A pandemic can impact family caregivers in many ways. Family caregivers providing care at home may take on increased caregiving responsibilities due to reduction of availability of services. Family caregivers who assist with caring for their loved ones who are in facilities are restricted from providing the care they normally would because they are not able to visit the facility.

As a result, family caregivers can experience increased levels of stress, anxiety, frustration, and feelings of loneliness. Their physical and mental well-being may also be affected.

The College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta’s self-study module, Caregiver-Centered Care: Partnering with Family Caregivers During a Pandemic, highlights the impacts a pandemic has on Family Caregivers and offers practical solutions for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) to partner with Family Caregivers in navigating the uncertainty caused by a pandemic.

The course includes:

• Understanding the Impact of a Pandemic on Family Caregivers
• Understanding and Empathetic Communication with Family Caregivers
• Navigating the Uncertainty of a Pandemic
• Providing Care Together with Family Caregivers

NOTE: This is a supplementary module to the Caregiver-Centered Care Foundational Learning CLPNA Learning Module.