Behind closed doors, Canada’s caregivers are struggling to keep up: report

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More than half of Canada’s caregivers are balancing paid work with the demands of caring for a loved one – and many say the pressure is becoming unbearable.

A new national report from the Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence found that 59 per cent of caregivers are employed while also providing an average of 5.1 hours of unpaid care every day.

The findings, published in the organization’s 2026 Caring in Canada report, paint a picture of the growing strain caregivers face as they try to stay afloat financially while supporting, in some cases, aging parents, spouses, children or relatives with disabilities.

The report says caregiving is creating a “vicious cycle” for working Canadians. Some caregivers are being forced to work more to offset rising costs associated with care. Seventeen per cent said they had taken on additional work hours, nine per cent delayed retirement and five per cent found second jobs in order to manage expenses.

At the same time, caregiving responsibilities are making it harder to remain fully engaged in the workforce. More than one-third of working caregivers reported reduced productivity, lost income or difficulty balancing employment with caregiving demands. The report warns that effects are reaching beyond individual households and impacting Canada’s broader economy and labour force participation.

The report draws on responses from more than 2,600 caregivers and care providers across Canada. Nearly half of caregivers reported experiencing financial stress in the past year, while many described feeling exhausted, anxious and overwhelmed.

The report says the findings underscore the need for expanded caregiver benefits, improved home-care access, flexible workplace policies and stronger mental health supports.

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