Our RESEARCH:

One in four Canadians is a family caregiver.
Family caregivers are essential!

Alberta's family caregivers are critical to giving people of all ages who need care the choice to remain in their community homes. They provide 75- 90% of the care to community-dwelling Albertans.
Alberta's family caregivers also provide essential care to residents in group homes, supportive living, or long-term care. Family caregivers assist with
10–30% of the care in congregate care settings.

We focus on practical research to inform us about what family caregivers need and how healthcare providers can support family caregivers.

The Hidden Workforce: Optimizing Support for Family Caregivers

This discussion paper sheds light on the critical, yet often overlooked role of family caregivers in Alberta's health, social, and community care systems. With over one million family caregivers providing up to 90% of care for community-dwelling individuals, their contributions are invaluable, yet they face significant challenges threatening their well-being and the quality of care they provide.

The paper calls for urgent action to recognize and support these caregivers as integral partners in the care team. It outlines transformative strategies to prevent caregiver burnout, enhance care quality, and address the growing workforce crisis in the healthcare sector. By fostering a compassionate and inclusive culture, promoting caregiver-centered education, and implementing integrated care models, we can empower caregivers and ensure they receive the recognition and resources they deserve.

Join us in advocating for a future where family caregivers are fully supported, valued, and equipped to continue their essential work in our communities.

Cover letter

Discussion paper

The COVID-19 pandemic has had, and continues to have, a profound effect on all people in Canada, including family caregivers.

As a result, we have done 3 surveys to shine a light on the impacts of COVID-19 on family caregivers.

2022 survey:

Double-Duty Caregivers: How has the COVID-19 Pandemic Affected Healthcare Providers who are also Family Caregivers?

Double-duty caregivers are family caregivers who are employed in the healthcare field while also providing unpaid care outside of work (to a family member, chosen family, friend, or neighbour). In this survey and follow-up interviews, we wanted to understand the impact of the dual formal care roles—as a healthcare provider at work and a family caregiver at home.

2022 survey report

2022 survey infographic

2021 survey:

How has 18 months of COVID-19 Affected Family Caregivers?

This survey followed up on our 2020 survey done in July 2020, 4 months after the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Thank you to everyone who has completed this survey.

2021 SURVEY REPORT

2021 SURVEY INFOGRAPHIC

2020 survey:

What are the impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Alberta Family Caregivers?

When COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in March 2020, many of the support that had been available to support family caregivers at home closed or moved online. Family caregivers were locked out of congregate care settings such as group homes, seniors’ apartments, lodges, supportive living, and long-term care.

This survey was done in July 2020 to understand what was happening to family caregivers.

Read the July 2020 Survey Report:

2020 SURVEY REPORT

2020 SURVEY INFOGRAPHIC

The 2020 Survey made an impact!

The 2020 report was:

Presented to the 5 Ministers on the Cross Ministerial Caregiver Working Group (Health, Children’s Services, Seniors and Housing, Community and Social Services, Labour and Immigration)
Helped informed Elise Stolte's Edmonton Journal Series, "Cracks to Chasms"https://bit.ly/3elrfkC
Shared with audiences across Alberta in presentations e.g., Alberta Association on Gerontology Living Well Series
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rq2wrYzP-OE
Influenced the new Improving Quality of Life for Residents in Facility-BasedContinuing Care Alberta Facility-Based Continuing Care Review Report (See Recommendation #5 recognizing family caregivers as partners in care) https://bit.ly/2S2ax2F

Our research

Published Research

You might enjoy some of our research published in open-source journals:

Support for family caregivers: A scoping review of family physician’s perspectives on their role in supporting family caregivers
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/hsc.12928
Family Physician’s and Primary Care Team’s Perspectives on Supporting Family Caregivers in Primary Care Networks https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/6/3293
A Tale of Two Solitudes: Loneliness and Anxiety of Family Caregivers Caring in Community Homes and Congregate Care https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9318565/pdf/healthcare-10-01155.pdf
Neglected Needs of Family Caregivers during the COVID-19 Pandemic and What They Need Now: A Qualitative Study https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9721/9/4/70
Rural Family Caregiving: ACloser Look at the Impacts of Health, Care Work, Financial Distress, and Social Loneliness on Anxietyhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9318565/
Family Caregiving during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Canada: A Mediation Analysishttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35886490/

We listen to family caregivers.

One in four Canadians is a family caregiver. Family caregivers are essential!