Welcome, Melissa Wade – Caregiver Support Program Coordinator

MelissaWadeHeadshot

This fall, the Caregiver Support Program welcomed a new coordinator: Melissa Wade. Melissa has worked in the field of disability since 1999, with experience ranging from formal and informal caregiving, to community outreach, and developing and facilitating programs for people with acquired brain injuries and disabilities, and as a support group and wellness facilitator.

Melissa was drawn to the NSCR Caregiver Support Program from her experience working with people with disabilities, and her time spent collaborating with families and caregivers. She noticed there was a gap in support for informal caregivers and she spent years of seeing that, and wondering where all the services were. During her undergrad in psychology at Thompson Rivers University, she became fascinated with how resilient caregivers are, and decided to research to learn about the factors that contribute to caregiver resilience.

So – how can we cultivate resiliency? That’s what Melissa wants to explore with caregivers in the community. She is here to support them in doing so. She can’t help notice how some people thrive despite such great diversity.

Why NSCR? Melissa was thinking about developing her own program to fill the gap in caregiver support she couldn’t help but notice. She came across caregiver program, was stunned at the position, and scooped it up.

In her free time, Melissa plays guitar and piano, paints, goes on hikes with her dog, does yoga, and carries on her family’s tradition of knitting slippers. She is trained in restorative and pain care yoga.

Seniors Program