Caregivers are the invisible backbone of our healthcare systems. They contribute three times as much unpaid care for every hour of care given in the formal healthcare system. Most Canadians will give or receive care: one in four Canadians over the age of 15 is a caregiver, with as many as 5.2 million working people aged 19 to 70 taking care of a loved one for over 30 hours a week while working full-time.

Whether they are tending to an aging parent, supporting a family member with a chronic illness, or caring for a loved one with a disability, caregivers do the unpaid work that makes our system run. Canada’s caregivers contribute an estimated 5.7 billion hours of care per year; an economic value of $97.1 billion. Not surprisingly, the demands of caregiving often take a toll on physical, emotional, and mental health, and many caregivers find themselves neglecting their own wellbeing as they prioritize the needs of their loved ones. 

A survey of over 3,000 caregivers conducted in the summer of 2023 by the Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence (CCCE) found that while for many Canadians, caregiving is a rewarding experience, it can also negatively impact their wellbeing. Nearly half of caregivers (47%) reported feeling tired, or overwhelmed (37%) as a result of caregiving, while one in four caregivers reported fair or poor mental health. 

Building a pathway to care 

Canadian caregivers are in crisis. CCCE is responding with free mental health and wellness support, and with a new tool – social prescribing for caregivers. 

Social prescription integrates social and medical approaches to care by prescribing non-medical interventions. This can include joining a peer support group, taking an art class, going on a hike or to see a movie and reconnect with friends; supports are customized based on the individual’s needs and interests.

 “The dynamic and demanding nature of my caregiving role can only work when I feel energized, rested and well.” – Helen Ries, Co-Founder, Siblings Canada.

Nearly half of caregivers (47%) reported feeling tired, or overwhelmed (37%) as a result of caregiving, while one in four caregivers reported fair or poor mental health. 

Local approach backed by global success

Since its introduction, social prescribing has found a foothold in approximately 17 countries worldwide. The National Health Services of the UK, recognizing the benefits, has woven social prescribing into its overarching framework for personalized care, and it is a key pillar its National Strategy to Reduce Social Isolation. In Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada, under the leadership of the Canadian Red Cross, launched the Canadian Institute for Social Prescribing (CISP) in 2022. 

CISP is rooted in a collective impact approach. Since its opening, it has worked to link people, evidence, and share practices that connect people to community-based supports and services that can help improve health and wellbeing. 

These networking efforts include a new collaboration between CCCE and CISP to address caregivers’ challenges and enhance their health and wellbeing opportunities. Through a $1.8 million investment over two years, the initiative will support Caregivers Alberta, Caregivers Nova Scotia, Family Caregivers of British Columbia, and the Ontario Caregiver Organization to improve access to social prescribing initiatives for caregivers in each of those provinces.

Benefits of social prescribing

Social prescribing initiatives in Canada and abroad have succeeded in decreasing loneliness, enhancing a sense of connectedness and belonging, and improving mental health. The Ontario Hospital Association has found that social prescription programs demonstrated improvements in anxiety, depression, health-related quality of life, mental and general wellbeing, isolation, social connectedness and self-care.

Social prescriptions can also have meaningful long-term benefits. By engaging in activities that promote self-care and stress management, caregivers can develop coping skills that can serve them well in the long run. By accessing resources that promote healthy lifestyles and self-care practices, caregivers can mitigate the risk of burnout and fatigue, ensuring their ability to sustain their caregiving role over time.

Social prescribing has also been linked to reducing healthcare visits and deepening integration between clinical care, interprofessional teams, and social supports. In fact, evidence in Canada and the UK indicates that primary care providers spend at least a third of their time on social issues that others can better address. Social prescription referrals have been shown to decrease visits to general practitioners by 28 per cent and an average reduction of 24 per cent for hospital emergency admissions. 

Beyond patient care 

To date, social prescription has largely been focused solely on the patient to improve health outcomes of the patient and the caregiver, when the focus should be on the whole care team – caregivers (unpaid relatives/friends), care providers (those employed to provide care), and care recipients. Caregivers and care providers face unique barriers to participation in social prescription activities, including financial strain, lack of respite services, lack of connection to services, and not knowing when or how to start.

The CCCE/CISP partnership represents a significant step forward in addressing the issues that caregivers face. By providing access to support services tailored to their needs, caregivers will be empowered to prioritize their own wellbeing while fulfilling their caregiving responsibilities. As social prescribing initiatives become widely accepted, caregivers can look forward to a future where they are supported, valued, and empowered to thrive in their vital roles.