Caregiver Connection
Submitted by: Kathy Jensen RN, PBMH
Information and Support for
Home-based Volunteer Caregivers

Taking responsibility for someone’s happiness and care can be a heavy task. We often assume these roles when someone we love, our parent, child or spouse, is in a stage of life when they need help. Our heart goes out to them in their suffering. A process begins which involves helping them carry their load for a time and shifting our own responsibilities and daily life to make time for someone else’s.

As the process continues, it is most important to shift the focus back to yourself. When the person has other supports in place they can regain their own role and identity separate from yours. Having homecare or a move to a facility are only two ways that can assist them to be independent in their own way. The added support frees the caregiver to release the weight of concerns and responsibility and share it with others. By going through the process of a change in environment, the family needs are met in new ways that improve the health and happiness for all.

Vet Views
Submitted by: Dr. Todd Griffiths
Foothills Veterinary Clinic

A predictably unpredictable challenge; that is how I have heard the cattle industry described. Anyone who has been involved with the beef industry will agree that trends occur and markets change over time. Sometimes they stay steady and weak, or steady and strong, or some seemingly small thing throws the entire industry into a rapid downward spiral (remember BSE a few years back). Throw into the mix the easily predicted southern Alberta weather, disease outbreaks, feed and fuel prices and suddenly the cattlemen’s world is looking more and more chaotic.

Fortunately, there are many aspects that are predictable. The rancher can predict that spring will come, calves will be born, grow, wean and at some point be sold. We also know that consumers and consumer perceptions drive the market. Sometimes we are pleased with consumer trends and sometimes consumer/society trends seem to increase our challenges as producers. Over the past several years the discussion by consumers and society around the use of antibiotics in food animals has steadily increased in volume.