25 per cent of Canadians can expect to care for a loved one in their lifetime
Mention the word caregiver and what might come to mind is a healthcare worker in a uniform. The reality is much broader: one in four Canadians is a caregiver, supporting a family member or friend. It might be someone in high school helping a sibling, a working mom caring for her spouse or a retiree assisting their own parents. More than 8 million everyday Canadians devote their lives to loved ones.
Consider Kevin Metz, an Edmonton father who, along with his wife, cares for two children, both of whom have neurological disorders. Parker, a 12-year-old who loves skiing, lives with obsessivecompulsive disorder (OCD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Tourette Syndrome, a condition marked by sudden, repeated, uncontrollable movements or sounds called tics. Preston, who’s nine, has OCD and ADHD and has also been diagnosed with autism.
For a time, both were in a children’s mental hospital. Today, both require specialized assistance with learning, as well as the aid of psychiatrists, psychologists, counsellors and doctors. For Metz and his wife, who work full-time jobs, caring for their beloved sons can be extraordinarily challenging. There are regular calls from school, medical appointments to get to and the financial burden of interventions and activities.
As many caregivers can relate, the days can be exhausting and isolating.
“We’re not visible,” Metz says. “People may not be aware of what a caregiver is or might forget about the added stress on them. Many of us sit in isolation and think it’s only us.”
“As a caregiver for kids with neurological disorders, the biggest factor is being an advocate,” he adds. “We’re also managing the home dynamics to create a safe and comforting environment. I think one of the biggest challenges internally is admitting I can’t do it all.”
All across the country, people like Metz pour their energy into caring for loved ones day in, day out, on top of other commitments. Over 51 per cent are overwhelmed; they’re often worried, anxious and tired because of their responsibilities.
Caregivers need to feel cared for, too. That’s where the Petro-canada Caremakers Foundation comes in.
The new charitable foundation is creating awareness of family caregiving in Canada, and it aims to inspire people to help.
The Caremakers Foundation works to raise funds that get directed to existing Canadian charitable organizations that support caregivers, to amplify their work.
The foundation came about during a years-long collaborative process in which Petro-canada reached out to its associates in communities large and small across Canada to see what issues mattered to them most. The topic of caregiving kept coming up. From there, Petro-canada consulted with close to 30 experts in the field to better understand the opportunities and areas to focus on.
“In determining where to make an impact, we realized that caregiving is prevalent throughout Canadian society,” says Caremakers Foundation executive director Leila Fenc. “The idea of caring is fundamental to our values as Canadians and also to Petrocanada. It’s something that’s relevant to everyone.”
People can make a donation to Petro-canada Caremakers Foundation, with funds going to charitable organizations that are experts in the field. In addition, the foundation aims to provide helpful information for caregivers and those around them.
“We are working with experts in the field to elevate the conversation around caregiving,” Fenc says. “One thing we have done is create an online learning module so people can start to better understand the entire scope of caregiving. It’s different for everyone, depending on who they’re caring for and their own stage in life. We also want to look at workplaces and show people how to have a discussion with a co-worker who’s a caregiver to provide tangible support. We want to help normalize the discussion within society.”
Creating more openness around caregiving will go a long way to helping those like Metz realize that they are not alone. He recalls a day when Parker was in a ski camp, feeling self-conscious because of his tics. At just 10 years old, he built up the courage to tell his camp mates what he was going through. “The first question we got was ‘How can we support you?’” he says. The kindness shown still brings him to tears.
Parker’s act serves as inspiration for caregivers, too.
“It’s tough to say ‘I need support,’” Metz says. “When I heard about the Petro-canada Caremakers Foundation, it felt like a relief. Having the safety to speak up and say ‘here’s what I’m going through’ takes away the shame. This can help more people understand how we can support each other as a community.”
For more information or to donate, visit