Canada is facing a caregiving crisis that is quietly becoming one of the most important social, economic, and healthcare challenges of our time. Today, more than one in four Canadians is a caregiver, and one in two Canadians will become a caregiver at some point in their lives. Together, caregivers provide billions of hours of unpaid care every year, representing an economic contribution valued at nearly $100 billion annually.

In Alberta alone, more than one in four residents provide care to a loved one, contributing an estimated $12 billion worth of unpaid care each year. Caregivers are now responsible for approximately 70% of the care provided outside of hospitals, supportive living, and healthcare facilities. Without them, our healthcare system simply could not function in its current form.

The challenge is expected to intensify dramatically in the coming decades. Canada is now home to more than 8 million people over the age of 65, and by 2050, the number of Canadians living with dementia is expected to nearly triple to more than 1.7 million people. At the same time, the number of available caregivers is shrinking while the complexity of care needs continues to grow.

The impacts extend far beyond individual families.