Virtual caregiver project tests internet to help caregivers. (General).TORONTO Toronto (tərŏn`tō), city (1998 est pop. 2,400,000), provincial capital, S Ont., Canada, on Lake Ontario. Toronto is the largest city in Canada and since the 1970s has been one of the fastest-changing cities in North America, experiencing -- Family Service Association of Toronto and three other agencies in Ontario are engaged in a pilot Virtual Caregivers Support Group project. Initiated by the Canadian Canadian (kənā`dēən), river, 906 mi (1,458 km) long, rising in NE New Mexico. and flowing E across N Texas and central Oklahoma into the Arkansas River in E Oklahoma. Association for Community Care, the project runs until May 2002 and teaches families that are caring for seniors to access information and support on the Internet Internet Publicly accessible computer network connecting many smaller networks from around the world. It grew out of a U.S. Defense Department program called ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network), established in 1969 with connections between computers at the . Open to people with all levels of computer experience, the program teaches participants to find information for caregivers on the Internet, to use email, and to participate in online discussion groups. With the help of a donation from the CIBC CIBC Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce CIBC Centres Interinstitutionnels de Bilan de Compétences CIBC Commonwealth Institute of Biological Control (Trinidad) CIBC Commercial International Brokerage Company Employee as Ambassador Program, computers have been provided for participants who did not have their own equipment. "The great thing about the virtual support program is that it will allow caregivers to access information and interact with others who understand their situation, even when they can't leave home," says FSA FSA Financial Services Authority FSA Food Standards Agency (UK) FSA Farm Service Agency (USDA) FSA Financial Services Agency (Japan) Toronto's Seniors and Caregivers Services Manager, Lisa Manuel. Participants in the Virtual Support Group have use of email at any time of the day or night to ask questions of their counsellor and share experiences with other group members. This project signifies the potential of the Internet for extending support services support services Psychology Non-health care-related ancillary services–eg, transportation, financial aid, support groups, homemaker services, respite services, and other services to individuals who have difficulty accessing more traditional programs. Because of the high time and energy demands faced by caregivers, they are frequently unable to attend regular support groups or counselling meetings. Reaching these individuals through alternative means, such as online support groups, is becoming critical as the number of Canadian families caring for seniors at home increases. 416-595-9230 x225 |
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