Burden of home care borne by women

Shelley Martin

A recent survey found that about 4% of adult Canadians currently care for a family member who is frail, chronically ill or has a physical or mental disability. More than three-quarters (77%) of these family caregivers are women, and 48% are aged 55 or more. Thirty-one percent of family caregivers are retired, and another 16% are full-time homemakers; 47% are employed or seeking work. One-fifth of caregivers have been providing care for 11 years or more, and an additional 17% have been doing it for 6 to 10 years.

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Recipients of family care are most likely to be a spouse/partner (38%) or parent (33%) of the caregiver, while 17% are children of the caregiver. More than half (57%) of the recipients of care are 65 and older, while 9% are under 18. Forty-three percent of care recipients require assistance because of physical disability, 21% because of mental disability and 18% because of a combination of physical and mental disability (18% of respondents did not specify).

The large majority of caregivers (83%) say they have the necessary skills to handle their care-giving activities, although many say they could use help for a variety of activities, either to provide respite care (15%), bathing (10%), general in-home care (10%) and cleaning or housework (7%). While 43% of caregivers say they are coping very well with their responsibilities and another 49% say they are generally coping, more than two-thirds (70%) indicate that providing care has been difficult or stressful. Among those reporting stress, 77% say they have had problems with their own emotional health, 54% with personal finances and 50% with physical health.

The National Profile of Family Caregivers in Canada — 2002: Final Report is available at www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/care/nat_profile02/1.html. — Shelley Martin, Senior Analyst, CMA Research, Policy and Planning Directorate