Togethering is the term for how we live out our vision of how we care for our families together.

Family can mean anything from the traditional nuclear family across generations to modern-day chosen families, friends and neighbours.

This series explores how modern families are navigating their own version of togethering – examining the intersection of aging, housing and caregiving.

Article
by Winnie Tsang

Togethering – Exploring housing options and the concepts of care

Togethering is unique for each family. It can take many different forms in where we live, how we support each other and how we transition together as an intergenerational “circle of care.” This introduction to the "Togethering" series explores some housing options built around concepts of care.

Article
by Amy Hwang

‘We take care of our own’: Shared family values guide Togethering

Stella and Derek are an example of proactive "Togethering." When the couple were expecting their first child, they purchased a home across the street from Stella's parents to stay close. Part two of the togethering series explores how Stella and Derek are considering new ways of "togethering" as Stella's parents require more care.

Article
by Amy Hwang

Togethering in the face of a degenerative disease

After Andrea's father was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2015, it became difficult for her to provide him care in Toronto from her home in the U.S. Eventually she would have to figure out a shared living space that worked for both of her parents and her and her husband. Read Andrea's story navigating "Togethering" in part three of the series.

Article
by Amy Hwang

Togethering as a frustrating, messy yet meaningful journey

For part four of the Togethering Series, Amy reflects on how the pandemic and her mother's heightened and unpredictable home care needs caused her family to come together to take care of each other in seemingly impossible yet profoundly meaningful ways.

With the impact of COVID at the forefront, Amy Hwang and Winnie Tsang created this series to explore how families are navigating their own version of “Togethering” and making thoughtful housing choices as we care for each other intergenerationally.

Amy Hwang

Series Co-Creator

Amy Hwang is a second-generation Chinese Canadian mother, care partner, social entrepreneur, and aging + design researcher. Her mission is to help individuals, families, and communities co-create more meaningful relationships as they age together.

Winnie Tsang

Series Co-Creator

Winnie Tsang is a mother, wife, daughter, and a caregiver in many capacities of her life. As a missions-focused entrepreneur, she works with families and organizations to elevate the practice of positive caring between older adults and their carers. 

Winsome Adelia Tse

Series Illustrator

Winsome Adelia Tse is a creative artist, illustrator, and designer from Greater Toronto. Her works span a variety of media to tell stories about the monumental within the mundane. A selection of her visual works is on her artist portfolio, www.winsomeadeliatse.com.