Preparing for Caregiving

Are you providing or receiving care? In this episode of Aging Vibrantly, we speak with Amy Coupal, CEO of Ontario Caregivers Organization (OCO). Podcast host, Raeann Rideout and co-host Tom Warner, learned about the amazing work the OCO conducts to support Ontario’s four million caregivers who provide physical and/or emotional support to family members, partners, friends and neighbours.

 

Our discussion led to understanding the current and future concerns and complexities, prospective caregivers are facing in Ontario and what may be needed support them, based on OCO’s recent Preparing to Care Report. We also speak about the many benefits and joys of being a caregiver, but also the challenges and caregiver readiness; willingness and ability to meet the growing demand. The conversation brought to light the need for systemic changes to provide support for caregivers and receivers and the urgent need to take action to implement and expand services now to meet the growing needs and health care demands of seniors and caregivers in the future. 

 

We highlight the vast offerings OCO provides to caregivers, including OCO's free online and group or individual counselling programs, peer support and ‘I am a caregiver Toolkit’, e-Learning and more!  

 

During this episode you will learn:

 

• Caregiving brings joy when supporting someone important to you, and challenges when managing finances; navigating health care; and possible isolation.
  
• Insights from OCO’s, Preparing to Care: Perspectives of Ontarians who expect to be a caregiver in the next 5 years.
  
• The number of Ontarians providing physical or emotional support to a family member, partner, friend, or neighbour could increase by more than 50% - from 4 to 6.5 million people.
  
• 2.7 million Ontarians are expecting to face caregiving demands but have already decided they can’t or won’t do it.
  
• How can we prepare to be caregivers in the future?

 

Until next time - Stay Vibrant!

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References and Resources

Ontario Caregiver Organization
OCO provides caregivers with one point of access to information, services, and supports that empower and help enable caregivers to be successful in their role. Where gaps exist in caregiver programs and services, OCO partners with caregivers, health care providers, and other organizations to find new and innovative ways to bridge those gaps so all caregivers, regardless of age, condition, or geographic location have access to the help they need.

 

Preparing to Care Report 2025: Perspectives of Ontarians who expect to be a caregiver in the next 5 years
https://ontariocaregiver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/OCO-Preparing-to-Care-Report-2025-EN.pdf

 

Resource Library for Caregivers
https://ontariocaregiver.ca/about/library/

 

SCALE: Online Counselling
https://ontariocaregiver.ca/counselling-coaching/scale-counselling/

 

Peer Support
https://ontariocaregiver.ca/peer-support/peer-support/

 

Advance Care Planning
https://ontariocaregiver.ca/managing-care/advance-care-planning/

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About our Guest

 

Amy Coupal is the CEO of the Ontario Caregiver Organization (OCO). OCO exists to support Ontario’s 4 million caregivers who provide physical and/or emotional support to family members, partners, friends and neighbours. The result of this work is demonstrated through the breadth of direct-to-caregiver programs and services available through OCO, as well as the early successes of embedding caregiving in the culture of healthcare and the amplification of the voices of caregivers to influence decision making at a system level.

 

As a caregiver for most of her life, Amy helped to support her brother who had Cerebral Palsy. She was also a caregiver to her mother throughout her cancer journey and now supports her father through older adulthood.

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Credits

 

Producer: Todd Miller, The Podcast Experts
Podcast Coordinator: Lisa Widdifield
Co-Host: Tom Warner, Member of Aging Vibrantly Podcast Advisory Committee
Music: Redpath Audio

We want to thank HelpAge Canada for their financial support to produce this Season’s podcast.

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Disclaimer:

This content is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as constituting or implying endorsement by EAPO of any entity, product, service or organization mentioned, referenced, or linked.