Building a Better System to Support Canadian Family Caregivers (Conversation #1)
Presented by: Caregiver Centered Care
Conversation#1 Recognizing the Family Caregiver Role
SEPTEMBER 20, 2022 12:00 – 1:30 MST
Family caregivers have been called the "Invisible Workforce" and the "Backbone of the Healthcare System," yet family caregivers are not recognized in policy nor as partners in care by health and social care providers. The lack of recognition of the family caregiver role was particularly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, as family caregivers were referred to as 'visitors.' This conversation aims to answer the question, "How do we improve recognition of family caregivers and the importance of the family caregiver role?"
Speaker: Dr. Richard Schulz - Why Should Healthcare Providers have a Role in Supporting Family Caregivers?
Dr. Richard Schulz is a Distinguished Service Professor of Psychiatry, the Director of Gerontology, and the Associate Director of the Aging Institute of UPMC Senior Services at the University of Pittsburgh. This American caregiving scholar also chaired The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s landmark study, Families Caring for an Aging America. The report outlined the prevalence and nature of caregiving, as well as its impact on the caregiver’s health, employment, and overall wellbeing; it examined the effectiveness of programs and supports aimed at supporting caregivers, and lastly assessed and recommended policies to address the needs of family caregivers and minimize barriers.
Speaker: Andre Picard - Supporting Family Caregivers: What Needs to Change?
Andre Picard is the Globe and Mails Health Columnist. He is also the author of five best-selling books including his latest Neglected No More: The Urgent Need to Improve the Lives of Canada's Elders in the Wake of a Pandemic. André is an eight-time nominee for the National Newspaper Awards, Canada’s top journalism prize, and past winner of the prestigious Michener Award for Meritorious Public Service Journalism. He was named Canada’s first "Public Health Hero" by the Canadian Public Health Association, as a "Champion of Mental Health" by the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health and received the Queen Elizabeth II, Diamond Jubilee Medal, for his dedication to improving healthcare.
Speaker: Amy Coupal - Caregiver ID: A Valuable Tool to Engage Caregivers as Partners in Care
Amy Coupal is the CEO of the Ontario Caregiver Organization, a non-profit funded by the Ministry of Health that was formed in 2018 to support Ontario's 4 million caregivers. A visionary leader with 15 years of experience in the not-for-profit sector, Amy has extensive experience building organizations from the ground up and is excited to be leading the Ontario Caregiver Organization through its early days of growth.
Speaker: Maggie Keresteci - Healthcare Transformation: Family Caregivers' Role
Maggie Keresteci, Executive Director at Canadian Association for Health Services & Policy Research, is a caregiver to her sibling who lives with a life-altering disease. She is passionate about enhancing health for all, while at the same time pursuing system excellence. Whether in a healthcare non-profit, a matrixed corporation, or a politically-charged government agency, Maggie harnesses the power of collaboration and partnerships to drive change through influence. When it comes to developing policies aimed at improving healthcare quality that move seamlessly to practice and programs, Maggie develops roadmaps that articulate value and build trust.
What are the key elements needed to support family caregivers? Have your say by registering to Participate in a National Canadian Conversation.
September 20, 2022 - Recognizing the Family Caregiver Role. / “How do we improve recognition of family caregivers and the importance of the family caregiver role?”
October 4, 2022 - The Role of Education of Healthcare Providers to Support Family Caregivers: Elements of Effective Education. / “How do we educate the health workforce effectively, so family caregivers receive timely and effective support?”
October 18, 2022 - Partnering with Family Caregivers. / “What approaches should we be using to build partnerships between healthcare providers and family caregivers?”
October 31, 2022 - Fostering Family Caregiver Resilience: Moving Beyond Telling Family Caregivers to “Take Care of Yourself”. / “What should a “better system” to support family caregivers include? Who needs to be involved?”
November 15, 2022 - Supporting Family Caregivers to Navigate Health and Community/Social Care Systems: Three Navigation Models. / “What is needed to help family caregivers navigate our systems of support and care?”
November 29, 2022 - Changing the Culture and Context of Care. / “What strategies and policies are needed to change the culture and context of care to support family caregivers?”
Each session will adhere to the following schedule:
12:00pm - 1:30pm (MST) - Speaker Presentations
1:30pm - 2:00pm (MST) - Optional participation in facilitated breakout sessions