Being a family caregiver is a profound act of love- and one that many Canadians do without realising the time, energy, and support they are giving to a loved one makes them a caregiver.

As part of Caregiver Aware 2025 we are bringing attention to family caregivers and those who don’t identify as caregivers. Many people simply consider themselves daughters, husbands, children or community members supporting a person they love.

What makes a Family Caregiver?

A family caregiver is an individual who provides unpaid care and support to someone living with a disease, disability, mental health challenge, or age-related frailty – Family Caregivers of B.C

You are a caregiver if you:

• Coordinate appointments for a family member or friend
• Bring meals to someone you know who may not be able to provide for themselves
• Offer emotional support to someone dealing with a medical condition
• Help with daily tasks involving personal care, bathing, and dressing
• Assist with transportation to medical appointments or errands
• Coordinate medical procedures or treatments, such as managing medications
• And more

Do any of those things sound familiar? Maybe they sound like you, or maybe someone you know. By identifying members of our Compassionate Community who are caregivers, the challenges and toll on physical and mental health can be addressed through access to support and resources.

The relationship between caregiver and the person receiving care is often one that coexists with other personal, professional, and social responsibilities. Becoming a family caregiver is an act born from love but many caregivers over commit, neglect their own needs, and face burnout. Family caregivers can be any age, and support needs to address the complexities of caring as a young person, as ageing individuals, and as people working full time jobs.

Young Caregivers

There are approximately 154,000 young caregivers in British Columbia- these are children, youth, or young adults (ages 15 – 24) providing some level of care to family, friends, or neighbours. Supporting young caregivers strengthens families, decreases anxiety and depression, and provides access to education and employment.

Discover these resources courtesy of the Young Caregivers Association to help identify and support Young Caregivers in your community:

• Young Caregivers Knowledge Centre
• Young Caregivers
• Parents & Young Caregivers
• Educators
• Health Professionals
• Social Workers

Resources for Employers

Many caregivers are working while caring, by building supports for employees into the work environment we can begin to address the many unpaid and overtime hours that caregivers experience.

• Supporting Employed Caregivers
• Quick Start Implementation Guide to Carer-Friendly Workplace Standards
• Employee-Caregiver Work Conciliation Project

See our blog about Family Caregiving in Canada to access support groups, wellness programs, and other avenues of education to support caregivers in your community.