Unpaid caregiving – provided to those with a health condition or aging related needs – is widespread in Canada. Unpaid or informal caregivers provide up to 75% of care for those age 65 and over.

Sun Life wanted to better understand the experiences and needs of Canadians providing unpaid care. To do this, we collaborated with C.A.R.P., a non-profit advocacy group for Canadians aged 45 and older. Together, we undertook a national survey of C.A.R.P. members in June 2021.

Here are some key highlights of the joint research report:

Who are caregivers providing care for?

Most caregivers provide care for their parents, in-laws or their spouse/partner.

This bar chart represents caregivers by two age categories: those between the age of 45 and 64 years old and those older than 65 years of age The chart shows who these two groups of caregivers are providing care for •	72% of caregivers between the ages of 45 and 64 years old are providing care for parents and or in-laws •	28% of caregivers 65 years or older are providing care for parents and or in-laws •	12% of caregivers between the ages of 45 and 64 years old are providing care for a spouse or significant other •	50% of caregivers 65 years or older are providing care for a spouse or significant other •	11% of caregivers in both age groups are providing care for an adult child or children •	5% of caregivers between the ages of 45-64 years old are providing care for a child or children under the age of 18 years old •	4% of caregivers 65 years or older are providing care for a child or children under the age of 18 years old •	10% of caregivers between the ages of 45 and 64 years old are providing care for those who fall into the “other” category  •	12% of caregivers 65 years or older are providing care for those who fall into the “other” category

Who are the caregivers?

  • Two-thirds of all caregivers are of working age.
  • Women were 50% more likely to report being caregivers than men. And women were more than twice as likely to report having complex caregiving roles (for two or more people).

What’s the toll on women caregivers?

74% of women caregivers reported being overwhelmed:

  • 43% said their role caused them significant stress, and 28% said that taking care of their health was very challenging.

What’s the impact on working caregivers?

Over 40% of caregivers aged 45-64 had given up employment, or are considering it. And a majority of working caregivers (67%) said their caregiving role made it challenging to be productive at work.

You can download the full joint research report here. It provides a snapshot of the impacts on caregivers in Canada. It also highlights the ways that employers and governments can better support caregivers in this valuable role.