Supporting Canadian Caregivers
A New Day is Dawning for Caregivers Across Canada
In the darkest days of the pandemic, the struggles of caregivers and care providers were laid bare for all to see — exposing the need for a new approach to care, and new investment in care infrastructure. The 2024 Federal budget is the latest sign that a care movement is being heard in the highest halls of power. The Federal government’s commitment to a National Caregiving Strategy is the first step towards a brighter future of care.
Across Canada, caregivers — family, neighbours, friends — and care providers like Personal Support Workers are the silent, steady and dependable force keeping our society going. You are likely one of them; one in four Canadians is a caregiver today, and half will be a caregiver for a senior, a person with a disability, or someone struggling with their mental health at some point in our lives. Half of Canadian women are caregivers today.
Caregivers provide three hours of care for every hour provided by the healthcare system and report high and increasing rates of poor mental, physical, and financial health. Many work less than a full-time job or not at all.
Caring in Canada, a new report from the Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence, confirmed that caregivers and care providers have been struggling. For the two-thirds of caregivers who work, care responsibilities are
nearly a full-time job on top of their paid job; caregivers provide an average of 30 hours of care per week. This “extra shift” leaves caregivers overextended and exhausted. A third of caregivers say they have experienced financial hardship because of their responsibilities and out of pocket care expenses. Our economy loses $1.3B when caregivers are left out. When it comes to paid care providers, four out of five said they considered changing careers, in large part because of low wages and challenging working conditions. The people who care for our loved ones deserve better. Poor supports for care providers has created a workforce shortage that makes it harder for caregivers to access the services they need. Almost two-thirds
of caregivers who looked for services said it was difficult to find the help they need in their communities.
Better is possible — for you, for your family, and for millions of caregivers, care providers, and care recipients. Join the Canadian care movement and help drive the transformational change we need and deserve — you can start by taking part in our pan-Canada consultations.
This article was sponsored by Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence
Liv Mendelsohn & James Janeiro
Publisher: Meredith Burt
Empowering the Invisible Heroes: Why Caregiver Support Is Critical
More resources are needed to support caregivers — especially young ones — as they balance the challenges of work, school, and caregiving.
Tania Amardeil
As the former First Lady Rosalynn Carter said, “There are only four kinds of people in the world: those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregivers.” Caregiving is a nearly universal experience that will impact all of us at some point in our lives — and it’s an experience that’s fraught with challenges.
Caregiving challenges
“The biggest caregiving challenge is navigating the health care system,” says Gabi Townsend, a support group facilitator volunteer with Family Caregivers of BC who has extensive caregiving experience. “Other challenges involve long-distance caregiving and balancing self-care and other family responsibilities. Then there’s the emotional piece — exhaustion, overwhelm, anger, confusion, guilt, loss of identity, and redefining themselves in their relationship. Very key are grief and loss, which are constant companions in the caregiving journey.”
These challenges are often even
greater for young caregivers, who realize that what they’re doing qualifies as caregiving.
Kristie, a 25-year-old medical student from Vancouver, has been caring for her mother, who has schizophrenia and an eating disorder, since she was 16. “The role reversal was tough,” she says. “You’re expecting to be supported by your caregiver, and instead, not only do you have a burden, but you have this loss of support in your life.”
Financial constraints, isolation, and anxiety have also impacted Kristie.
Supporting
caregivers
You’re expecting to be supported by your caregiver, and instead, not only do you have a burden, but you have this loss of support in your life.
Just a teenager when she started caring for her mother, Kristie had access to few resources. “I was really scared at home,” she says. “I was scared that my mom was going to die or that she was never going to get better. And no one’s checking on you, nobody’s helping.”
Kristie threw herself into her studies to distract herself, and eventually benefited from counselling provided
through her university health insurance. But caregivers need so much more when it comes to supports and resources — caregiver-friendly workplaces and academic institutions, more supportive employment laws and benefits, employment leaves, workplace benefits, tax credits, financial supports, mental health resources, and more. Policy changes and increased assistance from government and community organizations alike are needed to empower and support caregivers, helping them to balance caregiving with their work, social lives, and personal health and well-being.
Caregiver organizations such as the Ontario Caregiver Organization, Family Caregivers of BC, Caregivers Alberta, Caregivers Nova Scotia and Young Caregivers Association can help, equipping caregivers with the necessary resources, support networks, and information to navigate their caregiving journeys with confidence and resilience.
If you’re a caregiver, you’re not alone. Learn more about Caregivers Alberta (caregiversalberta.ca), Caregivers Nova Scotia (caregiversns.org), Family Caregivers of BC (familycaregiversbc.ca), the Ontario Caregiver Organization (ontariocaregiver.ca), and Young Caregivers Association (youngcaregivers.ca) to get the support and resources you need.
This article was sponsored by
Kristie Medical Student, Vancouver, BC
Community Resilience through Social Prescribing: Strengthening the Fabric of Care
In our quest for better health and wellbeing, it's important to recognize the profound impact of interconnected healthcare and social systems. Beyond medical care, social factors play an instrumental role in shaping individual wellbeing and fostering community resilience. Connection is critical to our wellbeing, and the same applies to our systems.
Coordinating efforts across health care, social services, and community organizations is essential for co-creating solutions that enhance wellbeing.
Research consistently shows that social connections are vital for improving health outcomes and addressing health challenges. Meaningful relationships and community involvement not only boost physical and emotional wellbeing but also improve access to vital services, foster a sense of belonging, and reduce reliance on our overwhelmed healthcare system.
Social prescribing offers a dedicated pathway to address social needs affecting health. By
leveraging the health system as a doorway to connecting individuals, including caregivers, to non-medical resources and community activities, social prescribing supports comprehensive wellbeing and resilience.
Through the Canadian Institute for Social Prescribing, a national collaborating hub anchored by the Canadian Red Cross, we harness the power of cross sectoral connections to enhance health outcomes and alleviate system pressures. Social prescribing emphasizes empowerment and self-determination to help everyone achieve personal goals and build meaningful connections.
The Canadian Red Cross has a long history of offering programs and services that promote health and wellbeing, including transportation assistance, food security, health equipment loans, community connection, first aid, and an expanded Friendly Calls program with a national toll-free number that empowers individuals to maintain meaningful connections and engagement with others and their communities.
Understanding the Challenges Facing Canada's 8 Million Caregivers
Canada is home to over eight million unpaid family caregivers who face disproportionate monthly costs compared to non-caregivers. Caring for a loved one can come with financial strain — whether it’s the need to pay for customized supplies, modifications to the home, respite care, or the fact that caregivers must adjust their regular work hours to provide care.
Launched in 2020, the Petro-Canada CareMakers FoundationTM is a registered Canadian charity that creates awareness about family caregiving and inspires Canadians to help by raising funds to enable charitable organizations nationwide to provide critical programs and resources for family caregivers. According to a recent survey from the Petro-Canada CareMakers Foundation, developed in partnership with Leger, 60 per cent of unpaid family caregivers spend up to $500 monthly on care-re-
lated costs, while 17 per cent spend $500 or more. This significant cost burden is in addition to the mental and emotional toll of caregiving, along with the strain it can put on personal relationships and career growth.
"Many caregivers are feeling the financial strain that comes with caring for a loved one, which can be even more pronounced when budgets are tight," says Leila Fenc, Executive Director, Petro-Canada CareMakers Foundation. "While caring for a family member can be a beautiful experience, today's unpaid family caregivers are absolutely feeling the weight that can come with this work."
Supporting caregivers
All in, 47 per cent of unpaid caregivers spend more on care-related costs than other typical monthly bills, including personal care, phone and internet bills, monthly groceries, utility bills, car payments, and monthly childcare
Integrating social prescribing into health care and promoting community engagement aligns with a broader movement in Canada towards an increased focus on health creation through strategies that address critical social determinants of health. Together, we can encourage community involvement and build a more resilient, healthier society.
Through our partnership with the Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence and provincial caregiver organizations, we are strengthening the bridge between our healthcare system and community-based social supports.
This Caregiver Awareness Month let's continue to champion the vital role of caregivers and highlight tools like social prescribing that support caregivers and promote holistic wellbeing across our communities.
costs. Unsurprisingly, 52 per cent report difficulty managing these costs — which is likely to be exacerbated in today’s challenging economic environment.
Eighty per cent of Canadians believe there should be more resources and support for unpaid caregivers, and unpaid caregiving is a role that half of all Canadians are likely to undertake at some point. That’s why the Petro-Canada CareMakers Foundation is proud to raise awareness about the topic and to provide grants — over $7 million to date — to organizations that support family caregivers.
Tanya Elliott, Chief of Health, Canadian Red Cross
Canada’s family caregivers take on significant financial strain, along with other challenges associated with caregiving.
Tania Amardeil
Red Cross