Care-Related Out-of-Pocket Expenditures in Canada

Abstract

This research examined the prevalence and amount of care-related out-of-pocket expenditures of family caregivers and the factors that influence this spending. Secondary analysis of 2007 General Social Survey (Cycle 21) data yielded population estimates for Canadians age 45 years and older. Thirty-five percent of respondents—1.2 million Canadians—reported care-related out-of-pocket expenditures, which amounted to almost $12.6 million. Caregivers who were more likely to incur these costs reported higher levels of stress, were caring for a family member or friend with more complex health conditions, were providing more intense levels of care, and lived further away from the care receiver. We find that care-related out-of-pocket spending is common among Canadian caregivers, that it can be substantial, and that relatively few caregivers receive financial supports that can defray these costs.