Introducing Prepare to Care, a Free 10-Month Series for Caregivers

Ontario Caregiver Organization Launches Prepare to Care, a Free 10-Month Series to Help Ontarians Prepare for Caregiving

TORONTO, ON — October 21, 2026: Most people become caregivers before they ever call themselves one. A parent needs help after a fall, a partner receives a diagnosis, a grandparent can no longer live alone, a friend is receiving palliative care, or a child with special needs is entering adulthood. Whatever the situation, over 4 million Ontarians are unheralded caregivers, with two million more set to step into that role by 2030. Most are thrust into caregiving without warning or a warm-up. The Ontario Caregiver Organization (OCO) wants to prepare Ontarians for the moment they are called into action.

Today, OCO announced Prepare to Care, a free monthly series running from October 2026 to July 2027. Each month features a new topic, practical resources, and first-hand stories from caregivers who have been there.

Prepare to Care is designed for people who may care for a loved one, as well as for those who are currently caregiving. Over ten months, participants will:

• Start the hard conversations early, with guidance on talking to the person they may care for, as well as family members, healthcare teams, and employers.
• Hear from people who have lived it. Caregiving champions share the misconceptions they held, the tips that helped most, and what they wish they knew.
• Learn how to protect your well-being by spotting the signs of burnout and gaining strategies from caregivers and professionals.
• Access ready-to-use tools starting with the Prepare to Care Checklist at sign-up and continuing with conversation guides, toolkits and templates.
• Know where to turn. OCO can connect participants with peer support, webinars, and other free resources as their journey unfolds.

Ten months, ten topics

A new topic arrives each month, shaped by what caregivers told OCO they wanted and needed to know.

“Caregiving often starts before you realize it, and it rarely waits until you feel ready,” said Amy Coupal, CEO of the Ontario Caregiver Organization. “Prepare to Care gives people the chance to learn from caregivers who have travelled this road, start important conversations early, and know that support is available when they need it.”

Prepare to Care is free and open to anyone in Ontario. Sign up at preparetocare.ca to receive the Prepare to Care Checklist and each new topic as it launches.

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Media contact
Media and Spokesperson Contact:
Colleen McCourt, Front Door PR Colleen@frontdoorpr.com
705-358-2006

About OCO

The Ontario Caregiver Organization (OCO) exists to improve the lives of Ontario’s estimated 4.2 million caregivers – ordinary people who provide physical and/or emotional support to a family member, partner, friend, or neighbour. OCO provides caregivers with one point of access to information, services, and supports that empower and help enable caregivers to be successful in their role. Where gaps exist in caregiver programs and services, OCO partners with caregivers, health care providers, and other organizations to find new and innovative ways to bridge those gaps so all caregivers, regardless of age, condition, or geographic location have access to the help they need. OCO is funded, in part, by the Government of Ontario.