Focus groups to seek feedback from caregivers in Algoma District

Organizers of upcoming research focus groups are looking for the voices of unpaid caregivers throughout the Algoma District for feedback with the goal of improving resources for caregivers in the region. 

The first in-person focus group will be held at the North Branch of the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library Feb. 17 from 1-3 p.m. 

“It’s very important that what we do meets their needs, and the best way to meet their needs is to reach out to the community to tell us what their needs are so we can better support the invaluable work and services that they provide to our communities and also to the health and social care systems,” said Dr. Sophia Myles, a member of the Algoma Ontario Health Team who is co-chairing the caregiver research project. 

Feedback from both the in-person and virtual focus groups will aid the Algoma Ontario Health Team, Algoma University and Sault Area Hospital in expanding Caregiver ID, a program originally developed by the Ontario Caregiver Organization in order to provide caregivers with learning materials and support mechanisms. 

The Caregiver ID program was rolled out at Sault Area Hospital in 2020, with more than 400 caregivers taking part in the first phase of the project.  

Organizers of the upcoming focus groups want “the caregiver’s voice at the forefront, and not just bureaucrats and researchers,” said project co-chair Jodi Webber, adding that researchers are also looking for input from caregivers in smaller communities across the Algoma District.   

“We know the experience outside of Sault Ste. Marie is very different, and the needs of people are very different,” said Webber. “We are actively trying to recruit up to Wawa, Thessalon, Blind River, Chapleau, St. Joseph's Island — trying to make sure that we capture the wide variety in experience and needs going forward, so we can tailor and customize any sort of expansion to the local need.”

Feedback from the focus groups will be used to inform research papers, presentations and the provincial body tasked with supporting some 3.3 million caregivers in Ontario.  

“We also really hope to inform and provide insight to the Ontario Caregiver Organization as a provincial organization to really reinforce and provide that northern and rural perspective,” Myles said. 

Organizers say the upcoming research efforts will move quickly, most likely within a year, in order to inform the expansion of the Caregiver ID program. 

“Having local caregivers driving the agenda and their needs has been at the forefront of this project,” Webber said.

The registration deadline for the Feb. 17 in-person focus group in Sault Ste. Marie is Feb. 10. The registration form can be found here. 

Webber can be contacted at (705) 408-2221 or via email at [email protected] for more information.