Volume 16 | JANUARY 2021
Your feedback is important to us
At the Ontario Caregiver Organization, we are committed to continuously improving our programming to meet the ever-evolving needs of caregivers, like you.

Any caregiver can complete the survey. Whether you’ve attended a group or not, you can provide feedback on the kind of support you would like to see offered by the OCO. Please help us support caregivers by taking a moment to complete our Support Group Feedback Survey before January 19, 2021.This survey is anonymous and will take approximately 10 minutes to complete.

Thank you for taking the time to help us support caregivers like you.
Registration now open for SCALE Program
Once again, our SCALE program returns by popular demand. The SCALE Program (Supporting Caregiver Awareness, Learning and Empowerment) aims to empower you with practical information and skills to enhance self-awareness with a focus on your own needs and well-being. The SCALE program begins again in February 2021, and is offered in English and French.

We understand that caregivers’ time is valuable. The SCALE program can be followed sequentially, or as individual webinars, and includes the option of group or individual counseling. All webinars are recorded so that caregivers can follow along at a pace that is comfortable and suits their schedule.

In these weekly webinars, we cover topics that support caregivers by talking about themes such as the caregiver journey, the impacts of caregiving stress, mindfulness, self-compassion, and taking time for self-care.
New Site for Young Caregivers launching January 29th
Are You A Young Caregiver?
We're Here for You

Young caregivers face unique challenges in terms of combining their time as caregivers with school responsibilities. With 17% of caregivers being between the ages of 15 and 25, providing an average of 14-27 hours of care per week, over 500,000 young caregivers struggle to juggle school, extracurriculars and planning their future while providing care.

In addition to our online support groups for young caregivers, the OCO is now launching a website dedicated to young caregivers. If you’re a young caregiver, you don’t have to face this alone.

The Young Caregivers Connect site will feature a discussion forum, a video library of young caregiver stories with tips and information from other young caregivers, access to OCO’s caregiver helpline and live chat, as well as information related to a variety of health conditions.
Mental Health and Kindness For Caregivers
Mental health is a significant concern for caregivers in the pandemic, with 47% of caregivers addressing the COVID-related stress and anxiety of their care recipient, and 43% of caregivers saying they themselves feel lonely and isolated. Since the onset of the pandemic, more than 77% of caregivers in need of mental health supports are having difficulty accessing the services they need for their care recipient.

On Thursday January 28th this year, Bell Let’s Talk Day reminds us of the importance of reaching out and breaking the stigma around mental health issues.

While family members and friends often ask how the care recipient is doing, they don’t always think to ask how the caregiver is doing. Caregivers have told us this simple gesture of kindness can make the difference in their day.
If you know a caregiver, consider reaching out to them, and having a conversation to check in with them. If you’re a caregiver in need of support, visit the link below to find out more about what supports are available through the Ontario Caregiver Organization.

Caregivers care, we can too.
January webinars for Alzheimer's Awareness Month
January 21: Is It Dementia?

Join OCO and the Alzheimer Society of Ontario as we uncover 10 warning symptoms of dementia. Learn the importance of when and what medical tests to request as well as the benefits and the risks of seeking an early diagnosis of dementia.

Join us to explore brain health.
January 28: Responsive Behaviours: Person-centered and Practical Approaches to Care

Being a caregiver to someone with dementia can be challenging.

In this webinar, caregivers will learn about “responsive behaviour”, and tips for identifying the underlying cause of this behaviour. Our speaker will discuss person-centered and practical approaches to supporting the person you are caring for in the context of a dementia diagnosis.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on responsive behaviours, and transitions in care will also be discussed. We will share resources and tools to assist caregivers with knowledge they can practice.
Past webinars
2020 webinars - replays now available

If you weren’t able to attend our recent webinars, you can still watch them as a recording.

All of OCO’s webinars are made available as recordings on our Vimeo page.
Follow us on Social Media!
Don’t forget to follow us on social media for more updates on OCO programs and events.
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