Caregivers are Essential Partners in Care.

Let’s Treat Them That Way.

It’s difficult to imagine how nearly 25 percent of the Canadian population has been so overlooked for so long.

That figure — or 7.8 million people — represents how many family caregivers there are among people aged 15 and older in Canada.

On a daily basis, they provide long-term health assistance, emotional support and in some cases, financial support to a family member or other loved one.

While many find caregiving to be rewarding and gratifying, long hours, endless problem-solving and higher stress levels also characterize their role. Add to these challenges having to navigate a healthcare system, which even seasoned professionals find nerve-wracking, and you understand just how difficult their situation is.

Just last month, Alberta Minister of Seniors and Housing Josephine Pon issued a statement on National Caregivers Day in which she thanked them for their vital role. “The contributions of caregivers to their families and communities are essential. They are the everyday heroes who give rides to medical appointments, offer companionship, deliver groceries, provide support in the home and so much more,” said Pon. “Our government recognizes and appreciates the critical role caregivers fill,” she continued. “We are committed to developing supports for unpaid caregivers who help seniors, and those with an illness or disability, age in their chosen homes and communities.”

With nearly one million caregivers in Alberta alone, it’s reassuring and inspiring to see this increasing awareness and appreciation of caregivers’ contribution to society.

But what we now need to see is more support so they can provide the best care for their loved ones — and offset any personal consequences they might face.

The call for greater inclusion of family caregivers

The call for greater inclusion of family caregivers in any medical treatment plan for their loved ones is growing. There’s no doubt that greater collaboration between family caregivers and primary healthcare providers will lead to better outcomes.

On this front, there have been some key recommendations to include and support family caregivers as essential partners in care. Let’s take a look at some of them.

2. Greater Guidance in Post-Discharge Situations

One of the greatest challenges family caregivers often face is when a loved one is discharged from hospital.

One study titled Transitional Care of Older Adult reviewed 100 studies published between 1985 and 2001. It revealed that there were breakdowns in care during the hospital-to-home transition that led to negative outcomes.

Providing more information — including what to expect emotionally — to family caregivers in the lead-up to discharge can help this transition to be less challenging.

3. A Focus on Competence and Confidence

Not surprisingly, family caregivers often feel thrown in at the deep end when they start providing care. There is so much to learn and they’re often not sure what they’re doing is meeting their loved one’s needs.

Today, caregivers can download information off the Internet, read a myriad of books on the topic, listen to podcasts or join support groups to get up to speed more quickly.

However, recommendations from a loved one’s healthcare provider would help to lighten the caregivers’ research load. As does teaching caregivers how to manage specific problems they might encounter while giving care.

According to a study published in the Journal of Nursing Research, a home-care intervention that combined multiple resources greatly improved the quality of life for caregivers at one week and even four weeks after hospital discharge.

The intervention included a specialist nurse coordinator, care protocols, a collaborative home-care dossier and case file, and a 24-hour nurse telephone service with access to a home-care team.

Overcoming Opposition to Greater Family Caregiver Support

Some communities, organizations, or politicians might debate the costs of these interventions that support caregivers in their essential role in care. But we also have to consider the costs on caregivers and wider society as well.

Investing in support for caregivers can increase jobs, which leads to greater taxation revenue. New innovations that also improve caregiver competence and effectiveness can also be marketed and sold to other communities or countries. Also, lightening the work and stress caregivers experience can directly reduce the amount of time off they take from work.

According to Mercer Canada, one lost workday can cost an organization “up to 11 times the cost of that day’s pay.” While studies on the cost of caregiver absenteeism in Canada are hard to come by, some evidence from Poland — which has a population about the size of our country’s — is telling. They estimated the costs of caregivers taking time off for a short period at 840 million euros in 2016. That’s more than $1.13 billion CDN.

It’s fair to say that a little support for caregivers in their essential role in care goes a very long way. It’s also an indisputable signal of how we view and value our elderly population.