TPA. Surveillez notre calendrier!
Workshop series:
Caregiving Before Exhaustion
Being a caregiver can quickly lead to physical, emotional and psychological exhaustion if personal needs are not taken into account. It's essential to recognize the signs of exhaustion before they become too much to handle.
We help you identify strategies to manage stress, maintain a balance between your caregiving responsibilities and your personal needs, and enjoy moments of respite to recharge your batteries. Our aim is to give you the tools you need to prevent burnout and preserve your well-being, while continuing to provide quality support to your loved one.
On the agenda:
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- Retrouver votre énergie et votre motivation;
- Gérer la culpabilité et les responsabilités;
- Reconnaître vos besoins et faire valoir vos droits;
- Faire des choix éclairés, en toute confiance;
- Protéger votre santé physique et émotionnelle;
- Composer avec les changements dans votre quotidien;
- Trouver du soutien auprès de la famille et des ressources disponibles;
- Comprendre les enjeux d’un contrat d’aidance ou d’engagement.
Outils pour les proches aidants (TPA)
Guide for caregivers of a person living with an intellectual or physical disability or an autism spectrum disorder 
TPA Magazine
With Noah (6 years old with Down's Syndrome), we had to consult a whole range of professionals [...]. At each visit, we had to listen and try to bring this expertise home. The specialists gave us homework, which was very important, because it's at home that the child progresses. This meant building up our toolbox at the same time as learning to be parents. Perhaps it was in this sense that we became caregivers. During the week, however, we try to keep a structured learning environment for him, to continue a little of what's going on at school, putting on our parent/caregiver and teacher hats. I think the term “parent caregiver” is a good illustration of our roles as parents of a different child.»
- Extract from the survey on services received and needs of parents of a person with an intellectual disability and creation of a support program by
Isabelle Picard
January 2012.
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