Self-Identification as a Caregiver: Why Many Canadians Don’t Recognize Their Caregiving Role

Someone who helps an aging family member with grocery shopping, medical appointments, or everyday tasks might not think of themselves as a caregiver. Like millions of Canadians, they see these tasks as what family members do for each other. This disconnect between the reality of caregiving and self-identifying as a caregiver is a significant barrier to accessing vital support services across Canada.

Approximately 8 million Canadians care for family members and loved ones with long-term health conditions, disabilities, or age-related needs. However, many of these individuals do not identify as caregivers, which can lead to isolation, burnout, and missed opportunities for support. Understanding why this happens is crucial to improving caregiver well-being nationwide.

Cultural Expectations and Family Duty

In many Canadian communities, particularly those with strong cultural traditions regarding family obligations, caregiving is considered an inherent responsibility rather than a distinct role. For many, caring for elderly parents or relatives with disabilities is seen as a natural extension of family relationships.

While these cultural traditions are important values, they can also prevent individuals from recognizing when their caregiving responsibilities have become substantial enough to warrant external support.

The Gradual Nature of Caregiving

Unlike professional caregivers, family caregivers often develop gradually without choosing the role. What starts as the occasional helping hand with yard work or driving to appointments can evolve into managing medications, providing personal care, and coordinating complex medical treatments. This slow progression makes it difficult to identify a clear moment when someone becomes a “caregiver”.

Many Canadians find themselves deeply entrenched in caregiving responsibilities before realizing the extent of their role. By then, they may already be experiencing significant stress, financial strain, or health impacts.

Language and Identity Barriers

The term “caregiver” itself can be a barrier. To many, it feels too clinical or professional, which applies to paid healthcare workers. Some prefer terms like “caring for” or “being a support person,” which feels more authentic to the relationship. We have adopted the term “family caregiver” as it suggests the close personal connection and depth of care.

Sometimes, taking on the title of “caregiver” can feel like it’s overlooking other parts of a relationship. A spouse caring for their partner may resist being seen primarily as a caregiver, and adult children could also struggle with the role reversal implied by becoming their parents’ caregivers.

Systemic Invisibility

Canada’s healthcare and social support systems often inadvertently contribute to caregiver invisibility. Medical appointments focus on patients, frequently overlooking the needs of supporting family members. Many caregivers report feeling unseen by healthcare providers. These providers often overlook caregivers as experts and fail to inquire about their well-being or inform them of available resources.

While some excellent provincial support systems are available, the fragmented nature of caregiver support services across provinces and territories makes it difficult to find relevant resources. Many caregivers don’t have any support or recognition from these systems, contributing to isolation.

Helping Family Caregivers Recognize Their Role

Improving outcomes for family caregivers starts with showing them how important their work is. Many don’t realize that their everyday support, like driving to appointments, managing medications, or helping with meals, is considered caregiving. To change this, we need to work together to raise awareness about caregivers in Canada.

• Promote everyday recognition: Use inclusive and relatable language when talking about caregiving. Words like “family caregiver” can help connect the dots between clinical terms and real-life experiences. Public awareness messaging should highlight that caregiving isn’t always formal or full-time; it can be part of everyday family life.
  
  
• Embed recognition in healthcare and community systems: Health and social care providers must be trained to actively identify and acknowledge caregivers during medical appointments and care planning. Asking, “Who helps you at home?” and including that person in conversations can validate their role and connect them to resources.
  
  
• Encourage open dialogue: The more we talk about caregiving in workplaces, schools, media, and online, the more visible it becomes. These conversations can help people feel comfortable calling themselves a “caregiver.”
  
  
• Strengthen national visibility efforts: We need to work together across different sectors to make caregivers more visible. When caregivers are talked about and seen as important, it encourages others to step forward, recognize their role, and access the support available.
  
  
• Support organizations that support caregivers: Donations, fundraisers, and event support can help provide essential resources, advocacy, and support programs for caregivers across Canada.
  
  

Moving Forward: Supporting Recognition

Helping family caregivers understand their role is directly related to higher visibility of caregiving on a larger scale. As the role becomes more commonly understood, so does our collective understanding of their needs. Recognizing the factors that contribute to the lack of self-identification of caregivers is the first step in making a lasting impact on their lives. Regardless of how family caregivers want to be seen, identifying the value of the role in Canadian communities will help them gain better access to support, feel less isolated, and lead to better outcomes for them and their loved ones.