With an aging population and more people preferring to remain in their homes for as long as possible, the idea of aging in place in Canada often underlines various initiatives to support this goal. It is a policy direction that is promoted as a means of addressing increased costs of long-term care, and involves several jurisdictions.

While there is a general consensus that aging at home is more desirable than the alternatives, the costs of care for family carers is often not recognized.

Home care has received renewed public attention as aversions to nursing homes rise in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. But such attention often neglects the reality that those receiving care at home require people and resources to maintain them and the home.

Managing the home while caring for an elderly relative involves a multitude of activities and constant co-ordination of space and relationships. This work is done by family carers who are usually women and who have few community and government resources to draw on, particularly in rural areas.

Caregiver benefits, like Nova Scotia’s $400 a month benefit, are key to reducing........

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