Continuing care in Canada refers to the range of services and supports that are provided to seniors and individuals with chronic or complex health conditions, disabilities, or other ongoing care needs.
Family caregivers play a critical role in supporting their loved ones who require continuing care. While continuing care can be a lifeline for families and individuals in need, it also poses several challenges and pain points that can strain the relationships between care providers and family caregivers.
In this blog, we will explore some of the most common pain points between continuing care and family caregivers in Canada.
Lack of Recognition and Support
One of the most significant pain points in continuing care for family caregivers is the lack of recognition and support. Family caregivers often provide a significant amount of care and support for their loved ones, which can be physically and emotionally exhausting. However, they may not receive the recognition and support that they need to continue providing this care. Many family caregivers may feel isolated, overwhelmed, and unsupported in their caregiving roles, which can lead to caregiver burnout.
Lack of Training and Education
Another pain point for family caregivers in continuing care is the lack of training and education. Many family caregivers may not have the knowledge or skills necessary to provide the best possible care for their loved ones. This lack of training and education can lead to a lack of confidence, increased stress and anxiety, and a negative impact on their loved one’s health and well-being.
Lack of Communication and Collaboration
Communication and collaboration between care providers and family caregivers are critical to providing the best possible care for individuals requiring continuing care. However, in many cases, there is a lack of communication and collaboration between these two groups. Family caregivers may feel left out of the care planning process, or they may not have access to timely and accurate information about their loved one’s condition, treatment, or care plan. This lack of communication and collaboration can lead to confusion, duplication of services, and gaps in care.
Financial Strain
Continuing care in Canada can be expensive, and many family caregivers may struggle to afford the care that their loved ones need. While some services, such as home care, may be partially covered by government programs, others, such as assisted living and long-term care, can be costly.
Family caregivers may also have to cover the cost of specialized equipment, medication, and other healthcare expenses, which can be a significant financial burden. Read more on the financial impact of caregiving here.
Lack of Respite Care
Respite care provides family caregivers with a temporary break from their caregiving responsibilities. This break can be critical to preventing caregiver burnout, reducing stress, and improving the caregiver’s overall health and well-being. However, in many cases, respite care is not available or is difficult to access. Family caregivers may struggle to find respite care providers, or they may not be able to afford the cost of this care.
Family caregivers play a critical role in providing care and support for their loved ones. However, continuing care also poses several pain points for family caregivers, including the lack of recognition and support, training and education, communication and collaboration, financial strain, and lack of respite care.
Addressing these pain points will require collaboration between care providers, family caregivers, and government policymakers to ensure that individuals receive the care and support that they need, and family caregivers are recognized, supported, and able to provide the best possible care for their loved ones.
