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One in six people providing informal care to seniors experiences distress, according to a new study released by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), and those caring for seniors with moderate to severe cognitive impairment, such as those with Alzheimer`s or other dementia, are most at risk.

The first of two related studies, Supporting Informal Caregivers-The Heart of Home Care looked at more than 130,000 seniors (age 65 and older), including many with complex The second study, health conditions, who received publicly funded long-term home care in 2007-2008.

Caring for Seniors With Alzheimer`s Disease and Other Forms of Dementia, found that in 2007-2008, one in five seniors (20%) receiving long-term home care had a diagnosis of Alzheimer`s disease or other dementia. Nearly one in six (17%) of these clients with dementia was suffering from moderate to severe impairment in cognition and daily functioning yet still managed to remain at home.

Read more here.

Please note:

CWHN and its partners have done considerable work on homecare and women. For links to these resources, please visit the Women and Health Care Reform website. 

You can also search for resources and research on caregiving on CWHN’s InfoCentre.