Informal Caregiving: Health System Cost Implications.

The survey data were from 2008/2009 and were not weighted, so results may not apply to all Canadian caregivers. Caregiver status was self-reported, and some people who provide care may not identify as caregivers. Caregivers were younger and had fewer chronic conditions than non-caregivers, so the healthy caregiver effect may explain lower costs. The study could not adjust for specific health conditions, self-reported health, care recipient condition, relationship, household composition, or caregiving tasks and hours. Privately funded and out-of-pocket care costs were not included, so total caregiver burden may be underestimated. People who had provided care for more than 5 years were excluded, and the study covered only early caregiving. The data could not identify people who became caregivers during the study period. Total costs did not include day surgery and outpatient dialysis or oncology clinic visits.

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest. Funding came from the Ontario Ministry of Health, the Ontario SPOR Support Unit, the Canadian Frailty Network, and an annual ICES grant from the Ontario Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Long-Term Care.

Do not conclude that caregiving reduces health care costs or improves caregiver health. The caregivers were younger and had fewer chronic conditions than non-caregivers, and the study did not include private or out-of-pocket care. The lower adjusted cost difference was not significant after 1 year; only the 2-year change was significant.