Facts You Need to Know
As Canada's population ages, the demand for home care services is rapidly increasing. With more seniors living longer, many require ongoing assistance to maintain their quality of life and independence. Home care services play a crucial role in supporting not only the elderly but also their families and caregivers, ensuring that seniors can continue to live comfortably in their own homes while receiving the necessary care.
This page highlights key statistics and insights about the growing elderly population in Canada, the challenges faced by caregivers, and the importance of support systems in home care.
Who Needs Home Care?
- Approximately 5.9 million. People – almost 17% of the population – are age 65 and older. 1
- An estimated 3.3 million Canadians will be age 80 and older by 2036, more than double the current figure.1
- For the first time in history, the number of seniors (5.9 million) now exceed the number of children aged 14 and younger (5.8 million). The senior population is expected to continue its rapid increase until 2031, when the last baby boomers reach age 65.1
- Nearly half of Canadians aged 65 and older have two or more chronic health conditions.2
- By 2036, the number of Canadians age 65 and older could range from, 9.9 to 10.9 million people, representing 23% – 25% of the population.1
Who Provides Home Care?
- An estimated 3.8 million Canadians aged 45 and older provide informal care to a senior with a short- or long-term health condition.1
- Just over half (56%) of informal caregivers are assisting their parent or parent-in-law. Another 19% are caring for a neighbor or friend, and 11% are providing care for their spouse.1
- Nearly three-quarters (73%) of those Canadians providing informal senior care are between the ages of 45 to 64.1
- One in six Ontarians aged 45-64 reported managing another person’s care needs, including assisting with personal care and medication.2
Who Needs Help?
- More than half of informal caregivers reported feeling worried or anxious (55%) and tired (51%) during the past 12 months due to their caregiving responsibilities. Just over one-third reported feelings of irritability (36%), being overwhelmed (35%) and having interrupted sleep (36%).1
- Approximately 43% of informal caregivers have their work disrupted – arriving late, leaving early and/or having to take time off because of their caregiving responsibilities. About 15% reported having to reduce their weekly hours of work.1
- About 44% of caregivers incur extra financial costs associated with caregiving responsibilities, such as decreased salary pay due to absences; lost promotion opportunities; and reduced retirement and health benefits.4
- Nearly half of caregivers (45%) of seniors with dementia report symptoms of caregiver distress – almost double as those caring for a senior without dementia (26%).3
- More than 10% of seniors receiving care reside with their children, with this proportion being highest for seniors age 85 and older.1
Source(s):
- Statistics Canada
- Ontario Association of Community Care Access Centers. Health Comes Home: A Conversation about the Future of Care – Part 1. Toronto, Canada: Ontario Association of Community Care Access Centers; 2013.
- Unpaid caregiver challenges and supports. Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), 2018.
- Economic Security for Caregivers: A Policy Development Process to Better Support Unpaid Caregivers, a report from the Unpaid Caregiving Forum, convened by the Canadian Association for Community Living (CACL) in partnership with The Canadian Caregiver Coalition (CCC-CCAN), 2003