New research sheds light on the hidden realities and sacrifices of family caregiving and the growing need for support.
Across Canada, caregiving is quietly woven into everyday life. Millions of people provide unpaid assistance to aging or unwell parents, partners, children, or friends. Research from Leger and the Petro-Canada CareMakers Foundation reveals that many caregivers struggle to recognize their own role. Forty-seven per cent say they don’t identify as caregivers or think others would view them that way, either. At the same time, half of the Canadians providing 15+ hours weekly of unpaid care feel that their work is invisible.
There is a gap between public perception and the lived experiences of caregivers that masks the actual social, emotional, and professional sacrifices they make. The demands of unpaid care are noteworthy — 73 per cent have missed social occasions, while 57 per cent have left work early to help someone they love.
Plus, 85 per cent of family caregivers underestimated the role’s emotional toll, contributing to stress, exhaustion, and caregiver burnout over time.
Increasing visibility for the vital role caregivers play
Recognizing the growing challenge, the Petro-Canada CareMakers Foundation, supported in part by Suncor, the proud owner of Petro-Canada, works to highlight caregiver experiences across the country. Through research, grants and funding initiatives, as well as fundraising and partnerships with community organizations, the foundation helps expand caregiver recognition and assistance.
CareMakers helps charities across Canada provide critical resources and programs for family caregivers, including respite opportunities, peer support groups, and support to navigate complex responsibilities. By investing in caregiver support programs, the foundation continues to encourage national conversations about caregiving and Canadians balancing work, family and care.
Support starts with acknowledging the realities of family caregiving. Take a moment to notice the quiet acts of care made by neighbours, coworkers, or friends. Together, they form a vast network of family caregivers across Canada. Their commitment, often unseen and unrecognized, plays a vital role in the health and well-being of our communities.
Learn more about how the Petro-Canada CareMakers Foundation is making a difference in the lives of family caregivers at caremakers.ca or follow @petrocanadacaremakers to join the conversation.
Between August 1–18, 2025, Leger surveyed 2,000 Canadians (18+) via its 400,000-member online panel. “Caregivers” are defined as those performing unpaid caregiving activities for 15+ hours per week.
