Elderly hand being held by a younger hand

When caregivers need support

We're at your side and on your side

Alongside Caregiver Consulting in the Comox Valley provides professional, emotional and practical support to family members looking after a loved one with dementia. We truly want you to feel like you are not alone and that you have someone at your side and on your side through your caregiving journey. 

Alison van Schie, registered social worker and certified caregiver consultant
Alison van Schie, BSW
Caregiver Consultant

Welcome. You may have found your way here because your loved one has just received a diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer’s and you are now a caregiver and you are scrambling to figure out what this means.  Or, perhaps you’re entrenched in your caregiving role, seeking a fresh perspective and assistance. Either way, you most likely did not ask, want or expect to be a caregiver. Being thrust into this realm comes with many unknowns, which can be confusing, overwhelming, difficult and stressful and may leave you feeling isolated and alone.

That’s where Alongside Caregiver Consulting can assist you. We can help caregivers who find themselves looking after a loved one who has dementia or Alzheimer’s, to navigate those unknowns by providing professional, emotional and practical support. The length of a caregiving journey is one of the unknowns and as your caregiver role intensifies having Alongside Caregiver Consulting in the Comox Valley to come alongside to help empower you can help lead to peace of mind and clarity – enhancing the journey for both you as the caregiver and your loved one as the care recipient. Our goal is to help you to feel like you are not alone, that you have someone at your side and on your side through your caregiving journey.

Providing Someone on Your Side

To help caregivers ask the right questions
To help caregivers move forward
To help with stress management
To help with spiritual needs

25+ Years Experience

To help identify appropriate resources
To provide clarity and a fresh perspective
To navigate the health care system
To help with family dynamics

Dementia Support wreath graphic

Understanding the Aging Mind

Alzheimer Society BC former volunteer
To stay current with dementia strategies
To help you face and make decisions
To help sort through the unknowns

“Alison van Schie has a gift for listening. For holding your hand and helping you through the maze that is extended care for your loved one. For affirming your choices and bolstering your courage. She makes you feel supported. She cares. I am grateful that she was there when I needed her. As the social worker at my mother’s nursing home, she helped Mom and me through the adjustment to complex care and communal living and she encouraged me so I could support my mom.
I am so glad she was part of our journey.”
Geraldine S.Caregiver
"I met Alison while my husband was in a nursing home in Surrey. John was in the late stages of dementia and I visited him on a daily basis. He was often sleepy and the days were long so I soon began to look forward to those days when Alison was able to sit with me and bring some sunshine into my life with her caring warmth and compassion. I believe that Alison’s innate sense of joy and peace will be beneficial to any caregivers who choose to work with her."
Margaret B.Caregiver
“How can we help?” and “How are you doing?” are the words I most often hear in our Dementia Support Group. Those words are spoken by Alison at every support meeting. Alison has a vast knowledge of the Healthcare system and other agencies, which she encourages us to check out and make use of the help that is out there. Alison facilitates our meetings with her kind and compassionate guidance. She lets our group do most of the talking and she listens and provides guidance when needed. She also brings a little fun with her with little games or exercises to just have a laugh and lighten the mood. I look forward to our monthly support meetings for Dementia Caregivers as we proceed through this journey together.
Dianne LCaregiver

What You Can Do?

Although I am no longer accepting clients, the resources on this website remain available for you to explore. I invite you to browse the caregiving resources, read the blog posts, watch the videos, and listen to the complete archives of both the Island Treasures Podcast and the Self-Caregiving Strategies Podcast.

Together, these resources reflect years of learning, storytelling, and supporting caregivers. Whether you are looking for practical information, encouragement, or new perspectives, I hope you will find something here that is helpful to you on your caregiving journey.