Eldercare Foundation

Intensive Journaling Introduction
2026-02-21 13:00 - 16:00, 2026-01-06 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Toronto) | Yakimovich Wellness Centre, 1454 Hillside Ave, Victoria, BC, V8T 2B7, Canada
An introduction to the Intensive Journal™ Method, facilitated by Bill Israel, the only Certified Intensive Journal™ facilitator in BC. There will be a series of brief writing prompts for private journal entries and opportunities for voluntary “out loud” readings. All writing materials provided and no special writing skills required.
This workshop is offered in a small, meditative group environment therefore only a limited number of spots are available.
Click here to register.

POSTPONED: Caring Together Through Cancer: Supporting Older Adults and Their Caregivers
2026-02-18 13:00 - 14:00 | Yakimovich Wellness Centre, 1454 Hillside Ave, Victoria, BC, V8T 2B7, Canada
This event has been postponed. A new date will be confirmed shortly.
Living with cancer in later life often means navigating care together. This presentation explores how older adults with cancer and their caregivers can work as partners to manage daily challenges, communicate with healthcare teams, and maintain independence and wellbeing. This presentation will focus on practical strategies that support both patients and those who care for them.
What You’ll Learn:

How caregiving relationships shape cancer care and daily life for older adults
Practical ways to improve communication, coordination, and shared decision-making
Strategies to support safety, emotional wellbeing, and quality of life for both caregivers and older adults

About the speaker: Dr. Kristen Haase, RN, PhD is an Associate Professor at the School of Nursing at UBC and an Affiliated Scientist at the BC Cancer Research Institute. Her research program centres on supporting older adults as they manage cancer, chronic disease, and wellbeing, in domains of symptom science, self-management, and technology-enabled interventions.
This special presentation includes a Q & A and light refreshments will be served.

An Overview on MAiD: Understanding the Basics
2026-02-13 13:00 - 14:30 | Yakimovich Wellness Centre, 1454 Hillside Ave, Victoria, BC, V8T 2B7, Canada
Join this educational workshop led by expert clinical staff from Island Health’s Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) Program who will provide an overview on this end-of-life care option. They will discuss how to navigate the MAiD process, understand the eligibility requirements, and share access to useful resources such as forms and support materials.
Click here to register.

Introduction to Advance Care Planning: Part 2
2026-02-11 13:30 - 15:00 | Yakimovich Wellness Centre, 1454 Hillside Ave, Victoria, BC, V8T 2B7, Canada
We plan for birthdays and special events. Why don’t we plan for our health care?
Advance Care Planning (ACP) is the process of thinking about what matters most to you in your life and what that means for your health and personal care, especially at a time when you might not be able to speak for yourself.
ACP helps you share your wishes and preferences with the people who are important to you. When those around you know your wishes and preferences, they can help make sure you get the care you want. Advance Care Planning is for everyone in Canada, from young to old, of all abilities. It is for people in good health and those who have health needs.
Everyone is welcome to register for this two-part series. It is important to attend both parts1 and 2.
Click register for Part 2

Introduction to Advance Care Planning: Part 1
2026-02-04 13:30 - 15:00 | Yakimovich Wellness Centre, 1454 Hillside Ave, Victoria, BC, V8T 2B7, Canada
We plan for birthdays and special events. Why don’t we plan for our health care?
Advance Care Planning (ACP) is the process of thinking about what matters most to you in your life and what that means for your health and personal care, especially at a time when you might not be able to speak for yourself.
ACP helps you share your wishes and preferences with the people who are important to you. When those around you know your wishes and preferences, they can help make sure you get the care you want. Advance Care Planning is for everyone in Canada, from young to old, of all abilities. It is for people in good health and those who have health needs.
Everyone is welcome to register for this two-part series. Part 2 is on Wednesday, February 11 from 1:30 – 3:00 pm. It is important to attend both parts 1 and 2.
Click here to register for Part 1
Click here to register for Part 2

Improving Care for Vancouver Island Seniors
2026-01-30 10:00 - 11:00 | Yakimovich Wellness Centre, 1454 Hillside Ave, Victoria, BC, V8T 2B7, Canada
Dr. Amy Salmon reveals insights based on her current research to improve care for Island seniors in this online-only presentation.
Dr. Salmon is the inaugural Distinguished Scholar in Seniors Care, supported in part by Eldercare Foundation. Her five-year research project focuses primarily on rural and remote communities and is embedded at The Views, Canada’s first public long-term care village based on the concept of a dementia village.
Click here to register. The Zoom link will be sent to registrants prior to event.

Death Café
2026-01-27 13:30 - 15:00 | Yakimovich Wellness Centre, 1454 Hillside Ave, Victoria, BC, V8T 2B7, Canada
Death Cafés are unstructured gatherings in the sense that people attending are open to discuss all topics related to death and dying. This may include funerals, burials, memorials, advanced care planning, palliative care, hospice, grief, death of a loved one, a health diagnosis, pet loss, fear of death, exploring the mystery of death, life insurance, life after death, thoughts on death, death preparedness, spiritual understandings surrounding death, etc.
The session will be led by Karen Mittet, a Narrative Therapist since 2019 who has a Masters in Narrative Therapy and Community Work from The University of Melbourne. Her journey with grief began at the age of 23 with the death of her mother. Over the years, Karen became an elementary school teacher, a hospice volunteer, a family grief facilitator, a homeless shelter volunteer, a caregiver for her father, and a narrative therapy counsellor. Karen has a passion for supporting the bereaved in her private practice and through grief support groups and Death Cafés in the community.
Click here to register.

Government Benefits for Older Adults, presented by Seniors First BC
2026-01-21 13:00 - 15:00 | Yakimovich Wellness Centre, 1454 Hillside Ave, Victoria, BC, V8T 2B7, Canada
Presented by Seniors First BC, a non-profit charitable organization that provides information, legal advocacy and support to older adults across BC.
Guest speaker, Nighat Afsar, a Senior Legal Advocate at Seniors First BC, will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience with government benefits for older adults in BC. She will provide an informative overview of federal and provincial government benefits for seniors, including Old Age Security (OAS), Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Caregiver Tax Credit, Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters (SAFER), Rebate for Accessible Home Adaptations (RAHA).
Nighat has a law degree and practiced law for 15 years in Pakistan. As a Britannia Chevening Scholar, she completed her master’s degree in international law from the University of Hull, UK and a Fulbright Scholarship to study in the United States.
Please note that this presentation is intended to give general information and should not be used as legal advice.
Click here to register.

Beyond the Surface: Understanding Skin Health & Wellness
2025-12-10 10:00 - 12:00 | Yakimovich Wellness Centre, 1454 Hillside Ave, Victoria, BC, V8T 2B7, Canada
This informative session will be led by Lesley Leedam, a Licensed Practical Nurse, certified Skin Wellness Associate Nurse (SWAN) and Advanced Foot Care Nurse. With over her three decades in health care, Lesley has consistently recognized a significant gap in accessible, prevention-focused education for seniors and caregivers within our communities.
She is passionate about empowering older adults and caregivers with knowledge that supports long-term skin, foot, and nail health. Her goal is to prevent and minimize injuries and complications through accessible, prevention-focused education. She is excited to deliver a senior-focused education series that is engaging, evidence-based, and designed to support healthier aging in the community.
Click here to register.

Intensive Journal Writing Method for Caregivers
2025-12-03 09:00 - 12:00 | Yakimovich Wellness Centre, 1454 Hillside Ave, Victoria, BC, V8T 2B7, Canada
An introduction to the Intensive Journal™ Method, facilitated by Bill Israel, the only Certified Intensive Journal™ facilitator in BC. There will be a series of brief writing prompts for private journal entries and opportunities for voluntary “out loud” readings. All writing materials provided and no special writing skills required.
This workshop is offered in a small, meditative group environment therefore only a limited number of spots are available. If you miss this chance, the same workshop will be offered again on February 6 from 9:00 – 12:00 pm.
Click here to register.

Advantages and Challenges of Aging in Place
2025-12-02 09:30 - 11:00 | Yakimovich Wellness Centre, 1454 Hillside Ave, Victoria, BC, V8T 2B7, Canada
Most older Canadians would prefer to stay in their homes as they age, but only one in four feel confident they will be able to do so. Aging in place has advantages and presents challenges. To help you create the preferred lifestyle you envision, this workshop, led by Debra Swain, a volunteer at the Seniors’ Health and Wellness Institute, offers nine checklists of critical aspects to consider as you plan today, for the future you want to live tomorrow.
Click here to register.

Fraud Prevention and Cyber Safety Training
2025-11-28 13:00 - 15:00 | Yakimovich Wellness Centre, 1454 Hillside Ave, Victoria, BC, V8T 2B7, Canada
Did you know that fraud is the number one crime inflicted on Canadian seniors each year? Tens of thousands fall victim to fake phone calls, phishing emails, and door-to-door swindles each year. Don’t miss this empowering session facilitated by Saanich Police Constable Berle Zwaan who will teach you about the latest types of scams and fraud and how to protect yourself.
Click here to register.

Improving Care for Vancouver Island Seniors
2025-11-21 10:00 - 12:00 | Yakimovich Wellness Centre, 1454 Hillside Ave, Victoria, BC, V8T 2B7, Canada
Dr. Amy Salmon reveals insights based on her current research to improve care for Island seniors. Dr. Salmon is the inaugural Distinguished Scholar in Seniors Care, supported in part by Eldercare Foundation. Her five-year research project focuses primarily on rural and remote communities and is embedded at The Views, Canada’s first public long-term care village based on the concept of a dementia village.
This session is offered online and in-person.
Click here to register

Advance Care Planning
2025-11-17 10:00 - 12:00 | Yakimovich Wellness Centre, 1454 Hillside Ave, Victoria, BC, V8T 2B7, Canada
Imagine you had a fall, stroke, or other medical emergency that resulted in you being in a coma. Imagine that you had a condition that changed your ability to make decisions or communicate your care needs. Would your loved ones know what help or care you would want – or not want? Would they know how to speak on your behalf? These are just two of many scenarios which highlight the importance of Advance Care Planning.
Join this 2-hour session to empower yourself by planning for serious injury, illness, and end-of-life.
Click here to register

Chronic Pain Self-Management Program
2025-09-18 13:30 - 16:00 | BC
The Chronic Pain Self-Management Program is a free six-session workshop run by Self-Management BC. It’s designed to help people living with chronic pain and their caregivers to better manage symptoms and activities of daily life. You can register to join this workshop until the second session. Sessions run on Thursdays from 1:30 – 4 between September 18 – October 23.
