Caregiver Safety in Canadian Home Care

A shift in care from the hospital to home has occurred steadily over the past two decades. The population is aging and the need for caregivers will continue to rise. We know that the population needing care where possible prefer to be at home and this normally means they will need someone to help them manage at home. The caregiver in the home is usually female, age 65 and over, and may well be experiencing health challenges related to providing care. We do know that the wellbeing of people receiving home care and caregivers are closely linked. Patient safety is a current and high stakes theme in hospital care yet little is known about safety in homecare. A team of Canadian researchers and decision makers have begun to study safety in home care. In a recent review of the home care literature on the topic of the caregiver the following safety related issues were identified: a) abuse (either caregiver to recipient or vice versa), b) feeling obliged to care, c) increasing financial costs associated with care giving, d) climbing care needs, and d) declining health of caregivers. Inviting caregivers and families of caregivers to attend a gathering to let us know their thoughts about safety issues for caregivers is an important way for researchers to hear first-hand what the issues are for caregivers in setting research priorities and in giving policy advice.