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

Caregiving changes so much in how we experience life and our familial relationships. In this webinar, we will explore the shifts that occur in the dynamics of intimate partner relationships. Often the general caregiving challenges overshadow the deeper relationship needs between the caregiver and care recipient. In observance of Mental Health Week this May, join Michal Goldstein, a registered social worker, and explore how caregivers can manage some of the challenges that arise within this shifting dynamic, including:

• Feelings of isolation and guilt
• Changes in intimacy
• Feelings of disinterest in the relationship
• Tools to regain connection and intimacy

Our Speaker:
Michal Goldstein is a clinical social worker and therapist with 15 years of experience in supporting individuals, couples, and families to build stronger and healthier relationships. She is also the owner and founder of Creating Connections Counselling Services, a virtual therapy practice based in Toronto that helps individuals and families to reconnect and thrive. Michal holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), and Master of Social Work (MSW) degrees. She is a registered social worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) and the Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW).

Service Canada returns to provide an encore presentation on the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). This overview will include an introduction of the retirement pension, disability benefits, survivor’s pension, and death benefits. We will also be providing an online demonstration of applications and tools.
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 personally record as this 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)

We invite you to join our virtual Kindness for Caregivers event in celebration of National Caregiver Day. This event will celebrate the immense contribution of
caregivers to our communities and health care system, and inspire acts of kindness and appreciation for caregivers.

11 a.m. – CELEBRATE – messages of recognition, gratitude and kindness for caregivers from City officials and inspiring guest speakers

12 p.m. – INSPIRE – guided sessions to empower and amplify caregiver voices as they create messages of kindness for themselves and other caregivers
This event will be in English only.

Social Media: #KindessForCaregivers

Caregiving can sometimes lead to feelings of stress, anxiety, and burnout. In more challenging situations, caregivers may also notice post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD) from their experiences. How can caregivers find support for their mental health? The OCO welcomes back Dr. Patrick McGrath to answer
important questions that caregivers have shared with us.
• Submit your question about mental health in advance
• Gain useful tips and strategies on how to manage your mental health
• Learn what services or tools are available to support your mental health needs

Note: We encourage caregivers to share questions when filling out the Eventbrite registration. The OCO endeavors to answer as many questions as possible, but some questions may not be answered due to time limitations.

Our Speaker:
Dr. Patrick McGrath is a clinical psychologist and Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry at Dalhousie University and a scientist at the IWK Health Centre where his
research is based. He is an Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Ottawa and founder and president of 90Second Health Letters. He frequently
treats caregivers with anxiety in his private practice.