The Ontario government has announced new supports for those individuals providing unpaid care for a family member or friend at home. Specifically, caregivers can expect increased respite services, education and training, an Ontario tax credit, and a provincial organization to coordinate supports and resources.
Providing care – be it physical, cognitive or mental – poses its own set of mental stresses. We look forward to the consideration of caregivers of those with mental illness, as well as the mental health of caregivers, in the roll out of this government announcement.
CMHA Ontario supports caregivers in a number of different ways. The Living Life to the Full course is one example of education and training available to caregivers over the age of 55. Groups of 10 to 15 caregivers meet in community settings to learn the principles of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) as a tool to cope with life’s challenges. The course has reached approximately 300 caregivers to date and plans to continue to help caregivers become more aware of their own mental health by realizing they were not alone in their challenges. Increased respite supports will allow more caregivers to participate in self-care programs such as this.
To learn more about the Living Life to the Full for Caregivers 55+, or to access a program in the City of Toronto, please visit www.ontario.cmha.ca/caregivers-toronto