External Opportunities
The Ontario Caregiver Organization is frequently asked to connect researchers and other stakeholder organizations with caregivers. Where appropriate, we will share these invitations and connect interested members with relevant parties.
In the past, we have supported focus groups with the Ontario Ombudsman office, research initiatives with various academic institutions and research to practice initiatives with various health care providers. We will continue to share these opportunities and thank caregivers who have engaged and contributed in this way.
There are external opportunity for caregivers in French only. For these opportunities, please visit Perspectives Aidance Naturelle in French: https://www.perspectivesaidancenaturelle.ca/occasions-externes
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Survey: Understanding Food Insecurity on Young Organ Transplant Patients
About the Opportunity
The University of Alberta is looking for parents or caregivers of children and youth (0–19 yrs) who live in Canada and have received a liver, kidney, or multi-organ transplant to participate in a brief survey.
This survey will help understand the impact of food insecurity (limited access to safe and nutritious food) on children's health. All organ transplant caregivers are welcome to participate, whether or not you experience issues of food insecurity. By joining this study, you will help us build evidence to advocate for effective policies and interventions that address food insecurity in this population.
What will be expected of me?
- Fill out a brief online survey (5-10 minutes)
- You must be located in Canada to participate
- If interested, there is an optional second phase following the survey which involves an online interview and a diet record, allowing for a more in-depth investigation of mental health, quality of life, diet quality, and the facilitators and barriers to food security.
How do I participate?
You can access the survey using this link. For any questions, please email Dr. Diana Mager at mager@ualberta.ca. -
You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
Research Study: Exploring the Driving and Dementia Roadmap
About the Opportunity
This study explores how people living with dementia and their family/friend caregivers use an online resource called the Driving and Dementia Roadmap to support them through the process of making the decision to stop driving and the transition to no longer driving.
Baycrest Health Sciences is looking for caregivers who provide support to a person living with dementia (any type) who are currently driving or have stopped driving within the past two years and who speaks English.
They are also looking for insights from those living with dementia (any type) who are still driving or have stopped driving within the past two years and who speak English.
What will be expected of me?
You will be asked to use the Driving and Dementia Roadmap for 2-6 weeks, write your thoughts about it in a diary, and take part in a virtual interview via Zoom.
How can I participate?
Contact estasiulis@baycrest.org
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You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
Seniors' medication focus group with caregivers
About the Opportunity
The Open Door Program (ODP), is an outreach-based health initiative of the Mid-West Toronto Ontario Health Team (OHT) led by Access Alliance Multicultural Health and Community Services that to improve health outcomes for vulnerable populations.
ODP is currently consulting with seniors and caregivers to develop a workshop and simple tools to help seniors and caregivers understand medications better, how to talk to doctors and pharmacists, how to avoid confusion, and how to keep track of medicines safely.
They are looking for 20 caregivers from Ontario to share their insights in an online focus group.
What will be expected of me?
- Participate in a one hour focus group hosted on Zoom
- You will need to be available on Thursday, December 11th between 10 – 11am
- The session will include a short overview of the project, a draft workshop agenda for feedback, and a summary of initial insights from seniors.
- The conversation will focus on caregiver feedback and input about the themes and workshop structure.
- Session questions will be sent ahead of time.
How do I participate?
Register using this Zoom form by December 10th. The session will be capped at 20 participants.
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You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
Survey: Caregiving Tools & Safety
About the Opportunity
MedicAlert Foundation Canada is looking for adult caregivers in Ontario (current or within the past 12 months) to participate in a short survey to better understand how caregivers use safety tools and technologies like GPS devices, ID jewelry, and location-sharing apps to help loved ones stay safe and independent.
Your feedback will help MedicAlert and its partners improve safety solutions, strengthen privacy protections, and support caregivers across Ontario.
What will be expected of me?
- Participation in an online survey (roughly 10 minutes in length)
- Your answers are anonymous and used for research purposes only
How do I participate?
You can take part using this survey link. The survey will remain open from November 19 to December 5, 2025. Please share your feedback before the survey closes on December 5, 2025.
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You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
Research Study: Caring Across Generations
About the Opportunity
A research team from the University of Toronto is studying the experiences of caregivers living in Canada who provide support to multiple people. They are looking for candidates who care for people with different care needs (e.g., a child and an adult with a disability or a child and a senior) rather than multiple caregivers who care for people with the same care needs (e.g., a parent caring for multiple children). This research will help inform solutions for the provision of care in Canada.
In order to protect your confidentiality, the interview transcription will be assigned a pseudonym (fake name) and will be stored in password-protected folders and computer.
What will be expected of me?
- You'll first fill out a pre-screening survey which should take less than 5 minutes
- After filling out the survey, you may be contacted to schedule a phone or video (Zoom) interview (expected to be between 45 and 90 minutes in length)
- During this interview, you will be asked to share about your experience as a caregiver, what a typical weekday looks like for you, the impacts of your care responsibilities, and what government support might make these easier
- Participation is completely voluntary, and you can decide to not to answer certain questions or withdraw from the study at any time.
As a thank you, interview participants will receive a $25 President's Choice gift card.
How do I participate?
If you are interested in participating in an interview about your caregiving experience, start by filling out the pre-screening survey for the study.
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You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
Research Study: Setting the Balance of Care for Older Adults
About the Opportunity
Researchers with Trillium Health Partners are studying delayed hospital discharge (known as Alternate Level of Care, ALC, in Canada), which is when someone in the hospital does not need further medical treatment but also is not well enough to go home. To better understand those affected, they are developing personas (short stories) of people who are at risk of going into hospital.
In this study, they will hold focus groups (small group meetings) and interviews with the following people to understand their experiences:
- Older adult patients with experience using health care. We would love to hear from those who have experienced care in an Ontario hospital, and/or got care services in the community after leaving the hospital
- Family, friends, or caregivers who are supporting (or have supported) these patients
- They are particularly looking for older adults and caregivers in and around Mississauga, Etobicoke, North York, and Barrie areas (or similar regions)
What will be expected of me?
- Sessions will have between 2 and 6 participants and are approximately 2 hours (but the timeframe can be adjusted to accommodate your schedule) and will be scheduled based on your availability
- Focus groups will be held on Zoom
- You'll be invited to discuss the story of an individual at risk of hospitalization and delayed discharge (from the hospital) and brainstorm what that person might have needed to prevent those experiences
How do I participate?
If interested, please contact Danielle Jacobson: danielle.jacobson@thp.ca
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You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
Home Care and Support Services Public Review
About the Opportunity
The need and demand for home care and support services were exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic and is rapidly growing as a critical component of an effective health care system. People of all ages want to stay at home for as long as possible, shifting the societal expectations of home care and support services. In a post-COVID world, the home care services landscape is changing with the diversity and needs of clients, new care models, emerging technologies and shifting organizational roles and accountabilities.
Health Standards Organization is developing a new National Standard of Canada for Home Care and Support Services, and is looking for feedback from anyone with an interest in home care and support services, including caregivers. This opportunity is open until October 27, 2025.
What will be expected of me?
All that will be expected of you will be to:
2. Complete the survey before October 27, 2025
This can be done on your own time up to October 27.
How can I participate?
Visit this website for more information or click the links above to get started.
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You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
Study to Support Young Carers in Canada
About the Opportunity
Young carers often go unrecognized and unsupported, impacting their physical and mental health, social lives, education, and work.
This four-year national study led by Dr. Roberta Woodgate aims to co-design policies and research priorities to improve their well-being, with young carers playing a central leadership role.
The Partnering for Young People Caring for Family and Friends research study is looking for participants:
- Age 12-30 years of age
- Who are providing care for a family member or friend
- And currently reside in Canada
What will be expected of me?
Participants will engage in interviews and arts-based projects, collaborating with stakeholders to drive policy change. This will involve:
- Virtual interviews, including on evenings and weekends
- Creating artwork of your choice: video, photo, music, painting, etc. (optional)
Please note that participation is voluntary, and your identity will be kept confidential. You will receive a gift card in appreciation of your participation!
How can I participate?
Contact ingauge@umanitoba.ca or visit https://www.ingauge.ca/young-people/#joining
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You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
Caring for the Family Caregiver
About the opportunity
An 8-week wellness program for family caregivers of a person with dementia or related neurodegenerative disease. This opportunity is for those who are:
- 50 years of age or older
- Experiencing stress in their life
- Open to learning new coping strategies over 8-weeks
How do I participate?
For more information, please call the Stress and Healthy Aging Research Lab and ask about the "Caregiver Study" at the number 416-979-5000 ext 553233 or email star.lab@torontomu.ca with "Caregiver Study" in the subject line.
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You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.
Participant Recruitment for CBT Study at Baycrest Hospital
About the Opportunity
Key topic area: Caregiver mental health, dementia prevention and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), brain mapping, inflammation
Depressive symptoms are increasingly common with aging, and are frequently found in dementia.
Caregivers of older adults with dementia are at increased risk of depression that may in turn lead to an increased risk of dementia for caregivers themselves and poorer outcomes for patients receiving care.
The gold-standard treatment for depression is cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), shown to reduce mood symptoms and improve cognitive functioning while preventing depression relapse.
This study involves CBT followed up with blood tests and neuroimaging in dementia caregivers to clarify the neurological changes are associated with CBT, and which individuals would respond best to CBT.
What will be expected of me?
You can expect to receive a series of CBT therapy sessions offered for free. You'll then be expected to make your best effort to complete the imaging and biomarker collections, to support generating helpful findings for dementia prevention.
- Dates and times of the sessions will be discussed in consultation with the participant
- CBT sessions will be virtual, imaging and biomarker collection will be at Baycrest (Bathurst and Wilson, Toronto)
How do I participate?
If interested in participating, please contact cbtTrial@research.baycrest.org
