By Laura Funk
Are you aware of the significant contributions that family caregivers make to society?
In 2012, eight million Canadians – 25 per cent of the population! – provided care and 2.2 million Canadians received that care in their homes – most often from family. In 2009, the estimated value of family care was more than $25 billion.
For many, caregiving is all day, 365 days a year – and their work is often invisible to others. So it’s important that carers feel their contributions are valued, in particular in their interactions with health-care professionals, their employers and other family members.
Many caregivers view what they do as a natural part of family relationships. They don’t do it for personal benefit or with the expectation of appreciation. I noticed a similar phenomenon when I spoke with a nursing home volunteer who, for this same reason, refused to attend a volunteer recognition event.
My research also suggests there may be some carers for whom praise such as, “You’re doing a great job,” or “You’re a wonderful daughter or son” can actually invoke guilt or ambivalence.
Why guilt? Because caring is a complex emotional experience, often connected to our identity and self-worth. When we confuse ‘caring for’ with ‘caring about,’ guilt can result. What happens, for example, when caregivers can no longer manage and face difficult decisions about institutionalization for their loved one?
Lastly, caregivers can view recognition as a trivial concern relative to the care recipient’s need for services. In this respect, any recognition of their work is unhelpful.
So what do caregivers want?
What caregivers need are accessible services for the person they’re caring for, when they need them. Caregivers have told me they want access to services for themselves and the care recipient, not a pat on the back.
Truly being aware of caregiver contributions and needs means being aware of the crucial importance of formal health-care supports and policies. Our governments could do much more in this regard.
Caregiver concerns are supported by existing evidence. Some research emphasizes the benefits of services and policies targeting carers directly, such as work accommodation and income assistance.
However, being able to access sufficient, quality health-care services, such as home care for the loved one being cared for, is also important. This is what our governments must do if they truly want to support caregiving in Canada.
This doesn’t mean that when formal services are provided, family carers do less – instead, they can focus on different aspects of care and are then better able to preserve their sense of well-being. Caregivers could then be less frustrated by having to fight against an impermeable system to access help for their family member.
I am suspicious that the rhetoric of carer acknowledgement is used by governments to imply that they are not responsible for the provision of care – justifying further erosion of publicly-funded services.
Truly recognizing carers means providing helpful, supportive, long-term health and social care services for those who need them – as well as for their careers.

(Laura Funk is an associate professor of Sociology at the University of Manitoba who has studied issues of aging, unpaid and paid care work and health for more than 18 years. Some of her current research focuses on how family carers in Winnipeg navigate health and social care systems.)

For the first time in the rich history of University of British Columbia’s world renowned Museum of Anthropology, the Diwali Festival of Lights will radiate for the public to attend and celebrate.
In recent years, the museum has served a lunch for staff to learn about Diwali, a significant annual event in the Hindu calendar, an event celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists.
But thanks to the persistence of MOA volunteer Kamshi Kanavathi, along with the assistance of administration manager Salma Mawani, the museum has placed Diwali in the spotlight for everyone to come, celebrate and learn.
“Diwali is a significant cultural event around the world,” says Mawani. “And, of course, we like to celebrate different cultures at the museum. It’s what the museum does. When this show got approved, Kamshi asked me if I could help her and I was thrilled by the opportunity.”
The MOA exhibit will celebrate the festival on October 19 from noon to 4 pm. Activities include dancing, music, workshops and, of course, light. Diwali symbolises the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance." Light is a metaphor for knowledge and consciousness.
“We will have a light installation in the Haida House,” says Kanavathi. “The public will be able to participate and make Rangoli designs with the electric lights at the celebration. It’s going to be a lot of fun for families.”
Workshops include instruction on how to tie a sari and how to make Rangoli art. As well, a henna artist will be working throughout the afternoon.
And, of course, there will be food and drink for the guests.
“Traditional Indian sweets and chai tea will be served,” says Kanavathi.
AlooAtta CEO Harbinder Singh Sewak will supply the MOA Diwali event with ladoos and chai. AlooAtta is a Surrey company that specializes in eco-friendly products, such as its clean-burning, soy-based Rangoli Diya candles for sale in the gift shop.
“It’s such an honor to be involved,” he says. “This is such an important festival for myself and millions of others in Indian communities around the world. It pleases me greatly to have the world famous MOA celebrating the occasion in such grand fashon.”

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