New findings highlight burnout, lost income and concerns over inadequate financial protection
Canada’s unpaid caregivers are under growing financial and emotional pressure as rising living costs and limited support systems force many to make difficult sacrifices at work and at home.
A new report from the Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence warns the country is nearing a caregiving crisis, with millions of Canadians struggling to balance employment, finances, and the demands of caring for children, aging parents, and loved ones with chronic illnesses or disabilities.
The findings come as industry observers also raise concerns that many households may be financially unprepared for the economic consequences tied to caregiving responsibilities.
“Caregivers are suffering financially, their mental health is suffering,” said Liv Mendelsohn, executive director of the Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence. “Really, they are the unseen backbone of the healthcare system.”
The report found many caregivers are reducing work hours, leaving jobs, delaying retirement savings, or taking on debt to continue providing care. Advocates warn the strain is particularly acute for women, who continue to shoulder a disproportionate share of unpaid caregiving responsibilities.
Separate reporting by Wealth Professional highlighted how caregiving can disrupt long-term financial planning and leave families underinsured against income loss and future care needs.
Andrea Frossard, chief commercial officer at Foresters Financial, told Wealth Professional that caregiving often carries significant financial consequences that families may overlook when assessing insurance and financial protection needs.
The Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence estimates Canadians provide billions of hours of unpaid care each year, labour that effectively subsidizes the healthcare system while creating mounting economic pressure inside households.
The report also pointed to growing burnout among professional care workers, many of whom leave the sector because of staffing shortages and difficult working conditions.
“Only 50% of care providers remain in the sector for more than five years, often citing burnout due to staffing challenges as key reason to leave,” the report stated.
Advocates are calling for broader policy reforms, including increased financial support, improved workplace protections, and expanded access to respite care and community services.
“For every hour that someone receives in the formal healthcare system, they are getting three hours of unpaid care at home,” Mendelsohn said. “For most caregivers, it’s 20 hours a week.”
