Research shows BIPOC caregivers in Canada face more financial, healthcare, and language barriers
The Petro-Canada CareMakers Foundation continues its efforts to raise awareness of family caregiving in Canada.
Recent research, conducted in collaboration with Leger, highlights that 68 percent of family caregivers who identify as Black, Indigenous, and people of colour (BIPOC) are encountering increased difficulty in accessing essential support services for their loved ones.
These caregivers face challenges navigating the healthcare system, balancing work, and caregiving, and managing their financial situation.
Leila Fenc, executive director of the Petro-Canada CareMakers Foundation, notes that while many caregivers struggle to obtain the support they need, marginalized caregivers face even greater obstacles.
By drawing attention to these issues, Fenc hopes to foster greater awareness and eventually improve the level of support for these caregivers.
The research reveals that more than half of all family caregivers (55 percent) report greater difficulty accessing necessary services since the pandemic, with 68 percent of BIPOC respondents agreeing compared to 50 percent of non-BIPOC caregivers.
In addition, 39 percent of BIPOC caregivers report experiences of discrimination from healthcare professionals, a much higher figure than the 22 percent of non-BIPOC caregivers.
Nearly half (48 percent) of BIPOC caregivers worry about potential discrimination, compared to 24 percent of their non-BIPOC counterparts.
Language barriers add to these difficulties, especially for caregivers whose first language is neither English nor French. 34 percent report challenges in accessing medical care for their loved ones due to language issues, compared to 15 percent of French speakers and 22 percent of English speakers.
Financial strain has worsened for caregivers as well. Half of all caregivers (50 percent) say inflation and current economic conditions have increased the financial burden of caregiving. Men (60 percent) and those under 55 (58 percent) feel this more acutely.
24 percent of BIPOC caregivers report that caregiving significantly impacts long-term financial planning or savings, compared to 13 percent of non-BIPOC caregivers.
LGBTQ+ caregivers also face financial pressures, with 35 percent stating that caregiving affects their financial planning, and 20 percent saying it has impacted their education, compared to 6 percent of heterosexual caregivers.
Among caregivers who work, 39 percent reported missing 1 to 6 days of work per year due to caregiving duties, and 23 percent missed 7 or more days. Younger and BIPOC caregivers miss work twice as often as older and non-BIPOC caregivers.
Caregiving responsibilities also affect personal lives, with 34 percent of caregivers reporting impacts on hobbies, 32 percent on social activities, and 28 percent on vacations.
Leila Fenc emphasizes that caregiving, often an “unseen and undervalued labour of love,” forces caregivers to make significant sacrifices, including their own financial stability, career aspirations, and well-being.
Indigenous Elder Beckie Labilliois, from the Mi'kmaq Ugpi'Ganjig First Nation, shared her personal story. As a caregiver to her mother with dementia, Labilliois had to stop working, which caused financial strain.
She also faced communication barriers as her mother reverted to her mother tongue, and the facility lacked an understanding of her cultural rituals, adding trauma to an already difficult situation.
The CareMakers Foundation's discussion paper, based on insights from a roundtable of caregiving experts, further underscores the challenges faced by marginalized caregivers.
Participants in the roundtable noted that these caregivers often bear additional out-of-pocket expenses, further straining their finances. Fenc stresses that addressing the barriers faced by marginalized caregivers is crucial to ensuring they receive the support they need.
