Ontario’s Silent Workforce- The Caregiver Crisis No One Talks About
Update: 2025-04-03
Description
A Special Edition of On the Ledge - your Ontario Politics Podcast.
Host: Dave Trafford
Guests:
🔑 Key Takeaways
Host: Dave Trafford
Guests:
- Lauren Bates – Chair, Ontario Caregiver Coalition
- Daniel Nowoselski – Advocacy Manager, Hospice Palliative Care (Canadian Cancer Society); Board Member, Ontario Caregiver Coalition
- Malene Stewart – Social Worker, Educator & Co-Chair, Caregiver Collective
🔑 Key Takeaways
- 💡 Scope of Caregiving: Nearly 4 million Ontarians are caregivers today—a number expected to hit 6.5 million within five years.
- 75 % of all the care that's provided is provided by family and friends
- 🧠 Mental Load & Grief: Caregiving often comes with anticipatory grief, isolation, and emotional strain, especially with illnesses like dementia.
- 💸 Financial Strain: Many caregivers reduce work hours or leave jobs entirely, yet 92% don’t qualify for federal caregiver tax credits.
- 🧍♀️ Policy Gaps: Ontario lacks a coordinated respite system, leaving caregivers without essential breaks.
- 🏠 Aging in Place: Housing limitations and care infrastructure are ill-equipped to support aging populations at home.
- 📣 Call for Action: The Ontario Caregiver Coalition is pushing for scalable, inclusive caregiver benefits and mental health supports.
- 🧭 How to Help: Visit ontariocaregivercoalition.ca or follow OCC on social platforms to support and get involved.
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