Ontario caregivers highlight need for more support

Change Foundation conducts first survey of its kind on the caregiving experience in Ontario

TORONTO, Nov. 15, 2018 /CNW/ - Today, The Change Foundation released the results of a province-wide survey on the experience of family caregivers. The survey, conducted by Pollara Strategic Insights, looks closely at the role of the caregiver within the healthcare system, the type of caring tasks they are engaged in, the time and financial commitment required, and the impact of being a caregiver on their mental, physical and emotional state.

The Change Foundation has been working with family caregivers since 2015 to better understand their daily reality, with a specific focus on their interactions and experiences with the healthcare system. The "Spotlight on Caregivers" survey will be conducted annually for the next three years to help better understand the experience, profile and needs of family caregivers in Ontario.

"This survey was the opportunity to better understand caregivers experience in the healthcare system. The results are telling. It paints a picture of people often unexpectedly thrown into a role that has major implications for their relationships, careers and life choices," said Christa Haanstra, Executive Lead, Strategic Communications, The Change Foundation. "By and large, they struggle alone, leaving them feeling overwhelmed, helpless, and frustrated at times, despite the positive and optimistic outlook they want to convey. They really are the glue that keeps the healthcare system together, and yet they are not often recognized or appreciated for their contributions and the supports they need are simply not readily available."

The survey reveals that 58 per cent of caregivers and 70 per cent of young carers do not self-identify with their caregiving role. Three-fifths of caregivers feel they didn't have a choice in taking on the role of caregiver. Half of all caregivers believe that the person they are caring for would not have as good a quality of life if they were not there to provide support and care. They believe that the person they care for would not have the same access to activities that promote mental and physical health, and they would be in a worse state both mentally and physically.

The impacts of caregiving cannot be understated – almost half of all caregivers said it had a negative impact on their mental health, 41 per cent say it has impacted their physical health, 38 per cent have seen a negative impact on their financial situation, between 25-39 per cent made special arrangements at work to manage caregiving duties and 15 per cent postponed enrolling in education or training. All of these have both short-term impacts, and long-term implications including lost opportunity costs.

On a positive note, caregivers overall feel quite positive and optimistic about their role. They appreciate the time they spend with their loved one and believe they are improving the life of those they care for and feel rewarded for what they do.

The Change Foundation defines caregivers as family members, friends or neighbours who provide care for someone, without pay, due to frailty, palliative care, long-term illness, long-term recovery from accident or surgery, degenerative diseases, physical or mental disability or old age-related disorder.

To read the full press release, the entire report and access multimedia content, please visit the website www.changefoundation.ca/spotlight-on-caregivers.  

Survey Methodology
An online survey was conducted among 800 self-reported caregivers in Ontario 16 years of age and older. The survey was conducted between May 15-28, 2018. Margin of error is not applicable to this study due to its online methodology. However, as a guideline the margin of error on a representative sample of 800 would be +/- 3.5%, nineteen times out of twenty.

About The Change Foundation: 
The Change Foundation is an independent health policy think-tank that works to inform positive change in Ontario's health care system. With a firm commitment to engaging the voices of patients, family caregivers, and health and community care providers, the Foundation explores contemporary health care issues through different projects and partnerships to evolve our health care system in Ontario and beyond. The Change Foundation was created in 1995 through an endowment from the Ontario Hospital Association and is dedicated to enhancing patient and caregiver experiences and the quality of Ontario's health care. For more information, please visit https://www.changefoundation.ca.

SOURCE The Change Foundation

Carla Maggiotto, [email protected], 416-342-1829; Stephanie Bell, [email protected], 416-342-1839