Photo caption: Howard Goodfellow, caregiver, volunteer with the Ontario Health Team Northumberland Experience Partner Council and a member of the ECP Working Group.
As a full-time caregiver myself, I think the Essential Care Partner program will be vital to strengthening trust between families and the care team, reducing caregiver stress, and connecting caregivers with resources to assist them in navigating their caregiver journey
Howard Goodfellow, caregiver, volunteer with the Ontario Health Team Northumberland Experience Partner Council and a member of the ECP Working Group
Caregivers are the backbone of Canada's health care system, providing up to 90% of care, often without formal recognition, training, or support. It's caregivers who provide continuity of care, fill communication gaps between providers, offer emotional, psychological, and physical support to patients, and support more accurate assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.Despite evidence showing that their involvement improves patient safety and health outcomes, many caregivers still feel invisible within the system. This needs to change.
In the Ontario Caregiver Organization's 2025 Spotlight Report, almost 1 in 5 caregivers report taking the person in their care to a hospital emergency room because they needed a break from caregiving, resulting in 1.9 million ER visits last year for caregiver respite. At an average cost of $323 per visit, caregiver exhaustion and lack of respite support cost Ontario hospitals an estimated $643 million in 2024–25. The need for caregiver support is urgent. Early recognition and support of caregivers are essential to improving patient care and reducing system pressures.
That's one of the reasons in November 2025, Northumberland Hills Hospital (NHH), in partnership with the Ontario Health Team of Northumberland (OHT-N launched the county's first Essential Care Partner Pilot Program, formally recognizing caregivers as essential members of the care team.
The pilot program allows patients to identify one or two caregivers, family members, friends, or paid caregivers as their essential care partners. Once designated, essential care partners receive ID badges, training, and resources, and are welcomed into care discussions alongside staff. Participation is voluntary and does not replace professional healthcare roles, but ensures caregivers are actively supported and included in care decisions.
The program was co-designed by an inter-disciplinary working group, including clinicians, allied health staff, volunteers, and people with lived experience, with guidance from the Ontario Caregiver Organization's Essential Care Partner Support Hub team. Building on informal caregiver practices already in place at NHH, the program strengthens communication, fosters collaboration, and ensures both patients and their caregivers are supported throughout their care journey.
Why This Matters
- Formal Recognition – Caregivers are identified and welcomed as partners in care, building trust and engagement with healthcare teams.
- Practical Support – As essential care partners, caregivers receive training, resources, and ID badges to confidently provide support that enhances care and safety for patients, which improves the experience for healthcare providers in turn.
- Collaboration – By co-designing with staff, volunteers, and people with lived experience, essential care partner programs are truly meaningful and practical by treating the patient as a full person.
“I am really pleased to see this program come to Northumberland," says Howard Goodfellow, a caregiver, volunteer with the OHT-N Experience Partner Council and a member of the ECP Working Group. “and hope to see it expand beyond the pilot and throughout the County. It has been a pleasure to be part of the working group at NHH."
The program is now available on NHH's first floor (1A/1B units), including Restorative Care, Inpatient Rehabilitation, Integrated Stroke, and Palliative Care. Learn more here.
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What's Next?
By recognizing caregivers as essential members of the care team, hospitals like Northumberland Hills can ensure better care, better outcomes, and stronger support for the caregivers who make it all possible.
For organizations who want to do more to advance caregiver inclusion and support, they can get access to hands-on, 1:1 coaching and resources through the Essential Care Partner Support Hub.
Whether you don't know where to start, have an idea, or want to build a stronger culture of caregiver inclusion, you can connect with the team here.