How Can You Join the Conversation?

Lived Experience Network - South East Ontario Advisory Zoom Chats

You're invited to join us for an Advisory Lived Experience Zoom Chat! These chats offer a meaningful way for health care system leaders—those who plan, assess, and provide services to people living with dementia or similar diagnoses in South East Ontario—to hear directly from people with lived experience (past or present). The goal is to improve the system of care. Our Lived Experience Facilitator, Sharon Osvald, will guide these conversations via Zoom. If you haven’t already signed up for our e-newsletter, you can do so by clicking here.

Thank You!

A big thank you to all the participants who shared their insights during our February, April, and May conversations. The Lived Experience Network will take a break for the summer and return in September.
Be sure to read our June Lived Experience Perspectives e-newsletter for the most recent info. It is also available on our “Lived Experience Perspectives” page.

September 2025 Lived Experience Conversation

We hope you’ll join us in September for another Advisory Zoom Chat. These conversations give individuals living with dementia—or similar diagnoses—and their family or friend care partners a chance to share personal insights that can help shape better care. 

Facilitated by Sharon Osvald.

Dates & Times:

To accommodate different schedules, we’re offering two session times (same topic at both):
  • Monday, September 8 – Evening Chat: 6:00 – 7:30 PM (ET)
  • Monday, September 15 – Daytime Chat: 1:00 – 2:30 PM (ET)
 

Topic: Centralized Access Services

September's question comes from Providence Care Seniors Mental Health Behavioural Support Services: "Looking at access into our system of specialized care, one of the ways we facilitate this is through our central access process. We are looking for input from our lived experience partners as to how we can continue to refine and improve this process. Come prepared to share your lived experiences accessing services throughout your dementia journey.

Zoom Link and Info:

Join Zoom Meeting:  https://zoom.us/j/3960785979?omn=93074666806
Meeting ID: 396 078 5979
Prefer to call in? Dial:
  • (647) 374-4685 or (647) 558-0588
  • Then enter Meeting ID: 396 078 5979
If you experience any technical issues, email Kim at schrybuk@providencecare.ca or call 613-285-4802.

Looking Ahead

The Lived Experience Network will host six Zoom conversations a year—in February, April, May, September, October, and November. Each topic will be discussed in both an afternoon and an evening session.
Feedback from these conversations will be compiled into a quarterly report called “Lived Experience Perspectives and shared confidentially with LEN participants and health care/community support professionals to support planning, service delivery, and system evaluation.

Please let us know if you’re planning to attend and which date works best for you. While registration isn’t required, it helps us provide better support and prepare a meeting agenda.

Zoom Chat Guidelines

Please read before joining:

We understand that not all stories are easy—but this space is not just for complaints. The Lived Experience Network is not an ombudsman. It’s a safe, respectful place to share your story through the lens of hope—with the goal of helping others by improving the system.

Please do NOT share:
  • Full names of individuals you support
  • Real names of medical or support staff, volunteers, hospitals, long-term care homes, or organizations
  • Any personal health information (yours or others)
Swearing, name-calling, aggressive language, or assigning blame are not permitted. Participants will be warned and may be removed from the call if these guidelines are not followed.

We encourage you to use this space to share your insights, ideas for change, and moments when you witnessed good care in action. Our hope is that you feel supported, heard, and inspired.

Want to Share Your Lived Experience?

Come to our next Zoom Chat or contact Sharon Osvald:
📧 sosvald@alzking.com
📞 Mondays, Tuesdays or Wednesdays: (343) 645-6240

You can also email Sharon to register and receive the Zoom link and agenda.