4 min read
04 April 2023

Free educational videos are now available to help unpaid caregivers find assistance for themselves and their care recipients

The videos, launched today for National Caregiver Day, were developed by WoodGreen Community Services and its Ontario Health Team, East Toronto Health Partners, in collaboration with caregivers.

Toronto, Ont. - As today marks National Caregiver Day, WoodGreen Community Services and East Toronto Health Partners (ETHP), the Ontario Health Team (OHT) serving East Toronto, have launched a series of free educational videos to help unpaid caregivers navigate Ontario’s complex healthcare system to get the help and support they need for their care recipients and themselves.

The 20 videos, which can be found on WoodGreen’s website (woodgreen.org/caregivers) and YouTube channel, were created with input from experienced caregivers to ensure that the content is relevant and useful for other people who find themselves in a caregiving situation. Topics include what to do if your care recipient is in the hospital; how to access community care services such as personal support workers, transportation services, or Meals on Wheels; and how to create a power of attorney. There are also 14 additional videos in which caregivers share their experiences and advice about being a caregiver. All the videos are currently in English and will be translated into other languages in the near future, so as many caregivers as possible can access and utilize these resources.

“Becoming a caregiver can be overwhelming, especially when you don’t know where to go to find information and support,” said Dorothy Quon, Vice President of Community Care with WoodGreen Community Services. “By creating these video resources, WoodGreen and East Toronto Health Partners have created a one-stop online guide for caregivers to find answers to any commonly-asked questions and resources right here in Toronto.”

“East Toronto Health Partners is proud to partner with WoodGreen Community Services and local caregiver advisors on this much-needed free resource for caregivers in our community and beyond,” said Melissa Morey-Hollis, Vice President of Clinical, Rehabilitation and Transitions at Unity Health Toronto and a member of the ETHP Leadership Team. “This National Caregiver Day, we want caregivers to know that there are many resources available in the community for them. And these videos are a good place to start.”

Currently, one in four seniors in Canada provides care or helps family members or friends with a long-term condition, a physical or mental disability, or problems related to aging. Also, by 2031, nearly a quarter of Canadians will be 65 years of age and older. As the number of older Canadians continues to go up, more and more people will find themselves in a position of caring for someone they know. Therefore, having resources in place to support caregivers now and in the future is essential.

“I think these videos will be helpful for caregivers because not every caregiver is equipped with the knowledge on how the healthcare system works,” said Uzma, one of the caregivers who provided input on this project and who wanted to be referred to by her first name only. “It’s also good for caregivers to know that there are resources to support them as well.”

WoodGreen Community Services is a leader in providing caregiver support in Toronto. In addition to these video resources, WoodGreen offers one-on-one counselling and support groups to help caregivers problem-solve, prevent burnout and improve their health and well-being. More information on these programs can be found at woodgreen.org.

To watch all the educational videos for caregivers, please visit woodgreen.org/caregivers.

ABOUT WOODGREEN COMMUNITY SERVICES (woodgreen.org): WoodGreen is one of the largest social service agencies in Toronto, serving 37,000 people each year. We offer over 75 programs and services tackling the social determinants that affect the health and well-being of individuals in our community.

ABOUT EAST TORONTO HEALTH PARTNERS (ethp.ca): East Toronto Health Partners (ETHP), the Ontario Health Team (OHT) serving East Toronto, is a group of more than 100 community, primary care, home care, hospital and social services organizations in East Toronto working together to create an integrated system of care across our communities. Collectively, ETHP is responsible for providing care and support to the 300,000 individuals who live in East Toronto communities, as well as an additional 75,000 clients who choose to receive health care in the local area. Clients, family members and caregivers are partners in every aspect of the development of ETHP, working together to improve the way East Toronto residents access and receive care. Visit ethp.ca to learn more.

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For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:

Jen Mayville, WoodGreen Community Services, [email protected], (437) 226-8091 (cell)