AFHTO 2024 Opening Plenary- Integrating Caregivers as Partners in Care: Momentum for a Whole-System Approach

Date: Thursday, October 24, 2024
Time: 12:30 PM to 1:15 PM

Integrating Caregivers as Partners in Care:  Momentum for a Whole-System Approach

Amy Coupal, CEO of the Ontario Caregiver Organization (OCO) and caregiver, Terrence Ho shine a light on the challenges caregivers face when they care for a family member, partner, friend, or neighbour. The presentation will share the key insights and themes from OCO’s Caregivers as Partners in Care Roundtable - a cross-sector dialogue that brought together point-of-care providers, caregivers, patient participants, system and organizational leaders, government and health policy and academics to collaborate on future opportunities to advance the recognition of caregivers in the healthcare system. This presentation will share key themes and insights from this collaboration, as well as speak to the work of OCO’s Essential Care Partner Support Hub.
 

Amy Coupal


Amy Coupal is the CEO of the Ontario Caregiver Organization (OCO), a charitable organization that exists to support Ontario’s 4 million caregivers who provide physical and/or emotional support to family members, partners, friends and neighbours. A visionary leader with over 20 years experience in the not-for-profit sector, Amy is passionate about mobilizing change through knowledge exchange and building collaborative initiatives that positively impact the lives of individuals and communities. The impact of this work is demonstrated through the breadth of direct to caregiver programs and services available through OCO, as well as the early successes of embedding caregiving in the culture of healthcare and the amplification of the voices of caregivers to influence decision making at a system level.

 

Amy is a seasoned CEO, serving as the CEO of Learnography and My Class Needs Foundation, amongst others, and has a deep passion for putting purpose in to action in the charitable and not for profit sector. Amy has a Master of Education from the University of Calgary and is an Adler-trained coach. Her insights have been shared through speaking and media engagements, both internationally and here in Canada.
 

Amy has a deep understanding of the benefits and challenges associated with caregiving. As a caregiver for most of her life, Amy helped to support her brother who had Cerebral Palsy. She was also a caregiver to her mother throughout her cancer journey and now supports her father through older adulthood.

Amy Coupal

Terrence Ho

 

Terrence’s biggest motivation comes from his younger brother, who lives with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, and he's been his care advocate for over 30 years. Terrence's personal experiences caring for his brother and losing his mother to lung cancer have given him a unique perspective on the needs of patients and caregivers.


He is the Head of Global Sales Education & Operations at Braze Mobility, a Canadian company that developed the world's first blind spot sensors for wheelchairs. He's co-authored the book "Bold Spirit Caring for the Dying" and trained as an End of Life Care Doula. These experiences have made him a strong advocate for accessibility, end-of-life care, and mental well-being.


You might have seen Terrence featured in the CP24, Global News, CityNews, National Post, Toronto Star, Healthing.ca, The Disability Channel, and CBC’s Sickboy Podcast, where he shares his experience as a family and sibling caregiver. But when he's not being a change agent, you can catch him relaxing by listening to a podcast, jumping into a cold lake, or bouncing on his trampoline. Terrence's positive energy and drive to make the world a better place is noticeable.

Terrence sits on the corner of a couch in jeans and jacket, arms spread, smiling

Visit the event page for more details

afhto conference
Patient Engagement