In any disaster- natural or manmade- jobs and the economy are one of the first things to be impacted as in the case of the COVID-19 pandemic which has resulted in immense job losses and an almost complete shutdown of the economy. This situation has created financial strain on families where now families need to make plans for financial changes and create a new budget in this situation. Here are some ways where you can start thinking of how to relieve your financial strain.

Caring for aging parents can be as demanding as a full time job. It can involve helping with medical appointments, shopping, dressing and bathing, housekeeping, house maintenance and running errands. Some or all of these tasks are required on a constant, yet often erratic basis, leaving you on call 24/7. Sometimes you need help with only certain elements of your caregiving regime, and you may be able to access those at the community level. In some areas there is a whole laundry list of services to choose from.

Caring for older adults with minor illnesses or reduced mobility issues is often easily incorporated into our lives. Caring for loved ones with serious illnesses, however, may be impossible and probably requires the ongoing intervention of trained health care providers. Caring for a parent with dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease is more stressful than caring for physically frail older adults because of the problems specific to dementia – disorientation, shifts in personality and physical limitations. When symptoms signal the increased need for supervision, a retirement home may be the best solution for all concerned.

Domestic violence constitutes the behavior and actions of one person to gain control and power over someone they are involved with in an intimate or personal relationship. Such behavior includes physical, sexual, emotional, verbal and intellectual abuse and violence. It can be prevalent at work and remain hidden from everyone where a fellow worker can be the victim, or even the abuser. When signs of domestic violence appear at work, it may create a situation where the employees or employer would have to step in to support the victim or handle the abuser. Not only does this create a difficult situation for the worker involved in domestic violence, but it can also be a safety risk for other workers. The question remains, how can you help your fellow worker?

Marriage is hard. If someone says otherwise they either haven’t been married, or they get paid for making marriage look easy. It requires work, patience, gentleness and daily sacrifices to make the best of it. Selfishness, pride, and simply exhaustion from the daily responsibilities get in the way of what was once promised at the altar – to love. There are days when loving comes easy, and there are days when it just doesn’t come. Without protecting your relationship* there will be more of the latter days then the former, causing suffering in your marriage. This can affect other relationships, work life, and personal wellbeing. It shouldn’t get to this point before a couple recognizes the need to invest in each other and work on their marriage, taking steps to cultivate a warm and supportive relationship. Happy marriages are not fairytales, but to have one both parties need to work on their marriage before the stormy seasons come, so when they come, they will be ready to face them together. 

Have you been suffering from prolonged chronic pain? Do you feel that medication and treatment was inadequate? Is your everyday life being effected? Managing chronic pain can be complicated and frustrating, because such pain is unpredictable, invisible and not always caused by a single reason. Chronic pain is also associated with mental health issues, and the inability to perform everyday tasks.  

This one page poster developed by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) provides information about accessing virtual care for substance use and mental health during COVID-19. It highlights the importance of seeking mental health and substance use care early and provides a list of virtual care options that are available to offer support.

The Canadian Foundation for Women’s Health is the leading national foundation for women’s sexual and reproductive health. The CFWH is a registered charity.

Developed by the University of British Columbia, The Newell Foundation and Movember Foundation this site is focused on helping men establish health strategies for managing depression. It provides information about depression in men, suicide, risk factors and triggers.

According to the Ontario Caregiver Coalition 1 in 5 Ontarioians are caregivers. This website is designed to help those individuals by providing a listing of provincial and federal resources that family caregivers can contact to inquire about local services or to find peer support.

This is a social network site where people can track their own health data, help others, by sharing experiences living with disease. Where newly diagnosed patients can improve their outcomes by connecting with and learning from others who've gone before them. Where researchers learn more about what's working, what's not, and where the gaps are, so that they can develop new and better treatments.

AboutKidsHealth is a health education website for children, youth and their caregivers. It is designed to empower families by making complex health information easy to understand.

28% of the population aged 15 and over, provided care to family members or friends with a long-term health condition, a disability or problems associated with aging. Among these family caregivers, 39% primarily cared for their father or mother, 8% for their spouse or partner, and 5% for their child. The remaining (48%) provided care to other family members or friends.

The Canadian Virtual Hospice site provides support and information about palliative and end-of-life care to patients, family members, healthcare providers, researchers and educators.

Home Care Ontario, the voice of home care in Ontario™, is a member-based organization representing providers of quality home care services from across Ontario.

My Health Matters delivers health information based on your personal health priorities and your individual life stage. Our articles, videos, recipes and interactive tools will help you manage and improve your health. All the content is developed and written specifically for women by the experts at Women's College Hospital.

SexandU.ca takes a real-life approach to the questions and issues around sex and sexuality that matter most to Canadians. From talking about sex, to lifestyle choices, to contraception awareness and sexually transmitted infections, SexandU.ca provides accurate, credible, and up-to-date information and education on topics related to sexual and reproductive health. SexandU.ca is an initiative of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, Canada’s leading authority on sexual and reproductive health.

Caring for Kids provides parents with information about their child’s and teen’s health and well-being. Because the site is developed by the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) you can be sure the information is reliable. The information should not be used as suitable for medical care and advice, if you have specific concerns about your child’s health, please see your child’s paediatrician, family physician or other health care provider.

This AI Chatbot was built by scientists to support caregivers. Elizzbot  was developed by SE Health a not-for-profit social enterprise applying knowledge, vision and drive to forever impact how people live and age at home, today and into the future. Elizzbot is designed to use proven therapy techniques to provide unbiased emotional support and to help caregivers practice self care by strengthening emotional resilience and promoting wellbeing.

A carer is a person who takes an unpaid caring role for someone who needs help because of a physical or cognitive condition, an injury or a chronic life-limiting disease. Did you know that 8.1 million Canadians are carers and 50% of these carers are between the ages of 45-65? It is difficult to juggle your work and caregiving responsibilities. Carers Canada is an national coalition of federal and provincial organizations that identifies and responds to the needs of caregivers by promoting awareness of the role and value of carers, supports informing and influencing government policies and programs and stimulates collective action that addresses carers’ priorities and needs.

According to the Canadian Men’s Health Association “The statistics around men’s health in Canada are alarming; men are 40% more likely to die from cancer, 70% more likely to die from heart disease and live an average of nine years of their lives in extremely poor health. 70% of men’s health problems can be prevented by adopting healthy lifestyles. With good information and easy tips, we know every guy can make small changes to make him feel healthier, and will benefit his family and community.

Seniors for Seniors is a site that combines quality care with companions close in age to those needing support. Sharing common experiences is an essential component of compassionate caregiving. The site can help provide mature companions t assist seniors in living in happier, more independent lives in the comfort of their own home, retirement community or long term care facility.

This Government of Ontario website provides great information on finding childcare. 

The Alzheimer Society is the leading not-for-profit health organization working nationwide to improve the quality of life for Canadians affected by Alzheimer's disease and other dementias and advance the search for the cause and cure. Active in communities right across Canada, the Society has programs and services near you.