World Eating Disorder Action Day - June 2, 2022
Who is looking out for Caregivers?
Every year Silver Linings Foundation joins in this day of action and this year's theme is especially poignant. Caring for Carers focuses on the need to support those caring for someone with an eating disorder. As you may know eating disorders can have a ripple effect of devastation, impacting those around the person suffering. Caregiving is a full time job, but when you add the complexities of an eating disorder it can be completely overwhelming. Everyone wants to care for their loved ones through the highs and lows but it can feel defeating when the lows don’t let up.
The unfortunate truth is that on top of the emotional toll of caring for someone with an eating disorder, there can be a great deal of logistical hardships. Many parents and caregivers experience significant hurdles just finding appropriate treatment which can lead to diminished productivity, reduced income and psychosocial repercussions on family life and interpersonal relationships.
The high price of caregiving
Alberta currently does not have sufficient treatment options for long-term eating disorder recovery. Without a live-in treatment centre many families are forced to look for help of province, where treatment can cost approximately $1,000 USD per day, with an average stay of 90 days. This is prohibitive for most families and without adequate care, there is a significantly greater risk of mortality and at the very least years of continued struggle and diminished quality of life.
Whether you go the route of paying steep treatment costs, or battling the illness for years without adequate care, the true cost is simply too high. Especially when we know that this illness is treatable.
There is hope.
We know that with proper long-term care, eating disorder recovery is possible. Silver Linings has been advocating for an enhanced continuum of care model in Alberta and that includes the building of a live-in treatment centre. Our team of passionate parents, medical and mental health professionals and community partners are working to establish a treatment centre that will benefit the community for years to come and we need your help.