CARP Caregiver Support Poll results

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CARP members were recently asked to take part in a poll on caregiver priorities. The issue of caregiver support has been on our radar for quite a while. The results were both surprising and familiar. For instance, more than four in ten (41%) CARP members are currently acting as a caregiver. As for the affects on caregivers, we found that roughly half (48%) of caregivers have experienced health issues, at least in part, due to the provision of care.

More than six in ten (62%) said they would not have the support networks or resources to immediately help them in their role as caregiver. An overwhelming majority (94%) of members believed that increased government funding for homecare should be CARP’s number one priority.

The message is clear; it is time we took better care of our caregivers by demanding increased benefits for caregivers in Canada. Caregivers provide invaluable support to their loved ones, but also provide a HUGE financial benefits to Canadians – some estimate the financial benefit of unpaid caregivers to the formal care sector to be upwards of $25 billion dollars. We encourage you to take a look at the full findings in the poll