opinion: reshaping canada's caregiving system
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one in four canadians is currently a caregiver, and one in two will be one at some point in their life. getty
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if every caregiver took one week off, our care systems would collapse before noon on the very first day. maybe even earlier.
the sustainability of our health care and social systems relies on caregivers and care providers, but they have reached a breaking point. make no mistake: we are in the middle of a caregiving crisis and care can’t wait.
one in four canadians is currently a caregiver, and one in two will be one at some point in their life. regardless of your age, health, ability, or circumstances, you may find yourself among the growing number of canadians taking care of others. it is something we all need to care about.
work by unpaid caregivers is equivalent to 2.8 million full-time paid care providers
caregiving is rooted in relationships — in our families and friendships. it is meaningful and often deeply personal. but the evidence shows that caring in the long-term can lead to high levels of stress and burnout, not to mention dire financial consequences. the work performed by unpaid caregivers in canada is equivalent to that of 2.8 million full-time paid care providers. these individuals lose an estimated $336.8 million dollars in annual wages because of the time they are off work so that they can provide care.
the millions of unpaid caregivers are the unseen, unacknowledged and undervalued bedrock upon which our health care, social services and disability supports systems are built. yet, as a society, we have ignored their financial, physical, and emotional needs for far too long. the good news is that the status quo is changing thanks to new efforts to reshape canada’s caregiving landscape.
“it will take a monumental effort and steadfast commitment to remake a system to value unpaid caregivers, paid care providers and the beneficiaries of that care,” writes naomi azrieli, oc, chair and ceo of the azrieli foundation. supplied
as a family caregiver, and through my chosen mission to be a catalyst for change, i am keenly aware it will take a monumental effort and steadfast commitment to remake a system to value unpaid caregivers, paid care providers and the beneficiaries of that care.
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the canadian centre for caregiving excellence (ccce), an initiative by the azrieli foundation, is celebrating its one-year anniversary this month, and it has been an exhilarating year as we’ve established a national movement to give caregiving a strong voice and an equally vital platform. in addition to funding program and educational opportunities for caregivers and care providers, the centre’s goal is to put caregiving at the top of the provincial, territorial, and federal government public policy agendas. the centre also seeks a co-ordinated approach through a common, inclusive definition of caregiving, a national caregiving strategy, provincial caregiving legislation and international caregiver recognition.
the time is now for a national caregiver strategy
ccce’s initial undertaking in late 2022 was to publish a white paper entitled, giving care: an approach to a better caregiving landscape in canada. our discussions with caregivers, care providers, researchers and stakeholders from across the country bore testimony to the need for a national caregiver strategy and set in motion subsequent actions to address unmet needs.
ccce will be hosting a national caregiving summit in ottawa from nov. 6 to 8, 2023. i am excited to bring together policymakers, thought leaders, researchers, academics, caregivers, care providers, health, and social service organizations and leaders, and recipients of care to build the foundation of national caregiving strategy. the importance of this work cannot be underestimated.
part of the ccce’s mission is to inject a sense of urgency, to respond to lived experiences, to expose the hard facts, and to consider the diverse needs and views of canadians. we hope to be an agent of authentic change and hope you will follow our progress.
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it is fitting that the theme of the upcoming national caregiving summit is ‘working together’. to me, it is the only way we can build a foundation strong enough to face the expanding needs and challenges that lie ahead.
canada could be the greatest place in the world to give and receive care. i invite those interested in building a better future to attend the canadian caregiving summit in person or virtually, so we can work together to build a future where care is valued.
naomi azrieli, oc, is the chair and ceo of the azrieli foundation which supports many initiatives in canada, including the canadian centre for caregiving excellence.
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