Caregiver appreciation event in Orillia ‘resoundingly successful’

A change in format helped bring a new perspective and deeper understanding to this year’s Caregiver Appreciation Event at Hawk Ridge Golf Club earlier this week.

Hosted by the Coaching Ontario Health Team, in partnership with North Simcoe Muskoka Specialty Geriatric Services, the annual event returns for a fourth year with a new focus on communication, bringing care and service providers together in the same room for the first time.

“I think it was an incredibly successful day,” said Angela Mundy, director of clinical services with the Kuching Family Health Team. “This is our fourth year. So we changed things up a bit this year.”

More than 40 caregivers and service providers registered for the event, which in previous years focused solely on recognizing caregivers. This time, the organizers expanded the scope to also raise awareness among those working in the health system.

“This year we wanted to really promote, not only the appreciation of caregivers, but also the awareness of caregivers,” Mundy said. “So we also brought in service providers to listen to what we’re talking about and hear the stories of carers and what they’re going through so that we can raise awareness for service providers that we need to ask carers how they’re doing and if they need some support as well.”

Initial feedback from participants has been very positive, and organizers are already planning to continue the format. Adding service providers has created a more meaningful and efficient environment, Mundy said.

“It feels a little more powerful,” she said. “When you hear from caregivers, when they share what they’re going through, when they ask questions, I think it’s helped the service providers to think about what they’re doing in a slightly different way.”

Mundy said the conversation helped highlight an often-overlooked aspect of caregiving.

“There’s another layer to the work we do as service providers that in the past often wasn’t a priority,” she said. “We’re always focused on the patient, but I think this event helped deepen that understanding that we’ve got to make sure we’re looking at all the different parts of care.”

Throughout the day, caregivers showed strong interest in practical tools and supports, including a growing initiative known as Waiting Room Revolution, which helps individuals navigate medical appointments better and advocate for their loved ones.

“It’s really a kind of social movement that we’re adopting or joining here in Kuching,” Mundy said. “It looks at ways to help caregivers move their loved one with confidence and control.”

Hands-on strategies also resonated with participants, especially those focused on actual self-care.

“Many people will tell caregivers, ‘You need to take a break, you need to do something for yourself.’ And that’s a really hard thing to hear as a caregiver because there’s no time to do that,” she said. “So we focused more on five minutes. Can you have five minutes to yourself? Not like take a day and go to some kind of spa, but five minutes.”

The broad message of the day reinforces how essential caregivers are to the health care system. Munday said between 75 and 90 percent of care is delivered by caregivers, with their contributions equivalent to roughly 2.8 million full-time positions.

“If we didn’t have the caregivers to do this, our health care system would crumble,” she said.

Locally, she said efforts are underway to create awareness and ensure that caregivers are supported, both within the system and in the community. One of the biggest challenges remains helping caregivers understand their role and feel comfortable asking for help.

“A lot of foster parents will say, ‘I’m not a foster parent, I’m a woman. This is what I signed up for,’ or ‘I’m a daughter, this is what I signed up for,'” Monday said. “But you’re allowed to accept that it’s really hard work and very stressful work, and you don’t have to do it yourself.”

Support is available through organizations such as Ontario Care Organizations, which offer a range of resources, including peer support, virtual and in-person programs, and educational tools.

“We need to make sure caregivers know these resources are available,” she said.

Locally, initiatives are also making a difference, including programs that now actively meet with caregivers during placement.

“At every appointment, the team is there to ask the caregiver, ‘How are you? Is there anything I can do to support you?’ Mundy said. “The simple act of asking these questions is huge.”

For those not yet connected to support, Monda encourages talking during medical visits.

“I would really recommend asking about service providers when they’re at an appointment,” she said. “Just say, ‘I’m a janitor, do you have any resources for me?’

With strong feedback and a clear impact, organizers say the collaborative approach is likely here to stay.

“We’re really excited,” Mundy said.