According to a study conducted by the Family Caregivers Association, nearly half of caregivers feel completely overwhelmed by events. They report being physically and psychologically exhausted by their responsibilities. The risk of depression among these caregivers is very high if they do not seek help for themselves.
The caregivers most affected are those whose loved ones live with illnesses involving cognitive decline.
The current problem stems from the fact that waiting times to receive assistance from CLSCs are very long, sometimes lasting several months. Moreover, once support is in place, these resources are often insufficient in terms of hours provided. This is where private home care comes into play. While it is not free, it is eligible for a 34% tax refund, even for recipients who do not pay taxes. This solution was implemented by the government to address the issue. Private home care offers convenient solutions with staff stability and hours chosen by the patient and their family. While we cannot quantify the reduction in caregiver exhaustion from using home care services, we can state without doubt that this alternative certainly helps alleviate it.
Léonie Côté-Martin, Clinical Nurse
