The demands of caregiving often place tension on caregivers’ time, meaning that important basic needs often fall by the wayside. Regardless of how long you’ve been a caregiver, how many hours you spend supporting a loved one, family member, friend or neighbour, you may experience challenges in getting the sleep you need due to the demands on your time, or the stress that can accompany being a caregiver. The further good quality sleep is from your reach, the more negative impacts you and your care recipient may experience. Yet, quality of sleep is critical for our well-being, and research does show that when caregivers take better care of themselves, their care recipient does benefit. So how can we improve the quality of our sleep? We hope this webinar can help!

The Ontario Caregiver Organization is proud to present Sleep: The Caregiver’s Elusive Friend, on September 24th at 12 p.m. (noon) EST. Join our conversation as we talk about “All Things Sleep” for caregivers, and what this means in terms of sleep disorders, medication dependence, substance dependence and overall quality of life.

This session, featuring Dr. David Gardner, will explore sleep, insomnia, and the role of sleeping pills and non-pharmaceutical approaches to achieve a good night’s sleep. Dr. Gardner will delve into issues faced by caregivers that include: difficulties getting to sleep, staying asleep, sleeping pill risks, effective alternatives, and much more.

Dr. Gardner is a Pharmacist and Professor with the Department of Psychiatry at Dalhousie University with extensive research in deprescribing and sleep hygiene. With a unique perspective as a pharmacist and researcher; Dr. Gardner will share his knowledge on how caregivers can improve their sleep and well-being. There will be an opportunity to bring your own questions at the end of the webinar, so be sure to register and join us live!

Dr. David Gardner’s research covers pharmacoepidemiology, safe and effective use of psychotropic medications, and program development and implementation in mental health and addictions services in primary care with a focus on pharmacists’ roles and services. With Dr. Andrea Murphy, he has co-developed More Than Meds, the Bloom Program, Headstrong – Taking Things Head-On, and Sleepwell. He has 100 peer reviewed publications and is the author of Antipsychotics and Their Side Effects. Recognitions include multiple teaching awards, the 2012 Canadian Pharmacists Association Pharmacist of the Year award, and in 2017 was identified as a CAMH Difference Maker in its 150 Leading Canadians for Mental Health campaign. Dr. Gardner balances his scholarly work with regular community outreach, advocacy, and clinical activities.

Weblinks:

Sleepwell: https://mysleepwell.ca

Bloom Program: http://bloomprogram.ca

Headstrong: https://headstrong.life

Medication Infoshare: http://medicationinfoshare.com