Caregiving influences career choices, retirement decisions: StatsCan
Just as parents finish the job of child rearing, many of them are having to care for aging family members. Nearly two million Canadians aged 45 to 64 acted as informal caregivers to seniors with long-term disabilities or physical limitations in 2002, according to a new Statistics Canada report.
The study, Balancing Career and Care, also found that 70 per cent of these caregivers were employed and many of them were women.
The study used the General Social Survey on Aging and Social Support to examine the prevalence and impact of caregiving among middle-aged Canadians.
Individuals who spent four hours or more per week caring for an older relative were more likely to reduce their work hours, change their work patterns or turn down a job offer or promotion.
Caregiving also affected retirement decisions. Just over one fifth (21 per cent) of women caregivers said the need to care for a family member would be a likely reason for retirement, compared to only 13 per cent of women who weren’t currently providing care.
Trying to juggle caregiving and career leads to feelings of guilt in many caregivers — either they feel they should be helping more with the caregiving or doing a better job at work.
Over 40 per cent of women who provided more than one hour of care a week reported substantial feelings of guilt. Feelings of guilt intensified as their hours of paid work increased.
While long work hours led to feelings of guilt in both men and women, men felt less guilty than women.
The study, Balancing Career and Care, also found that 70 per cent of these caregivers were employed and many of them were women.
The study used the General Social Survey on Aging and Social Support to examine the prevalence and impact of caregiving among middle-aged Canadians.
Individuals who spent four hours or more per week caring for an older relative were more likely to reduce their work hours, change their work patterns or turn down a job offer or promotion.
Caregiving also affected retirement decisions. Just over one fifth (21 per cent) of women caregivers said the need to care for a family member would be a likely reason for retirement, compared to only 13 per cent of women who weren’t currently providing care.
Trying to juggle caregiving and career leads to feelings of guilt in many caregivers — either they feel they should be helping more with the caregiving or doing a better job at work.
Over 40 per cent of women who provided more than one hour of care a week reported substantial feelings of guilt. Feelings of guilt intensified as their hours of paid work increased.
While long work hours led to feelings of guilt in both men and women, men felt less guilty than women.
