Caregiver Forum 2026: Caring Together: Strength in Social Connection
Date: Tuesday, April 7th, 2026
Time: 10:30 am - 3pm (Doors open at 10 am with presentations starting at 10:30 am
Location: Ebenezer Baptist Church- 107 McWillie Avenue, Saskatoon SK
Cost: $20 Buy online or Register on Eventbrite
Caring for a loved one can be rewarding, but it can also be isolating and overwhelming. Strong social connections are essential for caregivers’ well-being—they provide emotional support, practical advice, and a sense of belonging. Gather with other caregivers to explore why social connections matter for caregivers, the impact they have on resilience and health, and practical strategies to build and strengthen meaningful relationships throughout the caregiving journey. The day will be filled with education, prizes, food & conversation. Coffee will be provided & lunch is included with the ticket.
Presenters:
Nourishing Connection: Nutrition and Well-Being for Caregivers
Most of us are aware that what we eat is important for our health, but did you know that how we eat is also important? This presentation will focus on the social aspects of nutrition for health and well-being. We will explore commensality and gastronomy and how each can support social connection, honour personhood, and promote health. Practical strategies will be outlined for caregivers to use foods, meal preparation, and dining as opportunities to enhance connection.
Bio:Dr. Allison Cammer (PhD, RD) is an Associate Professor and the Program Director of Dietetics in the College of Pharmacy and Nutrition at the University of Saskatchewan. She has been a registered dietitian for close to 30 years. Her research centers on nutrition, aging, and neurodegenerative diseases, spanning risk reduction and health promotion to long-term care and end of life care. She leads The Cognitive Kitchen, a community-based culinary medicine program to support food agency and culinary skills for older adults, caregivers, and persons living with dementia.
Social Connection for your Brain Health
Dr. O’Connell’s talk focuses on the importance of social connection for healthy brain aging. She will discuss why social connection is important, what the features of social connection are, and how social connection supports brain health.
Bio:Dr. Megan E. O’Connell is a registered doctoral clinical psychologist and Professor of Psychology at the University of Saskatchewan who researches neuropsychological measurement relevant to dementia, technology for remote dementia care, and cognitive aging. She has published 147 peer reviewed scientific articles, and she has been practicing in the one day a week diagnostic Rural and Remote Memory Clinic since 2008.
Caregiving: The Importance of Social Support and Exploring Your Social Support Network
Dr. Kortzman’s talk focuses on the complexity of caring and caregiving for persons living with dementia. He will discuss the range of feelings and experiences that may affect caregivers, strategies for coping with challenges, and how to build and maintain a social network while caregiving.
Bio:Dr. August Kortzman has a PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Saskatchewan and is a provisionally registered doctoral clinical psychologist. He is a Research Officer in Dr. O’Connell’s lab and works one day a week in the diagnostic Rural and Remote Memory Clinic. Dr. Kortzman’s dissertation was entitled “Informal Social Support in Caregivers of Persons with Dementia: A Systematic Review of Effectiveness of Informal Social Support Interventions and a Trial Intervention” and was supervised by Dr. O’Connell.