Drained, stressed, burnt-out: the unpaid, underappreciated caregivers that are propping up elder care in our communities.
In the fragmented healthcare system, elderly patients are regularly released into the community without a solid discharge strategy. While governments promote a “home first policy,” the reality is that many of these patients will need extensive ongoing assistance in the home. It often falls to a family member to become a caregiver for their loved one.
These caregivers are unpaid for their labour of love; in fact, some may even quit their jobs to meet the demands of caring for an elderly, ill, or disabled relative. The “sandwich generation” is now characterized by people stretched thin between the competing demands of caring for an elderly parent, raising their own children, and pursuing their career goals.
A recent study by Health Quality Ontario, an organization dedicated to analyzing the quality of our healthcare system and providing strategic advice, reveals how dire the situation has become for caregivers of long-term homecare patients.
Entitled, “The Reality of Caring”, the study found that distress among unpaid caregivers has doubled in recent years. This is a troubling trend to see at the beginning of the upcoming dramatic growth in the population of elderly people, as the baby boomer generation ages.
Below, I encourage you to watch a short video from Health Quality Ontario, which discusses some of the key findings and explores a personal story of how difficult caregiving can be:
Families Are Struggling to Provide Elderly Care – Paid or Unpaid
A lot of people believe that there will be care systems in place for the elderly as they age. We believe that for our parents; our parents believe it for themselves. After all, we have paid our taxes and public healthcare system should look after us – right?
Unfortunately the reality is quite different. In Ontario, the vast majority of care in the home is provided by unpaid caregivers. That means the family and friends of those who need care. Homecare services are not supplied by the province beyond a few hours per week (if you’re lucky). Many families cannot afford to pay for the additional multitude of hours of care required each week.
When that happens, families become unpaid caregivers and must make sacrifices to make it work. If they are exhausted and can’t juggle the competing demands anymore, they may hire private agencies for care – but it is very expensive, which can come as quite a shock.
For example, hiring a Personal Support Worker (PSW) to help your parent with personal care in the morning, getting them ready for the day, and perhaps doing some meal preparation can cost $25 to $30 per hour. There is a three or four hour minimum with most companies. The cost estimate per day is $75 to $90 per day; on a weekly basis, this cost is $525 to $630 per week.
The Ageing Population Will Require More Caregivers
More and more families will find themselves in this no-win situation as time goes on and the baby boomer population ages. We are only now just beginning to hit the oncoming surge of elderly as the boomers age.
According to the study, demographic and social changes make it likely that even more (unpaid or paid) caregivers will be needed in the future:
- The proportion of older people in Ontario, who more frequently need the assistance of caregivers, is growing. The number of people aged 65 and older is expected to more than double to more than 4.5 million by 2041 from about 2.1 million in 2013, while the number of those 75 and older is projected to jump to 2.7 million from 923,000.
- Families and the pool of potential caregivers they provide are getting smaller, as women who have historically done much of the caregiving are now increasingly employed in the workplace.
Click here to access the full “The Reality of Caring” study.
For more reading and personal caregiver stories, see the Toronto Star article: “Caregivers are needed more than ever, but burning out”.
Coordinating the Coordinators Adds to Caregiver Stress
Families are not only providing round-the-clock care for their loved one, but they often are left with the responsibility of trying to navigate the confusing and disjointed labyrinth of health services, providers, and options for care.
As Bill says in the video, “I can’t imagine going through the healthcare system without an advocate”.
No matter how dedicated a caregiver is, they do not have expertise in understanding or navigating the healthcare system. Trying to be the advocate for a family member generates another layer of stress on top of the emotional and physical strain of care.
Even many companies that claim to “coordinate care” only do so from a limited perspective and are not looking at the comprehensive needs of the elder and their living circumstances.
The high costs of care (whether you choose to pay for caregivers or take time off work to become an unpaid caregiver) can create a domino effect. Suddenly, families must now worry about their financials and their elderly parents’ financials. The strain of caregiving can create a slippery slope, and families need help to manage it all.
This is why Silver Sherpa exists. We are experts in managing complex needs in healthcare management, estate and eldercare planning. We help elders and their families navigate their current circumstances and plan ahead for the future. With the right coordination and planning, unpaid caregivers can have the support they need during whatever circumstances they and their loved ones are facing.
Your parents. Our priority. Silver Sherpa becomes your trusted co-pilot with specialized planning, coordination, and navigation services to help the elderly and their families get the care and support they need. Schedule a complimentary consultation with us today.
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