Have you ever needed to take care of a sick family member or look after a child growing up?
You may not have planned to take on this role, but when someone you care about needs support, you may feel obligated to step in or feel that it is something you need to do.
The need to provide care can occur unexpectedly and can often interrupt daily routines, including work, school, self care, and social relationships [1].
Canada’s population is rapidly aging with more individuals reaching the age of 80 [2]. Further, the number of seniors is projected to reach 4.2 million by 2075, increasing the need for health care services [3].
As people age, disability and the onset of common chronic conditions like dementia, hypertension, and osteoporosis, become more prevalent, particularly in those over 85 years old [4].
As a result, there is an increasing need to provide support to older adults in daily activities like dressing, bathing, and cooking, to maintain their safety and quality of life.
Changes in Canada’s population are not only affecting the aging population, but also the generation below — Generation X (“Gen X”), those born roughly between 1965 and 1980.
This generation, also known as the “sandwich generation”, is increasingly providing care for both their aging parents, as well as their children.
Balancing caregiving with existing roles as a parent, employer, friend, or spouse can place significant emotional, physical, and mental demands on individuals.
Gen X individuals express increasing rates of burnout as a result of taking on caregiving tasks, and report inability to take breaks or spend time on their own needs, as they are constantly providing care or working.
Typically, caregiving responsibilities begin in the 20s or 30s when looking after newborns, but caregiving is now extended across different stages of life into the 40s, 50s, and even 60s as they support aging parents.
Providing care later in life can affect career development and financial well-being, as caregivers may reduce their working hours or leave the workplace to provide care.
To relieve the strain caregiving is placing on family members, an alternative option to caregiving is to find long-term services and support for care. However, these options are not always feasible or affordable, particularly with the limited capacity and rising costs of long-term care.
As a result, many families are left with no other choice but to take on unpaid caregiving responsibilities that interfere with their previous social roles.
Caregiving can also be isolating. Spending more time at home, caring for loved ones, can make it difficult to maintain social connections, participate in social activities, or spend time with friends.
Caregivers may also receive little emotional support or understanding from others who have not experienced the demands of caregiving themselves, increasing feelings of loneliness and isolation.
To help relieve the strain associated with caregiving, our providers at GLA Rehab support individuals and families in taking decisions and planning for the caregiving role.
Our occupational therapists can assess clients’ needs, identify barriers to their daily activities, and provide solutions and recommendations to support their independence, safety and quality of life.
Our rehabilitation therapists can also work with clients to assist with return to activities they previously enjoyed, which can reduce the demands of caregiving and provide support to family members.
Our social workers can provide emotional support to clients and their caregivers, as they navigate the challenges of caregiving and explore options for aging in place.
You can contact us at (416) 449-6466 or through our website at www.gla-rehab.com
References:
[1] Market Watch. (2026, June 16). As baby boomers turn 80, caregiving is the unexpected job more Americans face. https://www.marketwatch.com/story/as-baby-boomers-turn-80-caregiving-is-the-unexpected-job-more-americans-face-fbd8ce6e
[2] Statistics Canada. (2024, October). Population growth: Migratory increase overtakes natural increase. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/11-630-x/11-630-x2014001-eng.htm
[3] Statistics Canada. (2026, January). Population projections for Canada (2025 to 2075), Provinces and Territories (2025 to 2050). https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/17-20-0003/172000032026001-eng.htm
[4] Public Health Agency of Canada. (2020, December). Aging and chronic diseases: A profile of Canadian seniors. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/aging-chronic-diseases-profile-canadian-seniors-report.html