Who We Are
Caregivers Nova Scotia is a non-profit organization that provides free programs and services, support and advocacy to unpaid family and friend caregivers.
Our staff and board are committed to supporting caregivers and recognizing the role they play in improving quality of life — not just for those they support, but for society as a whole. We provide 1 on 1 support, host support groups, educate caregivers and advocate on their behalf. We participate in government task forces and working groups to help shape public policy for caregivers. By listening to their experiences and sharing their stories, Caregivers Nova Scotia amplifies the collective voice of caregivers — because being heard is the first step toward better support.
May is Caregiver Awareness Month in Canada. During this time, we host special events to celebrate caregivers and raise public awareness about the essential role they play in our communities.
Vision, mission, symbol and values
Vision: unpaid caregivers are recognized, valued and fully supported as essential partners in care.
Mission: Caregivers Nova Scotia is committed to providing support and education for unpaid caregivers, raising public awareness and influencing public policy with respect to caregiving issues.
Symbol: we chose the hummingbird as our symbol, as it performs the impossible, works at lighning speed, survives extremes and often flies solo – just like a caregiver.
Values:
• Empathy and Compassion – we take the time to listen and understand in a caring and supportive manner.
• Dignity and Respect – we value each person’s right to be treated as an individual; we protect confidentiality and use a non-judgmental approach.
• Inclusivity – we work to ensure our programs and services are accessible to diverse populations.
• Collaboration – our team proactively seeks opportunities to engage our stakeholders to identify mutually satisfying solutions and outcomes.
Caregiving language
Supporting caregivers starts with understanding who they are — and using the right language to talk about their role.
That’s why we promote consistent, inclusive caregiving language to government, media, healthcare professionals, and other sectors across Nova Scotia. Over more than 20 years of listening to caregivers and care recipients, we've developed and adopted the following caregiving language.
The terms we use:
Caregiver is a person who gives unpaid care to someone, either at home or in a facility, who has a physical or mental health condition, is chronically ill, frail or elderly. Caregivers may be family members (spouses, children, parents, siblings, extended family) or friends.
Care provider is a person, who provides care and received a salary or wage for their time. Care providers can be Continuing Care Assistants (CCA), Personal Care Workers (PCW) or any licensed healthcare professionals, such as nurses, occupational therapists, physicians, etc.
Care Recipient is a person who receives care from an unpaid caregiver, paid care provider or volunteer, either at home or in a facility.
Care Recipients, Caregivers and Care Providers together are Partners in Care.
The terms we avoid:
Care Partner: Caregivers, Care Recipients and Care Providers have told us that the term ‘Care Partner’ is confusing, and they do not understand what it is supposed to mean. Some Care Providers believe they are the Care Partners.
Carer: 'Carer' is a term used in other countries such as the U.K., Australia and New Zealand. Canadian and American caregivers do not self-identify with this term, and CNS has received negative feedback from caregivers regarding its use.
Informal Caregiver: While family/friend caregivers are not formally trained and do not work in formal environments such as a hospital, there is nothing ‘informal’ about what they do. Caregivers shared that the term ‘informal caregiver’ is insulting, it diminishes and invalidates both their role in their loved one’s life and the nature of the care they give.
Click HERE for a glossary of additional terms that may be found throughout this website, as well as in our Caregiver's Handbook and other publications.