Research summary: Profile of caregivers in Canada

Title of the report: Profile of caregivers in Canada

Authors of the report: Rafael Silva-Ramirez and Richard Archambault

Alternate formats

Profile of caregivers in Canada [PDF - 273 KB]

Large print, braille, MP3 (audio), e-text and DAISY formats are available on demand by ordering online or calling 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232). If you use a teletypewriter (TTY), call 1-800-926-9105.

Why this study

In 2012, about eight million Canadians were caregivers:

• they provided care to at least one member of their family or social circle, and
• the care recipients had health problems or issues related to aging

It is necessary to have a clear picture of caregivers, because the importance of their role is expected to grow:

• the population is aging, with more and more people in older age groups, and
• there is interest in supporting aging at home for seniors, who benefit from longer life expectancy, sometimes accompanied by chronic illnesses

The last profile of caregivers dates back to 2012. This project aims to explore the evolution of their sociodemographic characteristics and their care burden.

What we did

We:

• used data from the 2012 and 2018 General Social Surveys
• identified people aged 15 and over who were part of the caregiver population
• compared the sociodemographic characteristics of caregivers as well as the care provided to their recipients, and
• analyzed frequency distributions and weighted proportions

What we found

Our results showed:

• a decrease in the proportion of caregivers from 2012 (28%) compared to 2018 (25%), but a significant increase in their caregiving burden
• in 2018:
  • there was an increase in both the number of types of care provided and the number of hours devoted to caregiving
  • more caregivers provided at least seven types of care, including:
    • emotional support
    • transportation, and
    • help with household tasks and personal care
  • there was a significant increase in the number of caregivers who devoted 10 hours or more to their care tasks
• In 2012 and 2018:
  • this population group was composed mainly of women
    • the majority had paid employment and were more concentrated in the 55 and over age groups
  • parents remained the main care recipients, and
  • in 2018, they were followed by spouses/ex-spouses and children

What it means

Our results show that the population aged 15 and over who played the role of caregiver in 2018 was proportionally smaller than in 2012. However, in 2018, caregivers devoted, on average, more hours to providing a greater number of types of care.

Our study shows that caregivers are more often women. This group is increasingly concentrated in older age brackets. In addition, the majority of caregivers also have paid employment.

Contact us

Strategic and Service Policy Branch, Social Policy Directorate, Social Research Division

Email: esdc.nc.sspb.research-recherche.dgpss.cn.edsc@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca