Caregiver Integration: A Practical Guide for OHTs
The Ontario Caregiver Organization (OCO) created this Practical Guide for Ontario Health Teams as an easy-to-use resource to support the integration of family caregivers in all aspects of OHT work.
Each module offers actionable steps, tips, tools, resources, and evidence to support assessment, planning and implementation of caregiver-focused programs and practices in OHTs and/or partner organizations. Module topics include:
Including Caregivers in Access and Navigation Models – Ways to support and include caregivers as they navigate the healthcare system.
Essential Care Partner Practices for Ontario Health Teams – Ways to put Essential Care Partner (ECP) practices into place to benefit patients, families, caregivers, and providers, as well as the overall healthcare system.
Essential Role of Caregivers in Improving Transitions and Addressing Alternate Level of Care (ALC) – Ways to proactively include and support caregivers across care settings to facilitate smooth transitions, and mitigate or prevent ALC.
Coming Soon! Including and Supporting Caregivers to Improve Transitions from Hospital to Home – Ways to work with caregivers as true partners in discharge planning, and how to provide them with specific and dedicated support to improve the transitions from hospital to home.
In addition, the Practical Guide includes the Guidance Document: Integrating and Engaging Caregivers to Achieve OHT Deliverables. This resource outlines how caregiver inclusion relates to a number of key components outlined in The Ontario Health Teams: The Path Forward guidance document issued in November 2022 by the Ministry of Health.
This Practical Guide was developed based on caregiver experiences and the knowledge, learnings and experiences of Ontario Health Teams and other healthcare organizations, in collaboration with the Ontario Caregiver Organization. It highlights examples of OHTs and communities who have successfully engaged and integrated caregivers in system planning, program development and improvement and at the point of care within OHTs and partner organizations.
The OCO gratefully acknowledges the collective and continued contributions of caregivers, patient partners, champions and OHT partners in making this work possible.
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Who should use this Practical Guide?
The Guide is meant for OHT leadership, clinical leaders, OHT working groups, Patient, Caregiver Advisory Councils and partners, healthcare administrators, and frontline staff within OHTs who are involved in planning, change management and improvement at the system and point of care levels. Anyone who is involved in OHT work can benefit from this Practical Guide.
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Why was the Practical Guide created?
OHTS are expected to integrate and engage patients and caregivers as part of their obligations under the Ontario Health Directives. The Ontario Caregiver Organization has curated this Practical Guide to make it easier to find all the resources and tools to support caregiver integration in one spot.
Meaningful inclusion and integration of caregivers is directly aligned with the Quintuple Aim and the core values upheld by Ontario Health Teams. It’s also an important contributor to delivering high-quality, comprehensive care and can help OHT meet their Collaborative Quality Improvement Plan (CQIP) goals.
This guide will continue to be updated, as more information, models or case examples become available. Please check back regularly for the latest modules.
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Where Can I Get More Support?
The Ontario Caregiver Organization (OCO) is here to help OHTs who looking to implement any of the actions, tools and resources outlined in the Practical Guide.
To learn more and set up an exploratory meeting, contact partners@ontariocaregiver.ca
Our Care Provider Resource Centre offers additional tools and resources to support, include and engage caregivers in Ontario Health Teams:
- Resources to help you support caregivers
- Including caregivers as part of the care team
- Implementing an Essential Care Partner Program
- Meaningful engagement and co-design with caregivers
We have tools that have been adapted and adopted by healthcare settings and are ready for implementation across your OHT.
