OANHSS Caregiver Survey Results April 2002

OANHSS Caregiver Survey Results
April 2002

The following are the results of a survey conducted by the Ontario Association of Non-Profit Homes and Services for Seniors in April 2002. There were 187 surveys distributed and these results are based on information provided by 105 respondents.

1. Of all the primary family caregivers you come into contact with, approximately what percentage are:

	Mean Average
wives of those needing care	21%
daughters of those needing care	37%
daughters-in-law of those needing care	7%
Female Subtotal	65%
husbands of those needing care	12%
sons of those needing care	13%
sons-in-law of those needing care	2%
Male Subtotal	27%
other (friends, other relatives, etc)	8%

2. Of the primary family caregivers you come into contact with, what is the approximate average age of:

	Mean Average
spouses of those needing care	75 years
daughters/sons of those needing care	53 years

3. Among the following primary family caregivers, approximately what percentage work (have a job) outside the home?

	Mean Average
wives of those needing care	13%
husbands of those needing care	15%
daughters of those needing care	52%
sons of those needing care	57%
daughters-in-law of those needing care	51%
sons-in-law of those needing care	57%

4. Where the primary family caregiver is the daughter or daughter-in-law, approximately what percentage of these caregivers also have responsibility for looking after children at home:

Mean Avg.: 36 %

5. What is your estimate of the average number of hours a week which the following family caregivers spend caring for their family member?

	Mean Average
spouses of those needing care	48
daughters/sons of those needing care	29

6. When they first contact you, are most family caregivers:

		Yes	No	Blank
A	poorly informed about long-term care/housing/services for seniors?	65	37	3
B	physically exhausted (`burned out') from having to care for their family member?	81	21	3
C	emotionally exhausted (`stressed out') from having to care for their family member?	95	7	3
D	feeling guilty about `giving up' care of their family member to someone else?	100	3	2
E	unprepared for the decisions they are now facing?	80	20	5
F	feeling alone/without support?	68	31	6
G	feeling anger/hostility?	36	63	6

7. What are the three most common ways family caregivers find out about your organization?

90 referral from CCAC 1 Yellow Pages

86 family/friends (word of mouth) 1 Internet

67 hospitals/discharge planners 1 advertising

26 family doctors 0 direct mail

26 facility tours 0 public health units

8. On average, how long do the following care for their loved ones before seeking outside assistance?

	<1 month	1-6 months	6-12 months	12-24 months	24-36 months
Spouses	42	1	10	25	21
Daughters/Sons	10	12	27	33	17

9. Typically, do most family caregivers:

Seek outside assistance at about the time they should	11
Wait too long in seeking outside assistance (try to provide the care themselves for longer than they should)	90
Seek outside assistance too early	1

For more information contact Donna Rubin, CEO or 905-851-8821 extension 230.

C	ontact OANHSS

Ontario Association of Non-Profit Homes & Services for Seniors
7050 Weston Road, Suite 700, Woodbridge, Ontario L4L 8G7
(P) 905-851-8821
(F) 905-851-0744

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OANHSS members include not-for-profit providers of long term care, services and housing for seniors in Ontario.
Members include municipal and charitable long term care homes, non-profit nursing homes,
seniors' housing projects and community service agencies.