Federal Liberals make a long-awaited promise to family caregivers

OTTAWA, May 18 /CNW Telbec/ - The Canadian Caregiver Coalition (CCC), on behalf of the five (5) million family caregivers in this country, applaud Mr. Ignatieff's promise of support. The Liberal Party of Canada clearly recognizes that family caregiving is one of the priority challenges that should be addressed by the federal government.

While there is a mixture of ad hoc measures in place for family caregivers, it is clear that creating a more compassionate approach to supporting those who are struggling to balance their caregiving responsibilities within our complex society is essential. The CCC believes that a national Caregiving Strategy should be announced as it would provide a framework to guide our collective and individual response as to how society supports family caregivers. The Caregiving Strategy should include:

    
    -   Safeguarding the health and wellbeing of family caregivers and
        increasing the flexibility and availability of respite care
    -   Minimizing excessive financial burden placed on family caregivers
    -   Enabling access to user friendly information and education
    -   Creating flexible workplace environments that respect caregiving
        obligations
    -   Investing in research on family caregiving as a foundation for
        evidence-informed decision making
    

There is a role for all levels of government and sectors of society to support family caregivers, however national leadership is required to increase awareness and serve as a catalyst for change across all jurisdictions. Thank you to the Liberals for recognizing that family caregivers matter and promising to act.

About the Canadian Caregiver Coalition

The Canadian Caregiver Coalition is a diverse group of national and provincial organizations from across Canada that works collaboratively to represent and promote the needs and interests of family caregivers with all levels of government, and the community. The vision of the Canadian Caregivers Coalition is a Canada that recognizes and respects the integral role of family caregivers in society, and supports this role with the understanding that it is not a substitute for public responsibility in health and social care.

For further information: Nadine Henningsen, President, Canadian Caregiver Coalition, [phone], www.ccc-ccan.ca