A new study finds that the cost of long-term care services in Canada is rising significantly. By 2050, the total cost of long-term and home care is expected to reach $71 billion, up from $22 billion in 2019. The most preferred form of care remains in-home care, and the cost of home care services provided by non-skilled caregivers has remained relatively stable in many regions.

Additional research highlights an imminent shortage of caregivers, contributing to the rising costs of long-term care. By 2050, the number of Canadians aged 85 and older is expected to reach 2.6 million, more than double the current number. Canada will need to recruit approximately 200,000 new direct-care workers annually to meet the growing demand for home and long-term care services.

In 2021, 6% of Canadian households (921,700 households) reported using formal home care services, while 3% (419,800 households) indicated they had unmet home care needs. The demand for home care is increasing, especially as more Canadians prefer to age in place rather than move into institutional settings.

A significant portion of care is provided informally by family members and friends. Currently, one in four Canadians (about 8 million people) provide unpaid informal care to ill or disabled relatives or friends, according to Statistics Canada.

Additionally, long-distance caregiving is becoming a challenge. Nearly one million Canadians manage care for a relative or friend aged 55 or older who lives at least one hour away, leading to an estimated several million missed workdays annually due to caregiving responsibilities