Volume 12 | OCTOBER 2020
SCALE begins TODAY!
Registration is now open!
As a completely free and flexible program designed to meet your unique needs and schedule as a caregiver, the SCALE Program (Supporting Caregiver Awareness, Learning and Empowerment) will provide practical information and skills to enhance caregiver self-awareness and self-care.

The program consists of:

• a series of eight weekly webinars,
• online group coaching,
• optional one-on-one, individualized telephone counselling.

Select just one topic that you are interested in each week or take the entire program. As a caregiver, we understand how valuable your time is and that is why we developed a program to best suit your schedule.

The coaching and counselling sessions are confidential. Bookings are done through a secure, confidential link and scheduled at your convenience. Please note that these sessions are limited and are first registered, first served.

SCALE Online Group Coaching and One-on-one Telephone Counselling is available to all caregivers and can be combined with or without the SCALE program webinars.

Join again or for the first time!
October Webinars
Caregivers: Getting smart technology to work for you

Using off-the-shelf smart technology such as cellphones, iPads, and security cameras can help to alleviate some of the stress associated with caregiving and can provide some peace of mind.

There are 4 areas in which smart technology can be useful to caregivers:

1. safety
2. care recipient independence
3. stimulation
4. socialization

Through this interactive webinar, Maurine Parzen RN, PhD and experienced caregiver, will share her experience with smart technology, and discuss these 4 areas. She will go over practical tips on how they can help caregivers in their day-to-day role of caring for their family member, neighbour or friend.
Legal Framework and Top Tips for Caregivers

This session facilitated by a health lawyer aims to explain some of the common scenarios you may face as a caregiver, and practical strategies to address them. When can you make health care decisions for your family member or friend? What if you come up against barriers in giving or receiving ‘need to know’ information? We will use case scenarios and our top tips to help you be more informed and confident as you support your loved one.

Presenter Mary Jane Dykeman is a partner and co-founder at INQ Data Law and DDO Health Law in Toronto. In her health law work, she regularly assists hospitals, long-term care homes, retirement homes and community health care organizations to find practical solutions to legal, clinical, risk and privacy matters - including consent, capacity and substitute decision-making and difficult family issues. Since 2004, she has taught the mental health law course in the Osgoode Professional Development Health Law LL.M.
October is Healthy Workplace Month!
Are you a working caregiver?

Working caregivers are ordinary people trying to balance work and caregiving demands. They play an invaluable role in the lives of those you care for, while taking on many different tasks in addition to work responsibilities.

While most caregivers have a positive outlook on this experience and a sense of fulfillment, many admit they had no choice but to assume the work of caregiving and rely on their job to both earn a living and have a sense of purpose.

If you are finding it hard to balance work and caregiving, you are not alone.
Regardless of why or how you became a caregiver, there are many emotions that arise from managing work and caregiving responsibilities. Working caregivers are often stretched thin. Many wish they had more support from their employer to manage their work and caregiving responsibilities.

If you are looking for ways to find better balance and support, you can use this toolkit inspired by working caregivers, their stories and their unique experiences.
Save the Date: #CallACaregiver
November 13th is Kindness Day

Many caregivers say they feel alone and isolated. While family members and friends often ask how the care recipient is doing, they don’t always think to ask how the caregiver is doing. Caregivers have told us this simple gesture of kindness can make the difference in their day.

That’s why OCO will be launching our Kindness Campaign on Kindness Day, November 13th. If you know a caregiver, this is an invitation to reach out to them, and have a conversation to check in with them. You can ask them how their day was, what’s new for them, or just let them know that you’re thinking of them.
Hearing Your Voices Virtual Patient Conference
Registration now open!
November 3rd-4th, 2020 
What have we learned about how technology is shaping patient and caregiver experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Hearing Your Voices is your opportunity to participate in a virtual event where patients, families and caregivers come together to share their COVID-19 experiences, hear engaging panelists and speakers, and make recommendations for the design of a compassionate digital healthcare system.

Join us on Zoom Nov. 3rd & 4th to make your voice heard. Registration is now open. Register early, join the community conversations and meet others to share your experiences with. This is a Patients Included event.*

*There is no fee to attend. Registration is now open.
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