Caring for our caregivers in a pandemic: challenges, gaps and suggestions for change

Abstract

Unpaid caregivers provide valuable care that saves the Canadian healthcare system billions of dollars every year. Caregiving is highly taxing, often resulting in psychosocial impacts that are associated with negative health outcomes and decreased quality of life for caregivers. These impacts are exacerbated when public health disasters occur, such as pandemics. This article employs a socioecological approach to explore how existing risk factors at the micro, meso and macro levels negatively impacted caregivers in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic. We use these findings to suggest policy recommendations and advocate for better support for caregivers in the event of future pandemics or other disasters.