The Hidden Cost of Caregiving: Let’s Talk About It!
Par Family Councils Ontario
This week's blog post in our ongoing ‘Long-Term Care and Finances’ month is about a topic that is frequently top of mind to Family Council members: the cost of caregiving.
Statistics Canada have done some interesting work on Canadian caregivers in a report published in 2013 called Family caregiving: what are the consequences? (http://www.ccc-ccan.ca/media.php?mid=458). The report focused on all caregivers, not just those caring for people who are elders, so the report includes those caring for spouses, children, parents, extended family or friends. It states that in 2012 slightly more than 8 million Canadians, or 28%, of people aged 15 and over had provided help or care to a relative or friend. Nearly 3 in 10 people are caregivers and many of those are more likely to be women. A quarter of these are seniors themselves. Age related needs are the single most common problem.
Many caregivers are unseen and not compensated and it often becomes a full time job. Whether it is loss of income, travel, or respite care there are out of pocket expenses. Families spent an excess of 444 million unpaid hours looking after someone with cognitive impairment including dementia at the time the report was written. It is projected that by 2040 family caregivers will spend a staggering 1.2 billion unpaid hours per year.
The more intense the care the greater the impact on the health of the caregiver. 75% of caregivers develop health illnesses, particularly depression. This leads to a cost on the health system due to expenses incurred for caregivers’ health.
Financial and in-kind supports are critical to families. For those Canadians who must work past age 65 and then face caring for a family member, having a plan in place is critical. Employers need to consider caregiving arrangements in new and creative ways, supporting families whether they are caring for their child or a parent or other family member.
For families that are in a position to have a live-in caregiver, CARP released a report that breaks down the cost of Personal Support Workers in the home. www.carp.ca/2011/04/26/the-financial-cost of caregiving/2/. It goes without saying that there is much to consider regarding live-in caregivers.
Family Council members know well the costs, both human and financial, of being a caregiver. Let us know your thoughts about the cost of caregiving. Current discussions about a National Dementia Strategy need to include the financial costs of caregiving. Discuss this at your council meeting. Share the supports you have and where you need support. Discussing these important issues helps us all understand the challenges and can further the work toward having strategies in place that can support caregivers.