The objective of this series is to provide information and resources to help improve the financial situation experienced by cancer patients, caregivers, and families. This series will continue through the rest of 2022 and into 2023.
Scroll down to the bottom to see the newest webinars.
In this webinar, we present findings from a scoping review on the effect of a cancer diagnosis on the different sources of income of individuals diagnosed with cancer during adulthood (aged 18 years or over). We present evidence from international peer-reviewed literature on survivors’ employment income, investment income (e.g., stocks/bonds, savings), government transfer payments (e.g., disability pension), debt, and bankruptcy for the period 2000-2020. Our findings show cancer survivors incurred debt, spent down savings, and liquidated assets in response to a cancer diagnosis. Yet cancer’s impact on survivors’ income tended to lessen over time, suggesting early financial support for survivors is important.
About These Presenters
Stuart Peacock
Dr. Stuart Peacock holds the Leslie Diamond Chair in Cancer Survivorship in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University. He is Co-Director of the Canadian Centre for Applied Research in Cancer Control (ARCC) and Distinguished Scientist at BC Cancer. Over the past 20 years, Stuart’s main interests have focussed on research into developing more effective cancer systems, making health system funding decisions fairer and more transparent, and improving the quality of life of cancer patients and survivors.
Colene Bentley
Colene Bentley is Senior Methodologist and a qualitative health services researcher at BC Cancer and the Canadian Centre for Applied Research in Cancer Control (ARCC). She has developed and analyzed the results from studies using a variety of consultation tools—such as interviews, focus groups and large public engagement events—to understand the needs and experiences of a broad spectrum of health care professionals and end users, from key decision makers to the general public. She has also conducted evidence syntheses on cancer clinical trials costs and the income of cancer survivors.
The presentation will cover eligibility for social assistance in Ontario (OW and ODSP), as well as review the benefits associated with each program. We will also touch on how to challenge negative decision by social assistance offices and the impact of the province’s social assistance modernization on service delivery.
About the Presenter
Gillian is an income maintenance staff lawyer and managing director at Willowdale Community Legal Services. Her practice includes social assistance, old age benefits, and some tax benefits. Gillian co-chairs the Social Assistance Action Committee (SAAC), a group of social assistance legal clinic caseworkers in the GTA. Prior to working at Willowdale, Gillian held positions at West Scarborough Community Legal Services and Northumberland Community Legal Centre. Her favourite things are sushi, bubble tea, escape rooms, her dogs and her newly expanded family.
This presentation will focus on the legal test to be considered “disabled” for the purposes of accessing the Ontario Disability Support Program, about the process for getting on ODSP, and about the legal process to challenge a refused ODSP application.
About the Presenter
Daniel Bastien is a Community Legal Worker and income security paralegal at NLS. Daniel has spent 10 years active in the labour movement, working primarily with racialized immigrant workers in the hospitality sector. He has been an organizer with the Peterborough Coalition Against Poverty, a grassroots organization with a dual focus on providing assistance to people in accessing social benefits and advocating for systemic changes around issues of social assistance, housing, and employment. He has also worked with community organizations to build coalitions for campaigns, including the campaign for $15 and Fairness, Fairbnb, and the 2017 Aramark food serviceworkers’ strike at York University.
Are you or someone you know caring for a family member or friend while trying to balance demands at work? Join us for a session presented by the Ontario Caregiver Organization (OCO). Participants will learn more about caregiving experiences in the workplace, explore the best strategies for balancing work and caregiving, review federal and provincial benefit options, and gain access to free resources focused on their needs.
About these Presenters
Rani Sinanan is joining us as an experienced caregiver. Until one year ago Rani was a fulltime caregiver to both of her parents who had cancer. Rani’s mom was diagnosed with Metastatic Gallbladder cancer in August 2019 and her dad was diagnosed with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma in November 2019 and Thyroid cancer in July 2020. Prior to becoming their caregiver Rani was a teacher in a Private school. However when she realized how truly challenging things were going to be with her mom’s condition, she decided to quit her job. There were many ups and downs with both of their cancer journeys, and although her dad has been in remission since March 2021, they unfortunately lost her mom on November 26th, 2021. Since then Rani has become a first time mom and has started dedicating more of her time doing what she loves: volunteering. Having gone through this experience, it has become her life goal to raise as much awareness as possible about Caregiving and the challenges caregivers face. Rani hopes by sharing her experiences and knowledge she can help change someone’s life for the better.
Felicia Hart is the Program and Service Lead for Workplace and Helpline at OCO. She has worked in the social service and not for profit sectors for 14 years, focused on program development and implementation. Felicia’s goal is to ensure everyone has the opportunity to live well in their community with access to the support they need. As a caregiver, she understands the challenge of balancing career and caregiving priorities which helps inform her work at OCO.
· Overview the Canadian employer sponsored health benefits market with a focus on drug plan coverage.
· Explanation of the stakeholders that influence private benefit plan design and coverage decision-making
· Review of common formularies and drug plan designs and how they impact medication access
· How to determine which medications are covered by your plan
· How to advocate for coverage if you are declined
About the presenter:
Suzanne is a private health plan strategist who bridges the pharmaceutical and group benefits industry. Prior to beginning her consulting practice, Suzanne was National Manager Private Healthcare with the pharmaceutical company Hoffman La Roche Canada. During that time she developed and executed private healthcare strategies and managed a patient assistance program for biologic medications. Prior to joining the pharmaceutical industry Suzanne worked in group benefits in a wide variety of roles for almost 20 years, which included managing the drug programs for a major Canadian insurer. She is frequent speaker and contributor to both private market and pharmaceutical industry conferences and publications.
In this Webinar, participants will learn:
– How your bank or financial institution can help and what questions to ask
– How your financial advisor can help and the types of services that they may provide
– The potential costs of what to expect
– How your insurance agent can help you with gathering info and services they provide
– RRSP/Investments – what to think about
About the presenter:
Andrew works as an independent financial advisor and broker, affiliated with Canada Life. He has been working in this role for over 7 years now. His previous roles were held in customer service at a major Canadian Bank and as an administrative assistant at the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, which helps to educate Canadians with financial literacy and developing initiatives. His desire to help Canadians achieve prosperity combined with the ability to develop strong relationships is what lead him to this role. His decision to work independently allows his practice to focus on the flexibility of investment or insurance product offerings to his clients, as well as providing a holistic financial planning approach. Andrew’s educational background is in Financial Economics from Carleton University in Ottawa, which he graduated from back in 2015. He is also pursuing his Certified Financial Planner “CFP” designation in May of this year. Andrew has a very active life and enjoys playing sports, maintaining his fitness goals, travelling, volunteering in his community and continues to further his education in personal finance.
View the Video: here
View the slides: here
In this Webinar, participants will learn about:
– Balancing rising costs and a limited budget
– Eating healthily, food banks, other resources in your community
– Budget formats that work for cancer patients
– Money management
– Debit and credit management
– Credit counselling
– Consumer protection
About the presenter:
Andrew works as an independent financial advisor and broker, affiliated with Canada Life. He has been working in this role for over 7 years now. His previous roles were held in customer service at a major Canadian Bank and as an administrative assistant at the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, which helps to educate Canadians with financial literacy and developing initiatives. His desire to help Canadians achieve prosperity combined with the ability to develop strong relationships is what lead him to this role. His decision to work independently allows his practice to focus on the flexibility of investment or insurance product offerings to his clients, as well as providing a holistic financial planning approach. Andrew’s educational background is in Financial Economics from Carleton University in Ottawa, which he graduated from back in 2015. He is also pursuing his Certified Financial Planner “CFP” designation in May of this year. Andrew has a very active life and enjoys playing sports, maintaining his fitness goals, travelling, volunteering in his community and continues to further his education in personal finance.
View the Video: Here
View the Slides: Here
About this Webinar:
We will learn:
– What is CPP-Retirement
– What is Old Age Security
– What is a Guaranteed Income supplement
– What Are Survivor benefits
– Who can apply for these, and when
About this Presenter: Denise has been working with Mississauga Legal services for over 20 years. She is a Licensed Paralegal and practices in the areas of Immigration law and Income maintenance (CPP-retirement, CPP-disability, Old Age Security, Ontario Disability Support Program and Ontario Works). Denise is passionate about her work and enjoys working with low income and vulnerable clients.
View the Video: Here
About this Webinar: This webinar will serve as an introduction to Cancer and Work, a website that “was designed to address the unique needs of cancer survivors with returning, remaining, changing work or looking for work after a diagnosis of cancer. The website provides newly created information, resources, and interactive tools for cancer survivors, healthcare providers, employers, and highlights helpful information from across the globe.” The talk will include 10 steps to return to work, and job search ideas for cancer survivors
About this Presenter: Maureen Parkinson has worked for over 25 years as the Provincial Vocational Rehabilitation Counsellor at BC Cancer. She is the co-lead and content lead for www.cancerandwork.ca . a website designed to inform cancer survivors, employers and health care providers on how to help cancer survivors stay, return to and find work. She is a sessional instructor for Pacific Coast University teaching Cancer and Worker Support as part of the Return to Work Coordinator Program. She has co-authored a commission paper for the Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology called Cancer and Work: A Canadian Perspective and wrote Cancer and Work: A Practical Guide for Cancer Patients. She has a Masters in Counselling Psychology, is a Canadian Certified Rehabilitation Counsellor, and completed the Certified Return to Work Coordinator Program through the National Institute for Disability Management and Research.
View the Video: Here.
View the Slides: Here.
About this Webinar: This webinar will have two perspectives. Jasveen will be presenting about the impact of cancer and treatment on a person’s physical, cognitive & mental health and how an Occupational therapist can work with the person to gradually overcome these challenges to return to work with or without modifications. The presentation will cover some case studies of past success with the opportunity to answer questions at the end. Then we will hear from Jen who has experienced her own journey with breast cancer and how she advocated for herself and occupational therapy to help her return to full time employment.
About our Presenters: Jasveen has been practicing Occupational Therapy since 2003. He has made a significant impact in the lives of countless individuals across various settings, both in the United Kingdom and Ontario. Her expertise extends beyond the walls of hospitals, reaching into the community to assist individuals in their own homes, social services, worker’s compensation cases, short term & long term disability and motor vehicle accidents. She has been an unwavering pillar of support for her clients to help them overcome the limitations of health conditions impacting their physical, cognitive and emotional abilities. She has a compassionate approach and deep understanding of the impact of health conditions on a person’s abilities to meet the demands of their personal and work life. Jasveen firmly believes in the importance of living a full and meaningful life, regardless of the obstacles one may face. Through her expertise in occupational therapy, she empowers her clients to regain control and pursue their goals, dreams, and aspirations. By helping them adapt to their new circumstances and providing practical strategies, she facilitates their reintegration into daily activities, leisure pursuits, and work environments.
Jen Atkinson is a wife, mother, OT and a breast cancer survivor. She has been working as an Occupational Therapist since 1994, in mental health internationally and in community therapy while she raised her two girls with her husband Brian. While working as a palliative care coordinator at Home and Community Care Support Services, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her journey through treatment and the rough road back to work was not an easy one. Always an advocate for Occupational Therapy, she asked for a referral to an OT as part of her return to work. She is now back to full time employment, largely due to her positive experience with her therapist, and the cognitive gains she made while in therapy.
View the Video here.
View the slides here.
As a part two of our Occupational Therapy series, Carol Peachey-Hill has shared her unique perspective in the field. Peachey-Hill was unable to join us for our talk: Occupational Therapy – A Return to Work Tool.
View the Video here.