Today at City Hall, Councillor Cynthia Lai (Ward 23 Scarborough North) and Councillor James Pasternak (Ward 6 York Centre) were joined by community partner Alzheimer Society of Toronto and other partner organizations to recognize caregivers who care for family and friends in need of support and to proclaim April 2 Family Caregiver Day in Toronto.
Family caregivers represent almost 30 per cent of Toronto’s population and provide compassionate care to a person or persons who need assistance due to a disability, a physical, neurological or mental condition, a chronic illness, frailty or age. These caregivers balance their personal lives and careers with their caregiving duties, which are unpaid and can be a full-time job in itself.
People who attended the event heard inspiring stories from fellow caregivers and had the opportunity to speak with health care professionals about services and resources available for Toronto caregivers.
In January 2017, Toronto City Council passed a motion to proclaim the first Tuesday in April each year as Family Caregiver Day. Toronto residents are encouraged to recognize the contribution of caregivers and to demonstrate their support and appreciation for their efforts though the hashtag #careitforward.
Quotes
“Caring for an ailing friend, loved one or someone who needs assistance because of a condition or due to age, even on a temporary basis, can be rewarding, but at the same time, emotionally, physically and financially stressful. Events like this give us an opportunity to give these special individuals some of the recognition they deserve. It is important for the City to provide the necessary support and assistance to caregivers, especially if our senior population grows to be one fourth of the population by 2031 as projected.”
– Councillor James Pasternak (Ward 6 York Centre)
“Caregivers are the glue that keep our healthcare system and families together, so we’re pleased to join the City of Toronto in honouring the valuable contributions they make in caring for people with a variety of conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.”
– Scott Russell, CEO at the Alzheimer Society of Toronto.
The Alzheimer Society of Toronto offers support, information and education to people with dementia, their families and their caregivers, as well as increases public awareness of dementia, promotes research and advocates for services that respect the dignity of the individual. More information is available at http://www.alz.to.
Toronto is Canada’s largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of more than 2.9 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world’s most livable cities. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit http://www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cityoftoronto, on Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/cityofto or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/cityofto.
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