Women & Caregiving
by Family Councils Ontario
In honour of International Women’s Day 2017, we’re going to step away from our usual blog content and provide a few facts on women, caregiving, and Long-Term Care. On this occasion, consider discussing and reflecting on these facts and figures within your Council.
- In 2010, women were almost twice as likely as men (49% compared to 25%) to spend more than 10 hours per week caring for a senior. (Statistics Canada, Portrait of Caregivers, 2012 (September 2013) http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/89-652-x/89-652-x2013001-eng.htm).
- Women tend to provide care for activities that must be completed on a regular or set schedule. For instance, they were twice as likely as their male counterparts to provide personal care to the primary care receiver, including bathing and dressing (29% versus 13%). (Statistics Canada, Portrait of Caregivers, 2012 (September 2013) http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/89-652-x/89-652-x2013001-eng.htm).
- The majority of Long-Term Care residents are women. By the age of 85 the proportion of women to men is nearly double, prompting many to note that Long-Term Care is not just a health issue but a women’s issue. (Banerjee, Albert. An Overview of Long-Term Care in Canada and Selected Provinces and Territories. Rep. Women and Health Care Reform Group, Oct. 2007. Web. 8 Mar. 2017. <http://www.womenandhealthcarereform.ca/publications/banerjee_overviewLTC.pdf>.)
For more on International Women’s Day 2017, visit http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/commemoration/iwd-jif/equality-egalite-en.html
Reflect on the role of women within your loved one’s Long-Term Care Home and within your Family Council. How is your Home marking International Women’s Day? Share your thoughts with us on Facebook and Twitter.