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Issues you may be facing
How
to get involved and connected with other older adults
How
to juggle work, home life and caring for an aging parent
How to get involved and connected with other older adults
Many older adults are dealing with a variety of issues including losing friends and loved ones, and are looking for opportunities to meet people and participate in activities with other older adults.
If you're looking for some ways to meet new people, or make a meaningful contribution in your community, here are a few ideas that you might want to consider:
Workshops and Events in your Community
There are a number of workshops and events available in the community for older adults - many of which are FREE.
Many local community centres, in the Toronto area, offer programs for older adults. Try calling your local community centre for more information. If you're not sure where the closest community centre is, call 416-397-4636 for a list of community centres in your area.
Become a Volunteer for Your Favourite Charity
Many older adults do volunteer work in the community. For many, volunteer work allows people to use talents and skills that they may have developed in their work life, or to develop new ones that they may have been interested in but couldn't find the time to explore. For more information about volunteer work in Toronto and the surrounding area, call the Volunteer Centre of Toronto at 416-961-6888.
Check Out Your Local Library
Local libraries, throughout the Toronto area often hold a variety of free activities. Many of these activities are geared specifically for seniors. For more information, call or visit your local library or check out Toronto Public Library website at www.tpl.toronto.on.ca
Toronto Board of Education
The Toronto Board of Education offers a number of programs geared specifically towards adults over 60 years of age. Programs include tai-chi, academics, fitness, music and drama, and arts and crafts. For more information call 416-393-1063 or 416-397-3000.
Surf the World Wide Web
Exploring the Internet can be a great way to find out about community programs and other topics that might interest you.
You can also get into the habit of e-mailing friends and family on a regular basis.
How to juggle work, home life and caring for an aging parent
More and more, adult children are having to lend a hand and/or care for their aging parents while balancing a career and family life. This can be a very frustrating and overwhelming experience. In fact, many caregivers experience feelings of anxiety, depression, anger, guilt, and exhaustion. In order to care for others, it is important to care for and set aside time for yourself. Here are some suggestions from our in-house experts on how to make sure you are taking care of your needs too:
- Make a point of building time into your day for yourself -
write it down in your appointment book if you have to. During
this time try regular exercise, meditation or other activities
that you enjoy or that you find relaxing.
- Set limits with friends, loved ones and the person you
are caring for - learn to say no if what they are asking
you to do is going to interfere with your own time.
- Consider talking to a close friend, family member, doctor
or counsellor about what you are feeling.
- Learn as much as you can about the illness or disease
of the person you're caring for. Contact organizations
that can provide information and support, i.e. the Alzheimer
Society for Metropolitan Toronto, the Heart and Stroke Foundation
of Ontario, the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada - Toronto
Chapter, the Parkinson Foundation of Canada, etc.
- Ask for help and offer concrete suggestions on ways
in which others can help you with things like shopping,
driving to doctors' appointments, etc.
- Find room for humour in your life. Rent a funny
video, share a laugh with friends, etc.
- Really learn to communicate with the person that you're
caring for. For many caregivers this is challenging,
especially when the person they are caring for has dementia
or if they've lived through a family history of poor communication.
Often when we see someone in need of help, we want to rush in
and help without thinking to ask the person needing the help
what they actually might need. Many also make the mistake in
thinking that the older adult doesn't know what they need or
what is happening to them. Asking your parent how they're feeling
today; what they think you could do to help them vs. doing what
you think they need - helps a lot. There are also a variety
of other ways of communicating with your parent including through
music, photographs, etc.
- Find out about and use available respite care services
like day programs for seniors, in-home respite care workers,
and more. To find out more about respite care services
in your community call a Community Care Access Centre in your
area (see the Resources We Recommend section) or call us at
Family Service Association of Toronto at 416-595-9618.
- Take it one day at a time.
For appointment please contact our Service Access Unit at 416 595 9618.
All services are free of charge to seniors 60+ or adults with a disability and caregivers who live or work in Toronto.
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