Who cares ? How virtual health is changing in-home caregiving
By Alexandra Beukens | Julia Smith | Lindsay Hedden | Muhammad Haaris Tiwana
Seventy-five per cent of health care in Canada is provided at home by unpaid family caregivers . Not only is this essential health-care work often unrecognized and under-supported , it is rapidly changing .
Since the COVID-19 pandemic , many health-care appointments have shifted to telephone and videoconferencing . This change in the mode of health-care delivery has now become more fully integrated into the Canadian health-care system .
While a lot of policy and research has focused on the impact of this transition on doctors and patients , these changes also have important implications for caregivers .
With a growing portion of Canadians opting to age in place at home , family members will increasingly be relied upon to provide care . However , unlike professional healthcare workers , family caregivers are generally not compensated for their labour .
In fact , the act of caregiving is associated with personal costs . Caregivers often must take time away from paid work to provide care , which in turn affects their financial security . Notably , women make up the major share of caregivers in Canada .
To better understand the needs of caregivers , our research team reviewed existing studies , and conducted interviews and workshops with caregivers and others taking part in virtual health . Our findings shed light on how virtual care has so far interacted with existing inequities to create opportunities and challenges for caregivers .
The impact of virtual care
For example , virtual care has reduced the economic costs of attending appointments by lessening the need for caregivers to take time off work . It has also expanded caregiver networks , allowing those living at a distance to be involved in a loved one ’ s care , and opened new avenues for caregivers to find supportive communities and services online .
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