Volume 25 | JANUARY 2022
January is Mentoring Month
January is Mentoring Month and an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the contributions of OCO’s Peer Mentors.

Being a mentor in the Peer Support program enables caregivers who want to share the valuable knowledge they’ve gained in their own journey with someone in a similar situation. A mentor may still be caring for someone, or they may no longer be in a caregiving role. Their experience is varied with people caring for a child, adult or senior with different physical or mental health conditions. Mentors and caregivers are matched based on their unique experience to enable an individualized support experience. For many caregivers, accessing this kind of peer support and reassurance helps to lessen feelings of isolation and loneliness. It helps to know you’re not alone.

Gwen was desperate for support. She found it challenging to be caregiving for her husband with late stage Parkinson’s during the pandemic:

“My mentor would give me good advice when I felt like I was drowning. After our conversation, I felt uplifted”
- Gwen, Participant in OCO's Peer Support Program

As a peer mentor, you can make a difference in the life of another caregiver.

The OCO is seeking caregiver mentors, especially those who speak more than one language, identify as 2SLGBTQ+, and/or are between the ages of 18 and 25 to serve the unique needs of a broad range caregivers. We’re always pleased to welcome new mentors, and we provide training, so no experience is necessary other than experience as a caregiver.
Alzheimer's Awareness Month
January is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, an opportunity to better understand the realities of those living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, as well as their caregivers. Today over 250,000 Ontarians are living with some form of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, a number that is expected to continue to rise as the population ages.

While early diagnosis and prevention are key factors in dementia care, knowing some of the signs such as memory loss, challenges with familiar tasks, communication problems and mixing up dates and places may be things to watch for.

Are you caring for someone with a dementia diagnosis? Know someone who is? The OCO has programs and resources available to support caregivers of all ages who are caring for someone living with Alzheimer’s or dementia. The list below also includes other resources that may be helpful:


The OCO has also offered webinars on the topic of dementia. Our webinar When Thinking Abilities Change: Is It Dementia? is available in our webinar library.
Steve's Caregiver Story
At age 19, Steve’s older brother was diagnosed with schizophrenia. The two were sharing an apartment at the time. Whenever his brother was going through episodes and experiencing symptoms, Steve did his best to provide emotional support and alleviate his brother’s feelings of paranoia.

“I didn’t identify as a caregiver back then,” says Steve. “I was just doing what I thought was needed to be done as a loving and caring brother.”

Over the years, as his brother’s mental health has declined, Steve’s caregiving role has become more involved. In addition to providing emotional support, Steve also helps with shopping, personal hygiene needs and acts as his brother’s advocate for obtaining support services. “I find a great deal of my time is spent navigating the mental health system for the services he needs,” says Steve.
Upcoming Webinars in 2022
January 27: The 8 A's of Dementia

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 build the skills to support and help the person make use of their 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 the impact on behaviour, how to change expectations and ways to communicate effectively.

*This presentation will be in English and available as a recording after the event.
February 3: Caregiving and Eating Disorders: Expect the Unexpected

Caregivers supporting someone with an eating disorder may feel like they are constantly fighting an uphill battle. Eating Disorders are extremely complicated and impact not only the person with the disorder but also family members in ways that are hard to imagine. As caregivers, the ability to look after ourselves is tested every day. Learning to expect the unexpected and to approach each day as a new beginning has been key for webinar presenters, Wendy Preskow and Michelle D’Amico, in navigating their caregiving journeys. As Wendy and Michelle share their respective caregiving experiences in this webinar, attendees will learn about the caregiver’s role in supporting recovery from an eating disorder and some helpful strategies and resources. Strategies and resources for caring for the caregiver will also be explored.

*This presentation will be in English and available as a recording after the event.
Save the Date For More Webinars in 2022
Missed A Webinar?
We know caregivers are busy. That's why we record webinars so that you can watch them after the event, at a time that's convenient for you.
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