The cost of caring: out-of-pocket expenditures and financial hardship among Canadian carers. (1st May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Duncan, Karen A.; Shooshtari, Shahin; Roger, Kerstin; Fast, Janet; Han, Jing
• Is Part Of: International journal of care and caring. Volume 4:Number 2(2020)
• Page Start: 141
• Page End: 166
• Publication Date: 2020-05-01
• Subjects: care-related out-of-pocket expenditures -- financial hardship -- financial stress
• DOI: 10.1332/239788220X15845551975572
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2397-8821

Abstract

Abstract : Many carers spend money out of their own pockets on the care-related needs of their family members or friends, and this spending may expose carers to a higher risk of financial hardship. Using data from a nationally representative sample of family carers drawn from Statistics Canada's 2012 General Social Survey on Caregiving and Care Receiving, we find that nearly one in five carers reports experiencing financial hardship. The results from multivariate logistic regression analysis show that care-related out-of-pocket expenditures are significant predictors of financial hardship. The results suggest establishing personal financial planning strategies and public policies to minimise the risk of incurring financial hardship due to care-related out-of-pocket expenditures.