New study exposes escalating mental and financial strains on Canada's caregivers, prompting urgent calls for policy reform
The Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence (CCCE) has released a comprehensive study titled ‘Caring in Canada,’ spotlighting the increasing demands and complexities in caregiving across the nation.
Compiled from responses of over 3,000 caregivers and care providers, the study outlines several pressing issues faced by those in the caregiving sector.
Key findings from the study indicate significant strains on caregivers' mental and financial health. One in four caregivers reported their mental health as fair or poor, feeling overwhelmingly tired (47 percent), anxious (44 percent), or overwhelmed (37 percent) due to their caregiving duties.
Financially, half of the caregivers experienced stress, with one in five (22 percent) spending at least $1,000 per month on out-of-pocket expenses related to care.
The report also highlights a concerning trend among senior caregivers, who make up nearly one in five of all caregivers and are the least likely to access support services like home modifications or transportation.
This demographic is also grappling with their own age-related challenges, further complicating their caregiving responsibilities.
Furthermore, care providers, including Personal Support Workers and Direct Support Professionals, are facing severe job dissatisfaction due to low compensation and unsafe working conditions, with 80 percent considering a career change.
The study sheds light on the additional barriers faced by diverse communities.
Racialized, Indigenous, and LGBTQ2S+ caregivers reported more significant hardships, with almost half of racialized caregivers experiencing financial difficulties due to their caregiving responsibilities, compared to 34 percent of non-racialized caregivers.
In response to these findings, CCCE has called for urgent policy interventions and is working towards a National Caregiving Strategy, slated for unveiling in fall 2024.
Proposed reforms include caregiver-specific employment protections, access to a caregiver allowance, and improvements in compensation and working conditions for care providers.
As part of this initiative, CCCE is conducting public consultations during May – National Caregiver Month – to incorporate diverse perspectives into the upcoming strategy. This includes online engagement forms and weekly virtual sessions open for registration on the CCCE website.
Liv Mendelsohn, executive director of CCCE, emphasized the critical need for direct compensation for caregivers, improved access to home care, respite, and mental health care, alongside workplace policies to support those balancing work and caregiving responsibilities.
She stated, “Caring in Canada confirms an urgent need for policy solutions that can make life easier for caregivers, care providers, and people receiving care.”
Echoing the sentiments of many caregivers, Jennifer Johannesen from Guelph, Ontario, shared her personal experience of caring for her son alongside her freelance work and caregiving for his sibling.
She highlighted the importance of providing caregivers with options that allow them to manage their responsibilities without sacrificing their own needs.
Johannesen shared, “Caring for my son for his entire life was an immense privilege, but toggling between my son's 24/7 care, caring for his younger brother, and managing freelance work as a single mom, made me put my own needs on the sidelines. Every caregiver should have options that allow them to flourish.”
