捆绑SM社区

Who provides unpaid care in Canada's care economy? In鈥�2022,鈥�13.4鈥痬illion Canadians aged鈥�15鈥痽ears and older (42%)鈥攐ver 鈥痶wo in five鈥痯eople in this age group鈥攑rovided unpaid care in the previous鈥�12鈥痬onths to children younger than鈥�15鈥痽ears old or to youth aged鈥�15鈥痽ears and older and adults with a long-term condition or disability. Of these unpaid caregivers,鈥�13% provided care to鈥痓oth鈥痮f these care-dependent groups, meaning that鈥�1.8鈥痬illion Canadians older than鈥�15鈥痽ears were "sandwiched" between multiple care responsibilities. Using data from the Canadian Social Survey, a new study sheds light on the landscape of鈥痷npaid caregiving in Canada鈥痠n鈥�2022.鈥�()听

Here are some experts from 捆绑SM社区 who can comment on this issue:聽

Sylvie Lambert, Associate Professor, Ingram School of Nursing聽

鈥淐aregivers remain an essential yet invisible health care workforce. Some treatments are not provided if patients do not have a caregiver available at home 24/7, sometimes for extended periods of time. Caregivers often take on this responsibility without the formal training and the support they need to curtail the impact on their health. However, caregivers are not a homogeneous group, and some sub-groups are more vulnerable than others, including the 鈥榮andwiched鈥� caregivers.鈥澛�

Sylvie Lambert is an Associate Professor at the Ingram School of Nursing and the Canada Research Chair in self-management interventions for patients and their caregivers. She is also a member of the Observatoire Qu茅b茅cois de la proche aidance.聽

sylvie.lambert [at] mcgill.ca (English, French)听

Claire Webster, Founder, Dementia Education Program聽

鈥淎s a former caregiver to my late mother who had Alzheimer鈥檚 disease, I have lived experience with the ripple effect that caregiving can have on the family member. Unpaid family caregivers shoulder a profound and often underappreciated responsibility, navigating a complex landscape of emotional, physical, and financial challenges. While their dedication is immeasurable, the toll it takes on their own well-being and livelihoods cannot be overstated. Balancing caregiving duties with personal needs and obligations is a relentless juggle, often leading to burnout, stress, and isolation. Many caregivers lack adequate support systems and resources, highlighting a critical need for societal recognition and policy interventions to alleviate their burdens and ensure their essential contributions are valued and sustained.鈥澛�

Claire Webster is the Founder of 捆绑SM社区鈥檚 Dementia Education Program and a Certified Dementia Care Consultant. Webster is a member of the Government of Canada鈥檚 Ministerial Advisory Board on Dementia and one of the 捆绑SM社区 senior co-editors of the 2021 and 2022 Alzheimer鈥檚 Disease International world reports.聽

claire [at] carecrosswalk.com (English, French)听