This document provides information about family caregivers in Canada. It defines a caregiver as someone who provides informal care for a family member with long-term illness, disability, or age-related needs. Most caregivers are women and have been providing care for over a year. Common types of care include elder care for parents and care for a spouse with a health condition. Caregiving can cause stress due to effects on employment like lost hours or benefits, financial hardship, and less time for family. The number of caregivers is expected to rise as the population ages.

1. INTEGRITY HEALTHCARE CONSULTANTS
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PROFILE OF FAMILY CAREGIVERS
Fact Sheet #2
FACT
SHEET
#1
WHO ARE CAREGIVERS?
A
caregiver
is
an
individual
who
provides
informal
care
and
support
for
a
family
member
or
friend
who:
 Lives
with
a
long
term
or
chronic
illness
Ÿ Has
a
physical
or
mental
disability
Ÿ Requires
support
for
age-­‐related
needs
Ÿ Experiences
diminished
physical
or
cognitive
abilities
There
are
over
2
million
informal
caregivers
in
Canada.
Women
tend
to
assume
primary
caregiving
responsibilities
more
often
than
their
male
counterparts.
In
Canada
women
represent
54%
of
caregivers,
and
are
more
likely
to
spend
20
or
more
hours
per
week
on
caregiving
tasks
(Sinha,
2013).
Caregiving
is
often
a
long-­‐term
commitment.
A
2012
Statistics
Canada
survey
of
informal
caregivers
reports
that
of
the
majority
of
caregivers
in
Canada,
89%
had
been
providing
care
to
one
or
more
family
members
for
a
year
or
longer
(Sinha,
2013).
Informal
caregiving
can
involve
a
wide
range
of
responsibilities,
including:
providing
transportation,
managing
finances,
maintaining
household
tasks
and
repairs,
managing
appointments,
assisting
with
medical
treatments,
and
providing
personal
and
emotional
support.
Aging
parents:
Elder
care
is
one
of
the
primary
types
of
informal
caregiving,
and
is
usually
provided
by
adult
children.
According
to
the
Canadian
Institute
for
Health
Information,
“few
seniors
who
are
receiving
publicly
funded
long-­‐term
home
care
are
able
to
manage
alone.
In
a
sample
of
131,000
home
care
clients
age
65
and
older,
only
2%
were
coping
without
an
informal
caregiver
(CHHI,
2010,
p.1
).
Spouse
/
Life
Partner:
Caregiving
can
involve
tending
to
a
spouse
or
life
partner
who
is
experiencing
a
physical
or
cognitive
health
condition.
Statistics
Canada
reports,
for
example,
that
cancer
was
the
leading
reason
behind
spousal
caregiving
in
Canada
in
2012
(Sinha,
2013).
Family
members
and
mental
illness:
Nearly
8%
of
the
4
million
family
caregivers
in
Canada
are
providing
care
for
a
family
member
experiencing
a
mental
illness
(Mental
Health
Commission
of
Canada,
2015).
“Longer
life
expectancies
and
the
transition
of
baby
boomers
into
their
senior
years
have
meant
that
more
Canadians
may
require
assistance
and
care
related
to
aging,
now
and
into
the
future.”
-­‐Sinha,
2013,
p
4.
DID
YOU
KNOW…
“At
some
point
in
their
lives,
nearly
half
(46%)
of
Canadians
aged
15
and
older,
or
13
million
Canadians,
have
provided
care
to
a
family
member
or
friend
with
a
long-­‐term
health
condition,
disability
or
aging
needs.”
-­‐Sinha,
2013,
p.3.
COMMON TYPES OF INFORMAL
CAREGIVING

2. 2
Lorem Ipsum
CAREGIVER
STRESS
There
is
little
doubt
that
caregivers
can
provide
an
improved
quality
of
life
for
recipients,
particularly
for
elderly
family
members
who
might
otherwise
require
placement
in
institutionalized
settings.
As
well,
caregiving
has
increasingly
become
an
important
means
of
reducing
excessive
health
care
and
social
system
costs
for
care
recipients.
The
demands
of
caregiving,
however,
can
place
a
considerable
strain
on
a
caregiver’s
work/life
balance.
Often
they
must
manage
competing
demands
of
providing
caregiving
support
while
also
balancing
paid
work
and
raising
a
family.
Effects
on
paid
work:
Caregiving
can
have
multiple
effects
on
a
caregiver’s
paid
employment.
Research
has
shown
that
employed
caregivers
can
experience
disruptions
to
their
work
productivity,
reductions
in
paid
work
hours,
a
loss
of
employment
benefits,
and
diminished
opportunities
for
career
advancement.
These
effects
tend
to
be
more
prevalent
among
caregivers
who
invest
several
hours
a
week
caring
for
a
family
member
(Statistics
Canada,
2012).
Financial
effects:
Often
the
financial
demands
of
caregiving
can
impose
financial
hardship
for
caregivers.
Many
caregivers
incur
out-­‐of-­‐pocket
expenses
for
transportation,
rehabilitation
services
and
medications.
In
2012,
28%
of
caregivers
supporting
children,
20%
caring
for
spouses,
and
7%
of
caregivers
supporting
a
parent
reported
experiencing
financial
hardship
as
a
result
of
their
caregiving
responsibilities
(Turcotte,
2013).
Effects
on
family
life:
The
responsibility
of
caregiving,
often
a
full
time
job
in
itself,
can
mean
less
time
spent
with
children
and
significant
life
partners.
Statistics
Canada
reports
that
approximately
half
of
the
caregivers
surveyed
in
2012
with
children
under
the
age
of
18
felt
that
their
caregiving
responsibilities
reduced
the
time
spent
on
family
tasks
and
activities.
Half
of
the
65%
of
caregivers
with
life
partners
reported
spending
less
time
with
their
partners
(Sinha,
2013).
THE EFFECTS OF CAREGIVING
HOW WE CAN HELP
At
Integrity
Healthcare,
we
offer
a
comprehensive
list
of
expert
support
services
for
caregivers
and
their
family
members.
Our
customized
services
include:
• Respite
relief
for
caregivers
• Home
care
services
• Companionship
for
your
loved
one
(in
home
or
in
hospital)
• Family
mediation
• Medication
review
• Expert
guidance
with
Personal
Health
Portfolios
and
Living
Wills
• Comprehensive
care
planning
• In-­‐person
navigation
and
advocacy
support
by
an
RN
(in
the
home,
hospital
or
doctor’s
office)
• Therapeutic
education
• Home
safety
assessments/safety
equipment
demonstration
and
installation
• Coordination
of
integrated
care
with
all
medical
professionals
(case
management)

3. 3
3
CAREGIVER STRESS
Without
an
appropriate
support
system,
the
role
of
caregiving
can
become
overwhelming.
When
a
caregiver’s
responsibilities
exceed
his
or
her
ability
to
manage
them
effectively,
there
is
often
a
high
potential
for
stress
and
burn-­‐out.
Caregiver
stress
(also
known
as
“caregiver
distress”
or
“caregiver
strain”)
is
defined
as
“the
overall
impact
of
physical,
psychological,
social,
and
financial
demands
of
caregiving”
(CIHI,2010,
p.
3).
SOME
IMPORTANT
STATISTICS
ON
CAREGIVER
STRESS
• A
2012
Statistics
Canada
study
found
that
while
most
caregivers
surveyed
were
able
to
effectively
manage
their
caregiving
responsibilities,
“28%
found
providing
care
somewhat
or
very
stressful
and
19%
of
caregivers
indicated
that
their
physical
and
emotional
health
suffered
in
the
last
12
months
as
a
result
of
their
caregiving
responsibilities.
In
both
cases,
these
consequences
were
magnified
with
the
intensity
of
care
and
the
number
of
hours
per
week”
(Sinha,
2013,
p.
13).
• The
Canadian
Institute
for
Health
Information
reports
that
“nearly
20,000
informal
caregivers
(16%)
of
seniors
receiving
home
care
reported
distress
related
to
their
role.
The
rates
of
distress
were
significantly
higher
among
those
providing
more
than
21
hours
of
care
per
week:
28%”
(CIHI,
2010,
p.
1).
• A
study
conducted
by
the
Canadian
Institute
for
Health
Information
found
that
caregiver
distress
was
most
strongly
associated
with
two
factors:
the
level
of
cognitive
impairment
of
the
family
member,
and
the
number
of
hours
required
to
care
for
the
recipient.
(CIHI,
2010)
SIGNS
&
SYMPTOMS
OF
CAREGIVER
STRESS:
• Emotional:
Feelings
of
isolation,
anxiety,
distress,
anger
or
depression
• Physical:
Declining
physical
health
(including
weight
loss
or
gain,
exhaustion,
disruptions
in
sleep
patterns)
• Lifestyle
changes:
Abusing
drugs
or
alcohol;
losing
interest
in
hobbies
or
social
activities
CONSEQUENCES
OF
CAREGIVER
STRESS
&
BURN-­‐OUT
Caregiver
stress
can
pose
considerable
consequences
for
the
well-­‐being
of
caregivers
and
care
recipients
alike.
Research
has
shown
that
caregivers
with
high
levels
of
“role
overload”
are
often
in
“poorer
physical
and
mental
health
and
make
greater
use
of
Canada’s
health
care
system”
(Duxbury
et
al.,
2009,
p.
35).
Caregiver
stress
also
has
implications
for
the
well
being
of
care
recipients.
In
the
case
of
seniors,
for
example,
there
is
a
higher
risk
of
being
admitted
to
a
residential
care
facility
or
a
nursing
home
if
a
caregiver
is
unable
to
carry
out
his
or
her
role.
The
Canadian
Institute
for
Health
Information
notes:
A
sustainable
health
care
system
relies
on
the
informal
support
network
to
help
keep
seniors
at
home
and
avoid
institutionalization
for
as
long
as
possible.
Informal
caregivers
who
are
at
higher
risk
of
distress
may
require
additional
resources
or
respite
to
continue
providing
care”
(CIHI,
2010,
p.
15).

4. ADDITIONAL CAREGIVER INFORMATION RESOURCES
Helpguide.org
http://www.helpguide.org/
The
Family
Caregiver.com
http://www.thefamilycaregiver.com/ontario/caregiving/caregiving.php
Canadian
Caregiver
Coalition
http://www.ccc-­‐ccan.ca/
Canadian
Mental
health
Association
(Ontario)
https://ontario.cmha.ca/
REFERENCES
Canadian
Institute
for
Health
Information
(2010).
Caregiver
Distress
in
Brief.
Ottawa:
Canadian
Institute
for
Health
Information.
Duxbury,
L.,
Higgins,
C.,
and
Schroder,
B.
(2009).
Balancing
Paid
Work
and
Caregiving
Responsibilities:
A
Closer
Look
at
Family
Caregivers
in
Canada.
http://www.cprn.org/documents/51061_EN.pdf
Mental
Health
Commission
of
Canada.
(2015).
Informing
the
Future:
Mental
Health
Indicators
for
Canada,
Ottawa,
ON:
Author.
Sinha,
Maire.
2013.
"Portrait
of
caregivers,
2012."
Spotlight
on
Canadians:
Results
from
the
General
Social
Survey.
No.
1.
September.
Statistics
Canada
Catalogue
no.
89-­‐652-­‐X.
Turcotte,
M.
2013.
“Family
caregiving:
What
are
the
consequences?”
Insights
on
Canadian
Society.
Statistics
Canada
Catalogue
no.
75-­‐006-­‐X,
September
COPING AND STRESS PREVENTION:
STRATEGIES FOR CAREGIVERS
Prepared
by:
MacMillan
Research
Design
–
www.macmillanresearch.com
While
caregiving
can
be
a
deeply
rewarding
experience
for
both
caregivers
and
recipients,
it
often
comes
with
unique
challenges
and
stressors.
Adopting
healthy
coping
strategies
is
key
to
managing
your
tasks
and
preventing
burn-­‐out.
Ask
for
help.
Accept
any
offers
for
support
that
might
provide
you
with
some
respite.
Find
Balance.
Try
to
take
at
least
a
half
an
hour
a
day
to
“recharge”,
relax
or
engage
in
a
hobby.
Reach
out.
Join
caregiver
support
groups
in
your
community,
or
online.
Take
care.
Don’t
neglect
your
own
health.
Get
plenty
of
rest,
try
to
follow
healthy
eating
habits,
and
where
possible,
find
time
for
light
fitness
activities.