Cathleen Edwards always assumed her career would be in academia, but her journey led to the non-profit sector where she thrives in the role of Research Manager at Family Councils Ontario.
“We’re a hidden gem and we’re trying to build awareness of what we do,” says Edwards.
Family Councils Ontario supports families and friends of long-term care residents to start and maintain effective family councils, works collaboratively with long-term care staff to improve the quality of life in long-term care homes, and informs public policy. The organization is a registered charitable non-profit funded by the Ontario Ministry of Long-Term Care.
Cathleen Edwards
Edwards had just started her job with Family Councils Ontario when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Not only did their small team have to pivot to working from home, but they had to help family councils across the province learn how to meet and function virtually.
With access to their loved ones limited by long-term care home lockdowns, family caregivers and family councils faced a multitude of challenges throughout the pandemic. Family Councils Ontario was there for support, and provided feedback and relayed concerns to the Ministry.
As education manager, Edwards creates resources in a variety of formats “to support building capacity of all our users, whether it’s a family council member, the person who is leading the family council or staff who are working to support family council.”
Topics cover a broad spectrum including powers of a family council as written in the legislation, how to form and run a family council, training long-term care home staff on how to build and maintain positive relationships with residents’ families and how to work with a family council. Elder abuse and neglect, capacity and consent, and self-care are other topics.
To develop such resources, Edwards collaborates with two Family Councils Ontario committees, a Resource Development Advisory Committee and a Diversity, Inclusion, Equitable Representation Committee. Made up of end-users and individuals who come from equity-seeking minority groups, the goal is to ensure the resources meet everyone’s needs.
“It’s really important to engage end-users from the start of creating a resource or else it’s going to be a big failure,” says Edwards.
Co-creation is an approach she experienced first-hand as a trainee in AGE-WELL’s EPIC program. She particularly valued EPIC webinars on topics such as equity and inclusion, the annual conference, and the EPIC Summer Institute, where transdisciplinary teams, older adults and caregivers work together to create solutions to a problem. “I learned to appreciate the skills and strengths each brings to the aging sector.”
Edwards learned of the EPIC training program while employed as coordinator of AGE-WELL’s Workpackage 1 – Needs of Older Adults, and the Dementia Ageing Technology Engagement (DATE) Lab, both led by Dr. Arlene Astell.
“I’m very thankful I came across AGE-WELL and the EPIC program because they helped me to feel confident in finding my way outside academia.”– Cathleen Edwards
A past president of the board of the Toronto Council on Aging, Edwards holds a Master of Arts in Health and Physical Education from Brock University. She is an experienced college and university instructor, and a former recreation professional in a long-term care home.
Edwards is so enthused by the work of Family Councils Ontario that she is doing everything in her power to encourage other provinces and territories to enshrine the role of family caregivers and family councils in their long-term care legislation. “Ontario is the only province or territory in Canada that actually has a section of our legislation that outlines specific powers for a family council. Other provinces are looking to us as the leaders and experts to try and help guide them in this process.”
For Edwards, it’s not just a job, it’s a calling.
“I’m very thankful I came across AGE-WELL and the EPIC program because they helped me to feel confident in finding my way outside academia. They really helped me find a path forward.”