Kawartha Lakes OHT Newsletter

Volume 5 | September 2022

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Welcome to our Autumn newsletter for the Kawartha Lakes Ontario Health Team. In this edition we announce the launch of our reimagined Wellness Connections Program, hear from the Kawartha North Family Health Team as part of our Member Spotlight series, and much more. 


Read on to learn more about some of our key initiatives that support our mission of connecting local care in Kawartha Lakes!

Our Wellness Connections Program is Live!

We are pleased to announce the launch of our reimagined Wellness Connections program, which is designed for people aged 65+ to learn about health changes and choices to age well and to connect to local service providers offering supportive programs. The program can be accessed virtually through the KL-OHT website or with in-person support.


Clients of the Wellness Connections Program are also given access to our online learning platform. Here you can learn about topics that can help prevent frailty and promote aging well. You can find out about local programs and supports, and also develop a wellness plan to make healthy changes and choices.


If you are interested in joining the program, but don’t have the correct technology, we have a limited supply of iPads and Wi-Fi connections available through our lending program. Technology coaching is available as well.


If you would like to refer yourself or someone else with their consent for the program, you can complete the referral form on the KL-OHT website, email info@kawarthalakesoht.ca or call 705-934-1439.

Learn more

Support the Community Care Foundation Community Health Centre Build Raffle!

The Community Care Foundation's Raffle is in full swing and they need your support! For just $10.00 a ticket, you have a chance at winning one of three cash prizes, including a Jackpot Prize of $5,000. Not only are you entered for a chance to win a cash prize, but you are also supporting the new Community Health Centre and are helping CCCKL to continue to provide health and wellness services to our shared community for years to come! 


Ticket sales end Thursday, October 6, 2022. Tickets can be purchased at https://raffle.ccckl.ca or you can purchased your tickets via phone at 705-324-7323.

Buy Your RaffleTickets

Member Spotlight

Our Member Spotlight series introduces the member organizations that have partnered with the Kawartha Lakes Ontario Health team to improve the local healthcare system for our community. This month we hear from Kawartha North Family Health Team Executive Director Marina Hodson about how their priorities align with the KL-OHT vision of providing a seamless health system for the people we serve.

Kawartha North Family Health Team was first envisioned in 2006 by a concerned group of community members to increase access to Primary Care in Fenelon Falls and area. Originally operating as Fenelon Family Health Team (FHT), we expanded to include Bobcaygeon and other parts of the Northern City of Kawartha Lakes as well as Trent Lakes and Haliburton County and changed our name to Kawartha North FHT to reflect this expansion.

Since our inception we have moved from a total staff of five - consisting of two Nurse Practitioners, one Registered Nurse, one receptionist and an Executive Director to two locations and more than 20 employees. This new compliment includes one part-time and three full-time physicians and a third Nurse Practitioner. 





"Kawartha North has always strived to work collaboratively with our community partners to address patient needs and highlight gaps in the local healthcare environment whilst working to help our patients navigate the health system."

In line with the Kawartha Lakes OHT, Kawartha North has always strived to work collaboratively with our community partners to address patient needs and highlight gaps in the local healthcare environment whilst working to help our patients navigate the health system. To this end, Kawartha North has brought services such as bloodwork and local walk-in clinics to the communities despite a lack of funding, partnered with the Coboconk Norland and Area Chamber of Commerce in the Summit Wellness Centre development and encouraged providers to bring their services to outlying communities to save patients traveling to Lindsay.

A New Healthcare Navigation Platform is Coming Soon

In the Public Consultation we ran earlier in 2022, we heard from many of you that navigating our healthcare system can be challenging. In our public survey and focus groups, people expressed their need for help navigating the healthcare system and accessing information to help them better manage their health. Only 38% of people said it is easy to get information to support their healthcare journey.


As a result of this feedback, we are pleased to announce that we have teamed up with Caredove to introduce a new online health service navigation platform through our KL-OHT website. Caredove offers a number of digital tools that can help our community easily connect with the care they need, including eReferrals and an online service search platform. The platform will also facilitate referrals between community based health and social service organizations.


Over the next few months, we will be making changes to our website and integrating this new navigation platform so that it will be easier to find available healthcare programs and services in our community. Be sure you’re following our social media pages and are signed up for our newsletter so you don’t miss any updates of when this service goes live!

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 

September 30th marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The Kawartha Lakes Ontario Health Team recognizes this day and remembers the Indigenous children that tragically lost their lives at residential schools and acknowledges the ongoing effects still experienced today by families, communities and survivors of Canada’s residential school system. The journey of Truth and Reconciliation reinforces the imperative that the health system of the future be grounded in equity, inclusion, respect and compassion.


This day is an opportunity for education and to explore the experiences and culture of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples, listen to their stories and reflect on the effects still felt today from these residential schools. Today also coincides with Orange Shirt Day, when all Canadians are encouraged to wear orange to raise awareness of the tragic legacy of Canada’s residential school system.


Within the surrounding Kawartha Lakes area, there are a number of events being held to mark the day. You can find a list of local events here.


You can also find additional educational resources at the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, or learn how the Government of Canada is working to advance reconciliation and renew the relationship with Indigenous peoples, based on recognition of rights, respect, cooperation and partnership.

A Note From Our Executive Director


As the Fall weather sets in and the abundance of harvest time is upon us, I send best wishes to the community of Kawartha Lakes and surrounding areas. 


Our KL-OHT team has been hard at work over the past three months working with clients to redesign our Wellness Connections program. One of the early learnings of this program relaunch has been the importance of social interaction to the older adults in our community. Loneliness and social isolation have been linked to significant health risks across all age groups; depression, cognitive challenges, chronic disease and hearing loss to name a few. Throughout our ongoing conversations with the community and our KL-OHT Patient and Family Advisory Committee, we hear many stories about how caring Kawartha Lakes is as a community – and what a difference this compassion makes to lives of our friends and neighbors. 


Many organizations in our community work hard to provide programs to increase the feeling of connection and belonging that is so important to our well-being; Community Care City of Kawartha Lakes is one such organization. 



"Throughout our ongoing conversations with the community and our KL-OHT Patient and Family Advisory Committee, we hear many stories about how caring Kawartha Lakes is as a community."

The CCCKL Friendly Visiting program is seeking additional volunteers to provide confidential, one-to-one companionship and support to older adults who are ill, lonely or isolated. Friendly visiting is offered at no cost and visits can be done in-person or virtually (technical support can be provided through our Wellness Connections program). Make a difference in the life of someone in your community. Call CCCKL at 705-324-7323 or complete the Volunteer Registration form if you are interested in volunteering with the Friendly Visiting program.


All the best to you and your families.


Stephanie MacLaren

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