Honouring the caregivers who care for those who once cared for us
Celebrating her mother
Can you tell us a little about your mom and what makes her who she is?
My mom, Linda Clayton, was born in Calgary in 1954 and worked as a registered nurse for more than 40 years. She trained at Holy Cross and spent decades caring for patients across Calgary hospitals.
She’s always been someone who cared deeply for others, whether through nursing, her church community or simply helping people in everyday life. She loves dogs, music, hockey, the British Royal Family and, most of all, her family and grandchildren.
Navigating difficult realities
What has this journey been like for you and your family?
My mom has complex and rare diagnoses of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) and Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD). As her condition progressed, we realized she needed 24/7 care that we could no longer safely provide at home.
I have moved from being cared for, to being her caregiver and advocate.
It has been heartbreaking to watch her decline and challenging to navigate the many decisions, transitions and supports required to ensure she receives the best possible care.
What were some of your biggest concerns when she moved into care?
I worried about whether her unique care plan would be consistently followed and whether staff would be able to support someone with such a rare condition.
Like many facilities across Alberta, seniors’ care environments are navigating staffing shortages and increasing demands. Communication and consistency can sometimes be challenging, especially for residents with complex neurological conditions.
But there are also many compassionate people working in seniors’ care, and those moments matter deeply to families.
“Seniors built our communities.”
Why do you think it’s important for communities to support seniors’ care?
Seniors have carried our families, workplaces and communities on their backs for their entire lives. They deserve dignity and high-quality care.
Investing in seniors’ care shows respect for all they have given and helps ensure their later years are filled with warmth, comfort and community.
What would you like to say to the people who support places like this through their donations?
Your support helps provide care for people like my mom and peace of mind for families like ours.
My mother spent more than 40 years caring for others as a nurse. She worked shift work, cared for thousands of patients and was always the first to help someone in need.
Today, she relies on others to care for her.
Eventually, many of us will have a loved one who faces a complex diagnosis or needs more care than can reasonably be provided at home. Supporting seniors' care is an investment in our communities and our future.
We are grateful that places like this exist to support seniors and their families, and we hope even more people can benefit from them in the years to come.
Laurel's story is a reminder that seniors' care extends far beyond just medical needs.
Families want to know their loved ones are comfortable, engaged and treated with dignity. Care teams want the tools, training and resources to provide the best possible care.
This is where donor support makes a difference.
Across Covenant communities, gifts to Covenant Foundation help fund programs, equipment and spaces that enhance quality of life for residents and support the caregivers who walk alongside them every day.
From specialized recreation and therapeutic programs to technology, equipment and welcoming spaces that foster connection, donor support helps create moments of comfort, joy and dignity that matter deeply to residents and families alike.
Every June for Seniors' Month, Covenant Foundation celebrates the seniors like Linda who helped shape our lives, and the caregivers like Laurel who continue to walk beside them.
Every senior deserves comfort, connection, joy and dignity.
And every caregiver deserves the support to help provide it.
This Seniors’ Month, Covenant Foundation celebrates Laurel and all the loved ones, healthcare workers and compassionate caregivers who help seniors experience dignity, comfort and connection every day.
Your support helps caregivers provide extraordinary care for seniors across Covenant communities. Will you make a Seniors’ Month gift today?