Shining a Spotlight on Caregivers

Caregiver burnout can’t be solved with self care

A lot has changed since The Ontario Caregiver Organization published last year’s Spotlight Report that sheds light on the experience of family caregivers who support someone with a physical or mental health challenge in Ontario. Covid-19 restrictions have eased, and many programs and services have re-opened. What hasn’t changed is the impact caregiving is having on caregivers. There are far too many Ontarians struggling to cope emotionally, financially and practically. Two thirds of caregivers say they have experienced feelings of helplessness, burnout, and just finding it difficult to continue with their caregiving responsibilities.   

We often talk about the need for self-care and while that’s critically important, but it doesn’t solve caregiver burnout; it doesn’t solve the factors that lead to the frustration, anxiety, and exhaustion.

Our health care system is in crisis. There are fewer nurses and personal support workers which has added more pressure on caregivers to deliver care that would otherwise fall to a health care professional. When challenges accessing care, navigating transitions or system navigation arise, it is often the caregiver who faces this head on.

Caregivers are taking on more responsibilities

This year’s Spotlight report has uncovered notable insights on the caregiving experience at this point in the pandemic:

·       One in four caregivers say their caregiving responsibilities have become more difficult since the easing of Covid-19 restrictions

·       One in four caregivers say their mental health is worse now, compared to when we were in the height of the pandemic

·       A third of caregivers are spending 10 or more hours a week providing physical and/or emotional support to someone in their life. This number spiked during the pandemic and hasn’t decreased significantly with the re-opening of community programs and services

We can all make a difference

The opportunity to make a difference is now. It includes the care providers on the front line who interact with caregivers every day but there is also a role to be played by employers, who can implement caregiver friendly policies that enable caregivers to better balance work and caregiving. There is also a role to be played by educators, who may unknowingly engage with younger caregivers, and the public who may not be aware of the caregivers in their lives, or that they themselves are a caregiver. There is something we can all do; steps we can take to let caregivers know they are recognized, engaged and supported. The OCO uses the insights in our Spotlight Report to continue to amplify the voices of caregivers, advance these conversations and support meaningful change. Read the 2022 Spotlight Report for practical ideas on how you can make a difference.