The Big Picture

Caregiving is growing rapidly in Canada, with the number of caregivers expected to increase from 4+ million to 6.5 million by 2030. Nearly 70% of caregivers are balancing work and caregiving, and many people don’t even recognize themselves as caregivers, meaning they may not know that support and resources are available to them.

Caregiving can affect much more than a person’s time. It can impact mental and physical well-being, finances, employment, relationships, and social connections, making it important for caregivers to seek support before they reach burnout.

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Key Takeaways

1. Don’t wait for a crisis.

A crisis often develops gradually. A missed medication, a fall, a forgotten appointment, changes in eating habits, increased isolation, or a caregiver who is exhausted may seem like individual concerns. Together, however, they can be warning signs that it’s time to start a conversation about additional support.

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2. Home care is for everyone.

Home care can support people of different ages and may include personal care, nursing, respite, companionship, meal support, therapy, and other services. In Ontario, eligible publicly funded home and community care services are covered through OHIP, while families can also purchase private services to supplement their care. Government resources, private services, family, and friends can work together to meet individual needs.

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3. Support independence, dignity, and choice.

Accepting help can sometimes feel like losing independence, privacy, dignity, or control. The goal of care is not to take over, but to help older adults continue doing what matters to them, making their own choices, staying connected, remaining active, and living meaningfully at home.

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4. Caregivers need care, too.

Caregivers can experience stress, guilt, exhaustion, isolation, financial pressure, and burnout. Resources such as caregiver coaching, peer support, counselling, respite, practical assistance, and community programs can help. As one of the key messages from the session highlighted, supporting the caregiver is part of supporting the older adult.

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5. Asking for help is planning, not failing.

Caregiving should be a shared responsibility whenever possible. Seeking help early can support the older adult, caregiver, family, and their relationships, and may help prevent a manageable situation from becoming a crisis.

A Few Memorable Lines from the Panel

“The crisis usually does not happen overnight.”

“Home is wherever home is to you.”

“The goal is not to take over. It is to help older adults keep doing what matters to them.”

“Supporting the caregiver is part of supporting the older adult.”

“Asking for help is not failing. It is planning.”

“You do not have to figure this out alone.”

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Resources & Support

The conversation highlighted a range of resources available to caregivers and families, including caregiver helplines, peer support, counselling, respite and home care services, community programs, case management, financial resources, and emergency planning tools.

We also learned about the importance of coordinated care and community-based support, including bringing services closer to where seniors live and spend time. These approaches can help make support more accessible while keeping the focus on each individual’s needs, independence, and quality of life.

We’ll continue sharing helpful information and resources from this conversation through our social channels, so be sure to follow along and stay connected with the Wellbridge community.