The Ontario Caregiver Organization (OCO) exists to improve the lives of caregivers across Ontario. At OCO, we offer a variety of free programs and services
to support many different types of caregiving needs.
Caregivers often ask:
• What type of caregiving support is available?
• What programs have caregivers found most useful for their caregiving journey?
Join us as we chat with caregivers who share their experiences with OCO programs including:
• Education supports such as OCO webinars, eLearning, and 90second Caregiver
• Peer Support such as 1:1 Peer Support, Online Caregiver Support Groups, and Young Caregiver Support
• Mental Health and Wellness programs such as SCALE program and Caregiver Coaching
• The OCO Helpline 1-833-416-2273 (CARE)

We will also demonstrate a walk-though of the OCO website so that caregivers will learn how to access, find, and register for programs.

Our Caregiver Co-host: The OCO is pleased to welcome back Ron Beleno, an experienced family caregiver who looked after his late father with Alzheimer’s for over 10+ years. Ron continues to provide support to family members and friends in need of care. He is an active advocate for dementia, caregiving, aging, and research communities.
Who should attend? If you are an unpaid caregiver (e.g., family/friend), work in the health or social services sector, or are an employer of caregivers.

Four in ten caregivers are facing financial hardship because of their caregiving responsibilities. Additionally, more caregivers are using their savings or investments to cover expenses associated with caregiving. This financial impact is one of the top reasons caregivers are feeling stressed.
In this webinar with Credit Canada, you will receive information on how to avoid bankruptcy, become debt-free, and achieve financial wellness.
We will also discuss:
• What is a good Credit Score and why is it important?
• How Credit Score works and what are the risks?
• How to access financial readiness kits for unpredictable times?
• What to do when debt becomes too much to handle on your own?

Our Speaker: Credit Canada is Canada’s first and longest-standing credit counselling agency. For more than 50 years, Credit Canada has been helping Canadians get out of debt and back into life through financial education and debt resolution. As a national, non-profit organization, Credit Canada has helped thousands become debt-free and achieve financial wellness.

Note: The webinar is intended to provide general information only.

Change can be challenging, especially for older adults and seniors who are considering transitioning into a long-term care community. This process can also be confusing and overwhelming for caregivers as they navigate a large amount of information and emotional challenges. In this webinar with Family Councils Ontario (FCO), you will receive information on supporting a positive transition to long-term care before, during, and after the move. You will also learn more about:
• Long-term care homes setting and how they operate
• How caregivers can get support from the long-term care team
• What Family Councils Ontario does and what resources are available for caregivers
• FCO’s new ‘Transition Project’ Tool, which supports caregiver knowledge experience with best practices
• Hear other caregivers’ experiences and stories

Our Speakers:
Sam Peck (she/they): Sam is the Executive Director of FCO and has been helping LTC caregivers form effective peer support groups since 2008. She is passionate about the power of peer support and helping Council members and home staff form positive and productive relationships.

Liane Pelissier (she/her): Before joining FCO as the Client Services Manager in 2021, Liane worked in LTC for over 19 years as a Resident and Family Services Coordinator, helping support residents and families as they transitioned into LTC. Liane pairs this experience with lived experience as a caregiver to support caregivers and Family Councils to improve the quality of care and the caregiver experience in LTC.

Cathleen Edwards (she/her): Cathleen brings years of experience as a post-secondary educational instructor to her role as Education Manager at FCO, creating informative and engaging educational materials for Council members and home staff. Her passion for supporting families and advocating for inclusion draws inspiration from her work as a Recreation Professional in long-term care.

Service Canada is presenting a webinar on the new Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP), which aims to remove financial barriers to accessing oral health care for eligible Canadian residents. The webinar will cover the following topics:
• Eligibility criteria
• Process for applying to the plan
• Services covered under CDCP
Caregivers will receive comprehensive information during the webinar.
Our Speaker: Service Canada provides the public with a single point of access to a wide range of government
services and benefits.
NOTE: *This webinar will NOT be recorded. We also ask that you DO NOT record this session as the information can change without notice.
The webinar is intended to provide general information only. Please call the Service Canada general inquiry line for further inquiries: 1-800-O-Canada (1-800-622-6232)

Within Indigenous cultures, caregiving is part of traditional roles and values embedded in collective and community responsibility. Many people may not consider themselves caregivers but rather family members, friends or community members providing support for someone’s wholistic needs. While caregiving can be incredibly rewarding, caregivers within Indigenous communities encounter numerous challenges, such as a lack of culturally safe services,
support and education, economic difficulties, geographical barriers, and the ongoing impacts of colonization.

OCO welcomes Holly Prince from the Centre for Education and Research on Aging & Health (CERAH) at Lakehead University to discuss the following:
• Hear stories and experiences from Indigenous caregivers
• Explore the OCO and CERAH’s adaptation of the I am a Caregiver Toolkit for Indigenous communities
• Learn about CERAH and their newly developed caregiver resources

Our Speaker: Holly Prince is an Anishinaabekwe and a member of Opwaaganisiniing in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. She is the Lead for the Indigenous People’s Health & Aging Division at the Centre for Education and Research on Aging & Health, Lakehead University, where she works as a Project Manager. A part of her role involves planning, implementing, and evaluating palliative care education and health equity initiatives for Indigenous peoples across Canada.

Are you a family caregiver supporting a spouse or common-law partner, or a dependant with a disability? Regardless of the situation, there’s no denying that looking after someone can take up a great deal of your time and money. We are pleased to welcome back the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for a two-part webinar series to discuss the government benefits and tax credits that are available to you. We will also share information and tools
that may be helpful for all caregivers.

Part Two: Thursday, August 1st, 2024
Disability Tax Credit – in-depth review
• What is the Disability Tax Credit and is it right for you?
• How to apply online?

Our speaker: Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is the agency responsible for administering tax laws for the Government of Canada and for most provinces and territories.
*This webinar series will NOT be recorded and is intended to provide general information only.
Join for a chance to win one $25 Everything gift card! Learn more at Eventbrite.

Are you a family caregiver supporting a spouse or common-law partner, or a dependant with a disability?
Regardless of the situation, there’s no denying that looking after someone can take up a great deal of your time and money. We are pleased to welcome back the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for a two-part webinar series to discuss the government benefits and tax credits that are available to you. We will also share information and tools that may be helpful for all caregivers.

Part One: Thursday, July 25th, 2024
General overview of benefits and tax credits for caregivers
• What supports are available and how to apply?
• How much can you claim and what documents do you
need to support you claim?

Our speaker: Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is the agency responsible for administering tax laws for the Government of Canada and for most provinces and territories.
*This webinar series will NOT be recorded and is intended to provide general information only.
Join for a chance to win one $25 Everything gift cards! Learn more at Eventbrite.

As a caregiver, it is important to have a plan for the future. This can provide you with peace of mind and ensure that your wishes are followed after your death. An estate plan can help you decide what happens to your finances, property, personal items, and most importantly, how your care recipient will continue to receive the support they need. We invite you to join us in this webinar to learn about:

• Microboards; what they are and how they can support your care recipient
• Henson Trusts and their role
• Wills or estate plans, what’s involved

Our Speakers:
Karen Bell is an experienced Executive Director at Microboards Ontario. She has been working in the developmental services sector for over twenty years, and
has held positions at both local and provincial levels. Karen has chaired committees on communications and marketing across the developmental services sector and has supported one-voice advocacy initiatives. She is also the chair of the Communications Task Group for the Developmental Services
Workforce Initiative of the Provincial Network.

Brendon Pooran is the Founder and Managing Partner of PooranLaw. He has extensive expertise in corporate law and often provides legal counsel to not-for-profit and charitable corporations. Brendon’s legal advice also covers wills, trusts, estates, and disability law matters. Apart from being a lawyer, Brendon is a founding director of Plan Toronto (now Partners for Planning) and Microboards Ontario. He is also a member of CRA’s Disability Advisory Committee and teaches Critical Disability Law at York University.

Who should attend? Caregivers who would like to learn more about the benefits of estate planning and the potential of Microboards as a succession planning tool.

Ontario’s healthcare system is complex and may be difficult for many to navigate. These challenges are often profound for patients, but they also present
significant stressors for caregivers and greatly add to the strain on their mental health. In this webinar, we are joined by Stephanie Muskat, an acute care social worker and mental health practitioner, to talk about:
• Recognizing caregiver’s frustration and stressors in navigating the healthcare system
• Sharing real-life caregivers’ experiences and their practical solutions
• Resources and tools to ease navigation challenges

Our Speaker: Stephanie Muskat (MSW) is an acute care social worker and mental health practitioner for caregivers in private practice. She has 15 years of experience working as an inpatient social worker at several renowned Toronto hospitals where she also conducted various mental health research projects. She works with clients and their caregivers who experience a multitude of health concerns as they navigate a rapidly changing life and environment. Stephanie has personal caregiving experience for her family and understands the true complexities and challenges of navigating the healthcare system.

• Please note that this presentation is available in English only.
• Pour de l’information sur nos programmes et services en français, visitez www.ontariocaregiver.ca/fr ou communiquez avec nous par courriel à info@ontariocaregiver.ca.
• For any difficulty with registration or any other questions, please contact us at info@ontariocaregiver.ca or call 1-888-877-1626 X 1011

As a caregiver, understanding a diagnosis of hypertension (high blood pressure) can be complex. People with hypertension may not feel any symptoms, but if the condition is not well managed, it can lead to serious health problems, such as a heart attack or stroke. Knowing where and how to access accurate information can help you support the person you’re caring for to maintain a healthy and well-balanced lifestyle.

In recognition of Hypertension Awareness Month in May, join the webinar to learn about:

• Ontario Health’s new Hypertension quality standard and opportunities to improve care for people with hypertension
• Information, tools, and resources to support and help your care recipient with managing their hypertension (e.g., health behaviour changes and self-management)
• Questions to discuss with your care recipient’s health care team
• Stories from caregivers who have provided care and support to people with hypertension

Our Speaker:
Gracia Mabaya is a Lead in the Clinical and Quality Standards Program at Ontario Health. Having dedicated nearly eight years to Ontario Health, she has led and contributed to the development and refinement of quality standards across various health conditions, notably leading the development of the Hypertension Care in the Community for Adults quality standard