Mindfulness-Based Support for Seniors and Caregivers 

October 1 is National Seniors Day. 

This is an occasion for all Canadians to join together in celebration of older adults. Here are a few easy ways you can participate: 

• Take the time to say “hi” (visit, call or connect via video-messaging), 

• Run errands for a senior,  

• Help with outdoor chores, and 

• Take a walk together.³ 

On this day, we also reflect on the impact aging has on our lives and the lives of loved ones. As the needs of older adults increase, many family members take on the role of caregiver. For seniors still living in their own homes, caregiving may include; helping with paying bills, driving to medical appointments and completing chores around the home. For seniors living in supportive housing or long-term-care facilities, caregiving may iclude; assisting healthcare providers with care and advocating for their loved one. 

The Dual Impact of Family Caregiving

Did you know that the quality of life of a senior person increases when they receive  caregiving from their family? This is due to the continuity of their social environment, meaning they benefit from being cared for by those they know. Caregiving can also feel rewarding and help to build to build meaningful connections. ⁴ 

Although these benefits are true, it is important to acknowledge the impact that caregiving can have on all family members. Both caregiver and senior person can experience social isolation and loneliness. Also well documented is the the impact caregiving has on a caregiver’s wellbeing. In addition to feeling stressed about increased financial pressures, caregivers also feel tired, worried, and overwhelmed. As many as 2 out of 5 caregivers are distressed and experiencing anger, depression and guilt. ⁴ 

Mindfulness as a Tool for Caregiver and Senior Well-Being 

Studies have shown that mindfulness-based interventions are effective in helping caregivers and seniors cope with these stressors and distressing feelings.^1,2 Mindfulness interventions include strategies like: 

• Focusing on the present,  

• Body scans, 

• Mindful seeing,  

• Mindful movement, 

• Acceptance of thoughts and feelings, and 

• Meditation. 

There are many therapeutic approaches that incorporate mindfulness into counselling sessions: mindfulness-based cognitive therapies (MBCT), acceptance and commitment therapies (ACT) and dialectical-behavioural therapy (DBT)¹ .  

Support Your Wellbeing Through Counselling  

Counselling is a great way to navigate holiday stress, family conflict, or complex feelings about the season. Therapy can help you: 

• Manage anxiety triggered by family interactions 

• Reflect on your values and priorities 

• Develop personalized self-care and gratitude practices 

• Learn strategies for boundary-setting, stress management, and communication (Allan et al., 2013; Yu & Chaudhry, 2024) 

Counsellors can provide a safe space to explore what matters most to you and help you approach the holiday with intention rather than obligation. 

Final Thoughts  

Mindfulness can also be practiced “on the go”. If you’re interested in learning how you can practice mindfulness anywhere, read our recent blog: How to practice mindfulness anywhere (and anytime you need!). 

At OK Clinical, we offer in-person or virtual therapy and have many counsellors with experience helping individuals navigate family stressors and caregiving. Please feel free to explore our website, or contact us directly at [email protected] or 250-718-9291 and our team would be happy to connect with you. For more information, you can also see the following references used for this blog:

• [1] Fernández-Portero, C., Alarcón, D., Gallardo-Flores, A., Amián, J. G., & Sánchez-Medina, J. A. (2021). Effectiveness of a Mindfulness-Based Intervention Program for Women Family Caregivers of Older Adults. Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 9(9), 1216. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9091216  
• [2] Geiger, P. J., Boggero, I. A., Brake, C. A., Caldera, C. A., Combs, H. L., Peters, J. R., & Baer, R. A. (2016). Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Older Adults: A Review of the Effects on Physical and Emotional Well-being. Mindfulness, 7(2), 296–307. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-015-0444-1  
• [3] Government of Canada. (2025, September). National Seniors Days is October 1. https://canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/campaigns/national-seniors-day.html  
• [4] National Seniors Council. (2025, September). Dialogue – Caregivers of older adults. Government of Canada. https://canada.ca/content/dam/esdc-edsc/documents/national-seniors-council/programs/publications-reports/dialogue-caregivers/dialogue-brief-caregivers-older-adults-en.pdf  

Written by: Danielle Grenier

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