A National Caregiving Strategy for Canada

Caregiving is the next frontier in Canadian public policy. One in four Canadians give care to a family member, friend, or neighbour, and half will be a caregiver in their lifetime. Though most Canadians will need care or give care at some point in our lives, families are stretched thin, and people with disabilities and our elders are struggling. Care providers are leaving the sector due to stress and low wages.

About the National Caregiving Strategy

A National Caregiving Strategy for Canada contains actionable public policy solutions to address the biggest challenges faced by caregivers, care recipients and care providers across Canada.

These recommendations were co-designed with thousands of caregivers, care providers and leaders across the disability, aging, healthcare, and illness communities from across the country to help us prioritize what caregivers and care providers need the most.

There are five key areas of action outlined in the strategy:

Pillar 1: Supports, programs and services for caregivers
• Provide caregivers with financial support when and how they need it
• Improve caregivers’ well-being through targeted programs and services

Pillar 2: Supports for caregivers in work and education
• Make leaves and benefits work for working caregivers
• Provide caregivers in work and school with financial security
• Give caregivers the flexibility to stay in the workforce as they provide care

Pillar 3: Financial supports for care recipients
• Reduce administrative barriers for care recipients and their families
• Increase the scale of other financial supports for care recipients

Pillar 4: Build a sustainable care provider workforce
• Value paid care providers
• Protect and encourage migrant care providers

Pillar 5: Leadership and recognition
• Make caregiving a government priority
• Show leadership in healthcare
• Ensure veterans and military families get the support they deserve

Read the Strategy

Executive Summary

Act on Care

An Asian man standing against a grey background. Text: Caregivers are often forgotten. We overcommit, neglect our own needs, and face burnout. Ron, caregiver for his father for 10+ years.

Better is possible. We need your voice to help make caregiving a national priority and ensure this strategy becomes a reality. Together, we can give caregivers the recognition, resources, and relief they deserve.

Participate in our Act on Care campaign today.

Learn more

Endorsers

Care Champions Table

The National Care Champions Table brings together leaders across the ageing, disability and illness communities, as well as researchers and people with lived experience to help support, advise, and promote policy ideas that will benefit all those who give care. The purpose of this group is to support CCCE craft an effective and practical strategy.

The group will meet regularly throughout the year to provide critical input into the development of the strategy. They will also engage their communities to ensure that a wide diversity of caregiver and care provider perspectives are included in the process.

Aimée Foreman
Founder and CEO, Silvermark

Alyssa Brierley
Executive Director, National Institute on Ageing

Amanda MacKenzie
National Director, External Affairs, March of Dimes of Canada

Amy Coupal
Executive Director, Ontario Caregiver Organization

Bill Adair
Executive Director, Spinal Cord Injury Canada

Catherine Riddell
Manager, Health Networks, Children’s Healthcare Canada

Christa Haanstra
Strategic Advisor and Caregiver Advocate, former Co-Chair Caregivers CAN

Daniel Nowoselski
Advocacy Manager, Canadian Cancer Society

Darrel Gregory
Executive Director, Caregivers Alberta

Donna Thomson
Caregiver and Author

Grant Bruno
Researcher, University of Alberta

Holly Prince
Researcher, Lakehead University

Jennifer Churchill
Executive Director, Empowered Kids Ontario

Jenny Theriault
Executive Director, Caregivers Nova Scotia

Jodi Hall
Executive Director, Canadian Association for Long-Term Care

Jonathan Lai
Executive Director, Autism Alliance of Canada

Juanita Forte
Care Provider, Direct Support Professional Fellow

Katrina Prescott
Co-Chair, Caregivers CAN

Krista Carr
Executive Director, Inclusion Canada

Laura LaChance
CEO, Canadian Down Syndrome Society

Laura Tamblyn-Watts
CEO, CanAge

Laurel Gillespie
Executive Director, Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association

Lauren Rettinger
Director, Government Relations, Parkinsons Canada

Lorin MacDonald
Founder and Principal, HearVue

Magalie Dumas
Deputy Director General, L’Appui des proches aidants

Nadine Henningsen
Executive Director, Canadian Home Care Association

Dr. Naomi Lightman
Researcher, Toronto Metropolitan University

Dr. Nathan Stall
Geriatrician, Sinai Health; Researcher, University Health Network

Neil Belanger
Executive Director, British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society

Nicole Dauz
Co-Chair, Caregivers CAN

Nora Spinks
Founder, Work-Life Harmony

Oliver Fitzpatrick
Young Carers Coordinator, AMI-Quebec

Patrice Lindsay
Director, Health Systems Change, Heart and Stroke Foundation

Roslyn Shields
Senior Policy Analyst, CAMH

Sarah Calderwood
Vice President, Government Relations, Alzheimer Society Canada

Scott Robins
Care Provider, Direct Support Professionals Fellow

Tanya MacDonald
Director, Strategic Initiatives, Health Excellence Canada

Thomas Simpson
Vice President, CNIB Voice and Executive Director, Come to Work, Canadian National Institute for the Blind

Tyler Downey
Secretary-Treasurer, SEIU Healthcare

Barb MacLean
Executive Director, Family Caregivers of British Columbia