Canadian Affairs – Saskatchewan council looks to ‘ease caregiving journey’

Patty Holynski knew nothing about caring for someone who uses a wheelchair until her husband Larry had a stroke on Valentine’s Day in 2018. The stroke left Larry, a heavy-duty mechanic, unable to walk and use his left hand.

“You’re not offered anything,” she said. Most of the supports Larry has now — such as recreational programs and an accessible RV — are things she had to ask for and find. Very few organizations exist to proactively provide support.

The Saskatoon Council on Aging, a non-profit focused on helping seniors, aims to address this gap.

The council recently received a $99,000, one-year grant from the Toronto-based Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence. The centre, a program of the Azrieli Foundation, advocates for caregivers across Canada.