Caregiver appreciation event in Orillia ‘incredibly successful’

‘If we didn’t have caregivers doing that work, our health-care system would crumble,’ says organizer of local event that feted Orillia caregivers

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

Hosted by the Couchiching Ontario Health Team, in partnership with North Simcoe Muskoka Specialized Geriatric Services, the annual event returned for its fourth year with a renewed focus on connection, bringing caregivers and service providers together in the same room for the first time.

“I think it was an incredibly successful day,” said Angela Munday, director of clinical services with the Couchiching Family Health Team. “It’s our fourth annual one. So we changed things up a little 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, organizers expanded the scope to also raise awareness among those working within the health system.

“This year we wanted to really increase, not only caregiver appreciation, but also caregiver awareness,” Munday said. “So we brought in service providers as well to hear what we were talking about and hear the stories of caregivers and what they’re going through so that we can kind of increase awareness for service providers that we need to be asking caregivers how they are and if they need some support as well.”

Initial feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive, with organizers already considering continuing the format moving forward. The addition of service providers, Munday said, created a more meaningful and impactful environment.

“It felt a little more powerful,” she said. “When you’re hearing from caregivers, when they’re sharing what they’re going through, when they’re asking questions, I think it helped the service providers to think about what they do in a bit of a different way.”

Munday said the conversations helped highlight an often-overlooked aspect of care.

“There’s another layer to the work that we do as service providers that in the past has often not been a priority,” she said. “We always focus right on the patient, but I think this event helped to kind of deepen that awareness that we’ve got to make sure that we’re looking at all the different pieces of the care puzzle.”

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

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

Hands-on strategies also resonated with attendees, particularly those focused on realistic self-care.

“A lot of folks will say to caregivers, ‘You need to take a break. You need to do something for yourself.’ And that’s really a hard thing to hear as a caregiver because there isn’t time to do that,” she said. “So we focused more on five minutes. Can you do five minutes for yourself? Not like take a day and go to a spa kind of thing, but five minutes.”

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

“If we didn’t have caregivers doing that work, our health-care system would crumble,” she said.

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

“A lot of caregivers would say, ‘I’m not a caregiver, I’m a spouse. This is what I signed up for,’ or ‘I’m a daughter, this is what I signed up for,’” Munday said. “But you’re allowed to acknowledge that this is really hard work and very stressful work, and you don’t have to do it on your own.”

Supports are available through organizations such as the Ontario Caregiver Organization, which offers a range of resources, including peer support, virtual and in-person programming, and educational tools.

“We have to make sure that caregivers know that those resources are available,” she said.

Locally, initiatives are also making a difference, including programs that now actively check in with caregivers during appointments.

“At every appointment, the team there is asking caregivers, ‘How are you doing? Is there anything I can do to support you?” Munday said. “That simple act of asking those questions is huge.”

For those not yet connected to support, Munday encourages speaking up during medical visits.

“I would really recommend asking about the service providers when they’re at an appointment,” she said. “Just say, ‘I’m a caregiver. 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 really liked it,” Munday said.