Join Federal Retirees in recognizing the important contributions of Canada’s caregivers.
Statistics Canada reports almost eight million Canadians provide care for family members or friends with a long-term condition, a physical or mental disability or problems related to aging. Half of Canadians will be a caregiver at some point in their lives, says the Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence (CCCE). Yet, caregiving is often undervalued, under-supported and not well recognized in Canada.
Caregiving by the numbers
8 million Canadians providing care for family members or friends who need their help.
5.7 billion Unpaid hours caregivers in Canada spend looking after loved ones each year.
$97.1 billion Annual value of unpaid work by caregivers who assist loved ones, friends and neighbours.
Caregiving in Canada
In 2023, the CCCE conducted a National Caregiving Survey, completed by 3,000 caregivers and care providers, to understand the realities of caregiving in Canada.
In the 2024 survey report Caring in Canada, the CCCE says Canada is facing a caregiving crisis. It writes, “a perfect storm is brewing: caregivers are getting older, the number of available caregivers is shrinking, the number of Canadians requiring care is rising and care needs are becoming more challenging.”
Caregivers play a pivotal role in the health and well-being of those who receive care as well as in upholding the health care system in Canada. Unpaid caregivers perform many activities, including personal care, scheduling and attending appointments, help with medical treatments, transportation, meals, home and outdoor maintenance, emotional support and more.
Numbers from the Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence show that together, our caregivers spend more than 5.7 billion hours a year caring for people in their lives, and research from the University of Alberta and University of Manitoba in 2022 estimates the annual economic value assisting family members, friends and neighbours with long-term health problems, disabilities or functional limitations to be $97.1 billion.
About 1.5 million Canadians over the age of 65 provide care for a family member or friend, according to a Statistics Canada report in 2018. Roughly one-third of older caregivers caring for a spouse spent 30 hours or more a week caregiving, with women spending more hours than men.
Among the CCCE survey results, caregivers reported that care responsibilities were associated with positive feelings such as making a difference, a sense of importance and appreciation. At the same time, caregiving responsibilities can also impact physical and mental health and contribute to financial stress. In the CCCE survey, one in four caregivers reported fair or poor mental health. The more hours of caregiving performed, the more likely they were to report fair or poor health
The results also showed half of caregivers experienced some form of financial stress in the previous year due to caregiving. It notes, “women and caregivers with a household income of less than $60,000 were significantly more likely to have experienced more financial stressors compared to men and higher household incomes.”
Despite these challenges and impacts, access to assistance and support is difficult and insufficient.
According to the survey, this is particularly significant for caregivers 65 and older. This age group was more likely not to have accessed any services or supports in the past year to help with caregiving responsibilities, such as home modifications, respite or transportation services.
Among caregivers 65 and older attempting to access support, 70 per cent said it was difficult to hire paid care providers or paid care, 59 per cent said it was difficult to find information about support and 55 per cent said it was difficult to get affordable local services.
The 2024 federal budget says the government will launch consultations on the development of a National Caregiving Strategy. Canada needs a plan, with a strategy that includes measurable outcomes. It’s overdue. Consultation with unpaid caregivers and people with lived experience — and then swift action — is needed to improve accessible services and financial support for unpaid caregivers.
Join our campaign calling for better support for caregivers now.