Raynia Carr MSW, RSW
You might be here as one of the 7 million Canadians aged 65 or older.
You may be facing a diagnosis of a chronic or degenerative medical condition, cognitive changes, shifting family dynamics, or various kinds of losses.
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You may be one of the approximately 8 million Canadians providing unpaid care for someone they love. Whether living with them or not.
While caregiving can be a rewarding experience, it can also be a significant source of stress.
Or perhaps you are finding yourself at an unnamed turning point, prompting a different kind of reflection
Connected provides psychosocial counselling for this important and sometimes overlooked stage of the life cycle. Counselling can be seen as a way to reduce stress, build awareness and take care of one's emotional health- an important resource as we age.
Aging is not just about managing loss; it is also a powerful opportunity for growth. Whether in learning new ways to meet the challenges that you are experiencing, or in building new skills to approach the later years. Or in taking part in life review, where we gently explore personal history to celebrate your strengths, find meaning in your lived experiences, and consider past struggles. This process helps you cultivate peace, honour your legacy, and step into the final chapters of life with clarity and purpose.
As a Registered Social Worker, I discovered my passion for health and aging 30 years ago during my social work studies. Since then, I have supported older adults and families through illness, transitions, and grief, mostly within the settings of acute care hospitals. I also spent years in corporate social work, providing nationwide eldercare consultation to working Canadians. In 2013, I was honoured with the Esther and Saul Baker Award from the Geriatric Medicine departments of Mount Sinai Hospital and UHN in Toronto, recognizing my commitment to excellence in geriatric patient care.
These diverse, direct experiences, along with my professional training, shape my private practice. I am deeply committed to offering empathetic, strengths-based, and knowledgeable support to older adults and those who care for them. I also offer consultation to individuals and organizations looking to deepen their understanding of psychosocial issues in aging.
The heart of my work is a genuine care for later life and working with those who are looking to address their questions, their challenges, and their experiences- no matter what they are facing- including caregivers or those living with frailty, ill health and dementia.