The Minister for Seniors, Seamus O'Regan, the Minister of Health, Mark Holland, the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, Ya'ara Saks, and the Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities, Kamal Khera, issued the following statement on National Caregiver Day:
"Today, we show our appreciation for caregivers and recognize them for making a lasting, positive impact on the overall wellbeing of those they care for. Caregivers provide much-needed support that can contribute to greater independence and increased quality of life as people age or live with disability or illness. Caregivers provide support in many ways, whether by managing medications, making financial or legal decisions, working with care providers, or helping with the transition from home care to a hospital or long-term care. The crucial support caregivers provide often comes with mental, physical, emotional, and financial challenges. Their dedication, selflessness, and resilience are an inspiration to all of us.
National Caregiver Day is an opportunity to raise awareness of the efforts of the almost 8 million caregivers in Canada who are providing care for others. To show appreciation for the vital work of caregivers, we must take time to understand how important their contributions are and how challenging the caregiving role can be.
Caregivers put significant time, physical, and emotional energy into their work. They deserve better work-life balance, including strong physical and mental health supports. One way to achieve this is through better access to other sources of care, such as respite care or care through community organizations, including for those individuals with disabilities who may require specialized support and assistance in their caregiving needs.
To help provide financial support for those who are providing care for a loved one, caregivers can benefit from the non-refundable Canada caregiver credit. As a caregiver, you might also benefit from Employment Insurance benefits such as the Compassionate Care Benefit or the Family Caregiving Benefits for Adults
