Working Caregiver- Canadian Senior Care
Differing care structures in the US vs Canada..
What Makes Senior Care Different in Canada?
 North of the border, there's another country not so different from the United States in many ways, but in others, the separation feels greater than just a line drawn in the sand representative of a border. While family caregivers in Canada face many of the same challenges as those in the United States, there are some noticeable differences presented primarily by the health care system.
Like all family caregivers that take care of their elderly family members, it's a juggling act to balance caregiving responsibilities, a career and a home life for senior caregivers in Canada. They want the best for their loved ones and make many sacrifices to ensure that the care of their senior care recipients is always the top priority. Senior care in Canada, like in the US can be stressful, it can be rewarding, and it can be everything in between.
Universal healthcare in Canadadoes have both advantages and disadvantages to senior care providers and those who they care for. Unlike in the United States, virtually all medical care is covered at the Provincial level, and this is great for seniors. Seniors don't need to worry about draining their savings or going into debt because of a stay in the hospital, since the only costs that they're likely to pay out of pocket relate to any home nursing care required, physiotherapy or medications if they do not also have private insurance. This adds security to seniors, knowing that they can pay to improve their living situation, and even improve the level of care that they receive outside of a hospital setting since there is additional funding available for respite care or other senior care services which are not funded.
Of course, when family caregivers are assisting seniors through the process of receiving treatment or medical care for an illness or ailment, there are some added complications posed by the healthcare system in Canada. All medical organizations offer the same services at set costs, and this means, that all patients are treated equally, because there is no option to pay a little bit more for those who can afford it and take business elsewhere for priority care. In non-emergent situations, seniors might have to wait longer for a diagnostic procedure, and might even have trouble finding a regular family doctor to monitor their care. Family caregivers may need to do more background research to locate doctors able to take new patients and deal with their care recipient's personal situations; a process that differs fundamentally from that of the United States, but with noticeable similarities since the research process instead might include finding the best price for the quality of care offered.
No matter where you live as a family caregiver, you will encounter challenges, but they can differ between states, provinces and countries. There's a good reason why caring for a family member is one of the most stressful and rewarding jobs on the planet!
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