CARP- A New Vision of Aging for Canada | www.CARP.ca | 1-888-363-2279 March 2014 CARP’s New Vision for Caregiver Support

Over 8 million informal caregivers in Canada provide care to family members or friends with chronic conditions, disabilities, and other health needs. Informal caregivers are unpaid caregivers that provide critical support and care that allow Canadians to recover from illness and age at home. The economic contribution of informal caregivers is conservatively estimated at $25-26 billion annually, taking into consideration the number hours of care provided and market wagesi. The savings to Canadian health care systems are even greater since many people who would otherwise need care provided by hospitals and other care facilities receive care at home instead. Despite the support provided to family or friends and the savings to the health care system, caregivers face a variety of challenges, ranging from lost work and income to physical and mental burdens. Caregivers are unlikely to have flexible work hours or arrangements or even unpaid job protection. Most caregivers do not receive financial support, adequate training, and support required to provide care. Many have to face the difficult choice between providing care to a loved one and leaving the labour force altogether, especially those providing heavy care, which is defined as providing 20 or more hours of caregiving each weekii. CARP calls on governments to take a comprehensive approach to providing greater supports for caregivers, recognizing the value caregivers provide to family and friends and th