MARCH 2026

“I feel so alone.” Spotlight on Caregiver Isolation

The daily responsibilities of caregiving can feel all encompassing.

After long days spent going to appointments, contacting healthcare providers, tracking symptoms, organizing medication, filling out forms, providing hands on care and so much more – you may feel worn out, exhausted, and alone.

It’s hard to make time for yourself as a caregiver, and it can feel *even harder* to make time for the friendships, relationships, and social connections that fill your cup.

And when you do have a moment to reach out, you may not be sure if friends will understand what you’re going through.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Research from our 2025 Spotlight Report found:

• 46% of caregivers feel lonely, isolated, and depressed
   
• 72% say they can’t maintain their own healthy behaviours, like social connection, because of their caregiving role

For busy caregivers, there’s no perfect solution or cure for these feelings of isolation, but there are small steps that can help you feel less alone.

This edition of Connect will share ideas to help you find moments of connection, even when it feels hard.

Building Connection as a Caregiver

Relationships are vital to our wellbeing and support stronger immunity, improved mood, longer lifespan, and greater resilience.

You can build your social circle by finding moments of connection that work for you:

Connect with others who understand

Other caregivers know better than anyone how challenging this role can be. Sometimes a kind voice and words of encouragement from someone who has been there may be just what you need.

At OCO, we offer peer support programs to help you find support and connection with people who can relate to your experiences:

• Peer mentorship: A telephone-based program that connects caregivers with trained Peer Mentor volunteers who have lived caregiver experience and can offer emotional support, a listening ear, and genuine understanding.
   
• Online Support Groups: Connect with other caregivers to share your challenges, successes, and concerns throughout your journey. These groups offer a space to hear a range of stories that can help you feel less alone. Specialized groups are available for young caregivers, French speaking caregivers, and those navigating a change in their identity as a caregiver.

Weave connection into your daily life

When it feels like there aren’t enough hours in a day, making plans can feel overwhelming. Why not start by weaving moments of connection into existing tasks within your schedule? This could look like:

• Taking a few moments to chat with a neighbour when picking up the mail
   
• Meal prepping with a friend over the weekend (in-person or over the phone – whatever works for you!)
   
• A phone call with someone in your life while cleaning up after dinner or during a 5-minute break from your care tasks

Connection doesn’t always require long conversations or elaborate plans. Small, intentional moments add up.

👉 For more tips and insights on building strong relationships, tune in to this episode of Time to Talk featuring relationship expert, Dr. Sharma

Join Us This Caregiver Day

April 7 is National Caregiver Day – a day to recognize the emotional and physical support caregivers provide to a family member, partner, friend, or neighbour.

To mark the day, we’re hosting a special online event to recognize the incredible contributions of caregivers and share practical ideas for building social connection.

Help us celebrate the recipient of the 2026 Janet Beed Impact Award and hear a special presentation from GenWell – Canada’s human connection movement – with tips to help you feel less alone.

Recognize Caregiver Day with Us

Understanding How Caregivers Use Technology

Have you used technology as a caregiver? Have you found it helpful, or challenging?

Whatever your experience, our team at OCO wants to hear from you, to better understand caregivers’ experiences with digital tools and technology – including apps, devices, and artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled tools like ChatGPT – and how these help or hinder caregiving.

By filling out this questionnaire, you will help inform OCO’s work, advocacy, and partnerships related to caregivers and technology

The questionnaire has 25 questions, taking approximately 15 minutes to complete.

Share your experience here

News: Raising Awareness about Caregiver Burnout

Last month, we shared an article from CityNews that highlighted how moments of crisis can lead caregivers to turn to the Emergency Departments for a break (if you missed it, here’s the full story.)

Turning to the Emergency Department for respite care isn’t an easy decision. Often caregivers feel they have nowhere else to turn. They’ve hit a breaking point, but the person they care for still relies on them. They haven’t been able to access the resources and services that could help them * before * they burn out.

OCO is continuing to raise awareness about this critical issue. Our CEO Amy Coupal joined CTV Your Morning to highlight the realities caregivers are currently faced with, how important it is to reach them early in their journey – before burnout becomes a crisis - and OCO’s free supports.

Watch the clip here (1-minute)

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Right now, a caregiver in Ontario is wondering if they can keep going.

Four million Ontarians are caring for a loved one — and 69% say they're not sure they can continue. They're exhausted, and they need help.

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Every caregiver deserves to know they're not alone.

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