Joan Craven's Blog

The findings in The Caring in Canada 2026 report from the Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence won’t surprise many Canadians. What the report does confirm is what countless families already know: caregiving in Canada has become a national crisis.

The report estimates that replacing the care currently provided by unpaid caregivers would cost $97.1 billion annually.

Caregiving involves far more than helping with physical needs. According to the survey, caregivers provide a wide range of emotional and practical support, spending an average of five hours every day caring for a loved one. And this is only the beginning. As Canada’s population continues to age, care needs become more complex, and families become smaller, caregivers will be expected to provide care for longer hours and for more years.

The result? Rising costs and limited support are pushing many unpaid caregivers to the breaking point. Millions are experiencing financial strain, exhaustion, and burnout while quietly propping up Canada’s healthcare system with unpaid labour.

Some of the report’s key findings include:

● Financial strain: Nearly half (49%) of caregivers experience financial hardship, and one in five spends more than $12,000 a year out of pocket.

● Workplace impact: Fifty-nine percent of caregivers balance employment with caregiving responsibilities. More than one-third (36%) report lost income or reduced productivity.

● Burnout: Seventy-seven percent say caregiving has negatively affected their physical or mental health, leading to stress, fatigue, and burnout.

● Lack of support: Although unpaid caregivers provide an estimated $97 billion worth of care each year, 61% feel unsupported by government.

● Paid care crisis: Professional caregivers, including Personal Support Workers, are also struggling. Low wages, staffing shortages, and unsafe working conditions have led 73% to consider leaving the profession.

The Need for a National Strategy

The report concludes that current caregiving programs are no longer keeping pace with demand. The Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence is calling for a National Caregiving Strategy that would provide reliable financial support and programs designed to protect caregivers’ health and well-being.

With the cost of living continuing to rise, many caregivers are finding it increasingly difficult to pay for everyday necessities. Some are dipping into retirement savings much sooner than they had planned.

Despite repeated calls for action, political progress has been slow. In fact, caregivers report feeling worse off today than they did when a similar survey was conducted in 2023.

What Caregivers Say They Need

The survey asked caregivers what would make the greatest difference. Among senior caregivers, 87% said improved access to home-care services was their top priority. Many also supported more generous tax credits and a monthly caregiving allowance to help offset expenses. In addition, 88% said an income tax credit for caregiving would help them make ends meet.

While some tax credits already exist, many caregivers simply don’t know about them. The information is often difficult to find and can be confusing to navigate.

Caregiving Is More Than Hands-On Care

When most people think about caregiving, they picture helping someone get dressed, preparing meals, assisting with bathing, or driving them to medical appointments. Those responsibilities are certainly demanding.

But there is another side of caregiving that often goes unnoticed: the administrative work.

Many caregivers spend hours scheduling medical appointments, coordinating services, managing medications, organizing paperwork, and overseeing their loved one’s finances. Nearly one-third (31%) spend at least one hour every week simply trying to navigate the healthcare and support systems. Half of all caregivers say that finding reliable information and available resources is difficult.

Caregiving has become one of the invisible pillars supporting Canada’s healthcare system. Until governments recognize its true value—and provide meaningful financial, practical, and emotional support—the burden on caregivers will only continue to grow.

SO WHAT CAN I DO IF I KNOW A CAREGIVER?

Avoid saying “Let me know what I can do?” Most caregivers are so exhausted they can’t think to delegate. Offer highly specific, concrete actions.

1. Meal Prep: Provide a gift card for take-out or delivery
2. Meal Prep: Drop off a home-made meal or frozen meals for later
3. Errands: Pick up groceries or prescriptions
4. Take home laundry or change the beds, vacuum and dust
5. Sit with the loved one: Caregivers often report that time for themselves is their highest unmet need
6. Forward this BLOG to others

If you focus on alleviating the daily grind: meal prep, running errands, or providing regular respite, the caregiver can catch-up on their own health, rest and errands.

Advocate for Caregiver Support

1. Write letters to politicians. http://canadiancaregiving.org can help you.
2. Encourage talk-shows to address this topic
3. Talk to friends and neighbours about the crisis and encourage them to react
4. Write letters to the editor in newspapers highlighting the need
5. Forward this email/BLOG to others

If we don’t make some noise, nothing will happen. Ask for action, the data proves we need action…. not another committee or report. Do it now!