Many caregivers frequently experience stress, anxiety, depression and loneliness. Mindfulness helps us stay in the present so that we can manage negative emotions and build emotional strength. This, in turn, allows us to care for our loved ones more effectively.

The Ontario Caregiver Organization is proud to present Dr. Alexandra Fiocco; Director of the Stress and Healthy Aging Research Laboratory at Ryerson University. In this presentation, Dr. Fiocco will discuss the impact that chronic stress has on the mind and body. She will encourage attendees to identify the ingredients to their stress and how the experience of stress is manifested in the body. Dr. Fiocco will also provide an overview of mindfulness meditation, an evidence-based stress-management tool that has been shown to decrease stress and support the wellbeing of family caregivers. Attendees will also be invited to engage in a short sitting practice before opening the floor for Q&A.

Bio: Dr. Alexandra Fiocco is an Associate Professor and Director of the Stress and Healthy Aging Research Laboratory at Ryerson University. Her research focuses on the impact of stress and lifestyle behaviours on emotional and cognitive wellbeing in later adulthood. She has been practicing mindfulness meditation for 10 years, has engaged in mindfulness research for 6 years, and is a Qualified Teacher of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) as defined by the University of California San Diego Mindfulness-based Professional Training Institute.