Infographic: Profile of Young Caregivers in Canada

In 2012, 1.9 million (27%) Canadian youth aged 15 to 29 years provided care to a family member or friend with a long-term health condition, disability, or aging need.

A look at caregivers under the age of 30:

• 31% Female
• 24% Male

Caregiving rates were higher among young females under the age of 30 compared to their male counterparts.

Young caregivers help in the following ways:

• 66% meal preparation and cleaning
• 66% transportation
• 60% house maintenance/outdoor work

Female youth caregivers often help with:

• Housework
• Personal care
• Scheduling/coordinating appointments

Male youth caregivers often help with:

• House maintenance
• Outdoor work

Youth caregivers help family members, neighbours, and friends suffering from:

• Age-related needs
• Cancer
• Cardiovascular problems
• Mental illness
• Other

What young caregivers do?

• 47% are students.
• 42% have paid jobs.
• 1 in 5 young caregivers who are also students reported that caregiving had a negative impact on their education.

Youth involvement in caregiving is the highest in Saskatchewan and Ontario.

Two to four hours per week is the average time that young Canadians devote to providing care.

• 78% find caregiving to be rewarding.
• 19% find caregiving to be somewhat rewarding.

Time spent overall providing care is:

• 47%, spend 1 to 3 years.
• 38%, spend 4 or more years.
• 15%, spend less than 1 year.

Three out of four of young caregivers felt they chose to take on their caregiving responsibilities.

Caregiver's reported state of being are:

• 39% were worried or anxious.
• 36% were tired.
• 28% were overwhelmed.
• 26% were short-tempered or irritable.

Source:

Bleakney, Amanda. 2014. Young Canadians providing care. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 89-652-X. Ottawa, Ontario.