Self Care for Caregivers of Children with Developmental Disabilities

The holiday season is a time of joy, but it can also be a stressful time with various to-do lists – especially for those caring for children with developmental disabilities. This webinar will help caregivers learn first-hand tips on sustaining self-care by reducing stress, improving one’s well-being and finding joy in the holiday season.

Self-Care for Caregivers of Adults with Developmental Disabilities

The holiday season is a time of joy, but it can also be a stressful time with various to-do lists – especially for those caring for an adult with developmental disabilities. This webinar will help caregivers learn first-hand tips on sustaining self-care by reducing stress, improving one’s well-being and finding joy in the holiday season.

When Thinking Abilities Change: Is It Dementia?

Join OCO and the Alzheimer Society of Ontario as we uncover 10 warning symptoms of dementia. Learn the importance of when and what medical tests to request as well as the benefits and the risks of seeking an early diagnosis of dementia. Together, we will also explore brain care and how we can all be a little kinder to our brains.

Supporting Kin, Adoptive Parents and Caregivers: Challenges and Support

Webinar Notes – English / Webinar Notes – French

In this webinar, adoptive and kinship parents and other caregivers caring for children who may be at higher risk for mental health challenges will learn about issues they may face and how to get the support they need along this caregiving journey. Whether you are caring for a baby or older child, adopted locally or internationally, caregivers experience some common issues. Join our speakers, Helen Dawkes-Brown and Nicole Renaud, as they help you understand the challenges, gain insights on the adoption and permanency journey, and learn about support services and how to access them. Come prepared with your questions and leave with a better understanding of how you can be supported to achieve permanency for the children you care for so that they may reach their full potential.

Additional resources

• Adopt4Life Website
• Ontario’s Adoptive Parent Association: Toll-Free: 1.888.274.6222 x.120

Webinar Notes – English / Webinar Notes – French

Life after a stroke brings many challenges, as needs and circumstances are unique and personal to each stroke survivor and their caregivers. June is Stroke Awareness Month, and in collaboration with March of Dimes Canada, this webinar shares information about the After Stroke program and available supports and services for caregivers.

Dancing With Dementia 

Webinar Notes – English / Webinar Notes – French

Dance may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about caring for someone living with dementia, but dance has a lot to offer both the care recipient and the caregiver. This webinar will explore how dance can foster social-inclusion for people living with dementia, challenges stigma associated with dementia, and supports the creation of dementia-friendly communities.

Caregiving and Chronic Liver Disease: Challenges, Insights, and Support

As a caregiver of someone living with chronic liver disease, you may share many of the same emotions as your care recipient: fear, isolation, stigma and anger. Caregiving over a long period of time can also increase the risk of burnout. Therefore, it is important to take care of yourself and those with chronic illness. In collaboration with the Canadian Liver Foundation, we invite you to join our expert speakers, Dr. Angela Cheung and caregiver Evelyne Chenard, as they discuss the challenges of chronic disease, specifically chronic liver disease. You will gain insights into the patient and caregiver journey, and learn about support services and how to access them.

The 8 A’s of Dementia

Webinar Notes – English / Webinar Notes – French

Dementia is a general term referring to a variety of brain disorders. By understanding the reasons for the changes in behaviour of a person living with dementia, caregivers can improve their skills to support and help the person make use of their remaining abilities. The 8 A’s of dementia give us clues to understand the meaning behind the behaviours and the brain changes that contribute to them. In this webinar, participants will learn about the 8 A’s of dementia, recognize their impact on behaviour, how to change expectations and ways to communicate more effectively.

Additional resources

Info sheet: What is dementia?

Dementia and responsive behaviours

Communication

Slides: The 8 A’s of dementia

The Alzheimer Society Ontario: https://alzheimer.ca/on/en

Find your local Alzheimer Society in Ontario: https://alzheimer.ca/on/en/about-us/find-your-local-alzheimer-society

Caregiving and Eating Disorders: Expect the Unexpected

Nobody is to blame for an eating disorder. Although you may be trying to help, it may seem like you are constantly fighting an uphill battle. Eating Disorders are extremely complicated and impact not only the sufferer but also family members in ways that are hard to imagine. As caregivers, our ability to look after ourselves is tested every day. In this webinar, you will learn about the caregiver’s role in supporting recovery from an eating disorder and strategies and resources, including caring for yourselves as well as others.

Additional Resources

National Eating Disorders Information Centre (NEDIC)
NEDIC Parent Panels

Quality Standards for Delirium Care

Webinar Notes – English / Webinar Notes – French

In partnership with Ontario Health, this webinar provides an overview of delirium and how family members and caregivers can support people with or at risk for delirium. You will learn how to help prevent delirium, how to recognize the signs and symptoms of delirium, and ways to support your family member’s care.

Additional Resources

Delirium quality standard

Patient guide

Delirium quality standard placemat

Case for Improvement (slide deck)

List of tools and resources on Quorum

Peer Support for Families of Persons with a Developmental Disability

Webinar Notes – English / Webinar Notes – French

Peer support is a way for families and caregivers to find help and support from others in their community with a similar and/or shared experience. Peer Support offers an opportunity to share information and build connections for your well-being and that of the person you support. This webinar will feature a panel of family caregivers who support individuals with developmental disabilities.

Webinar Notes – English / Webinar Notes – French

Changes in personality and behaviour are common symptoms for people living with dementia. This informative webinar explores the changes caused by dementia, ways to understand behaviour changes, and the impact on caregivers. You will also discover local programs and services available in your community.

Webinar Notes – English / Webinar Notes – French

Family caregivers play an invaluable part in supporting people living with heart failure. However, this role can be stressful and overwhelming, and it may be difficult for caregivers to balance their needs with their care recipient. In this webinar, you will learn practical resources and care strategies to support your care recipient with heart failure.

Does your care recipient need help getting up from a chair or transitioning from place to place? Is this task new and difficult for you? Sometimes moving and providing physical support to your care recipient can be challenging. You may risk your own physical health while undertaking these new responsibilities. In our recent webinar, you will learn tips on safely moving your care recipient and discover in-home devices that could support you.

Communication is a vital part of our lives, and it is how we maintain our relationships. When dementia affects a person’s ability to express themselves and understand, it can strain the bonds between caregivers and the care recipient. As a caregiver, you will want to be aware of these changes so the person you care for can feel supported. In this webinar, you will learn how dementia affects communication and receive useful tips and strategies for your conversations with people living with dementia.

Supporting a person with an eating disorder can be very stressful for family caregivers as they navigate the health care system to find effective treatment for their care recipient. This webinar provides caregivers with information, resources, and tools to help them support people with eating disorders receive high-quality care.